Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China

Ms Jan Adams PSM

 

Ms Adams is Australia’s Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China and took up her appointment in February 2016.

Ms Adams is a senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She was appointed Deputy Secretary in April 2013 with responsibility for trade and economic issues. In this role she was chief negotiator overseeing conclusion of Free Trade Agreements with China, Korea and Japan. Previously, Ms Adams was First Assistant Secretary, Free Trade Agreement Division.

Ms Adams served as Ambassador for the Environment and Ambassador for Climate Change between 2005 and 2008, and as Minister Counsellor (Trade) in Washington from 2000 to 2004.

From 1993 to 1996, Ms Adams worked as an Adviser to the Minister for Trade and Minister for Industry, Science and Technology, Senator Peter Cook. She also previously worked in the OECD Environment and Trade Directorates in Paris.

Ms Adams joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 1999 as Assistant Secretary, APEC Branch.

Ms Adams was awarded the Public Service Medal in 2007 for outstanding public service in pursuing Australia’s international objectives on trade and the environment.

Raised in Wodonga, Victoria, she holds Bachelor of Economics (Hons) and Bachelor of Law (Hons) degrees from Monash University, and is married with one child.