Government House

                                               CANBERRA  ACT  2600

                                                                                            18 June 2018

 

 

The Governor-General is pleased to announce the following honorary appointment within the General Division of the Order of Australia:

 

 

 

 

 

 

Honorary Officer (AO) in the General Division

 

Mr Christophe LECOURTIER,
   77 Boulevard Saint-Jacquie, Paris 75014 France

 

For distinguished service to strengthening the Australia – France bilateral relationship.

 

 

 

By His Excellency’s Command

Mark Fraser LVO OAM

 


APPOINTED AN HONORARY OFFICER (AO)

 

IN THE GENERAL DIVISION OF THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA

 

 

 

Mr Christophe LECOURTIER,
   77 Boulevard Saint-Jacquie, Paris 75014 France

 

For distinguished service to strengthening the Australia–France bilateral relationship.

 

Mr Christophe Lecourtier has been an outstanding supporter of enhanced Australia-France relations, particularly in his capacity as French Ambassador to Australia from July 2014 to August 2017. He has been instrumental in transforming the France-Australia bilateral relationship into a new-era of co-operation, particularly the defence industry and cultural relationship.

 

Mr Lecourtier has emphasised our shared values and unity: during the tragic terrorist attacks at Charlie Hebdo, Bataclan and Nice, each of which involved Australians; at remembrance events for the Centenary of World War One 2014-2018 and in strategic cooperation in the Pacific region.

 

His tireless efforts to promote the bilateral relationship were demonstrated when
Mr Lecourtier over-saw the arrangements for the first State Visit to Australia by a French President when President Hollande visited in November 2014, and subsequently with the visits of the first French Prime Minister Manuel Valls.

 

The contribution of Mr Lecourtier to advancing the relationship between Australia and France and the role he played in the Australian Government’s Future Submarine Program, make him particularly worthy of an Australian honour. It is a strategic and industrial partnership which will last over 50 years.

 

Mr Lecourtier has also advanced cultural relations between the two countries, by helping bring, the Versailles exhibition to the National Gallery of Australia, the Degas exhibition to the National Gallery of Victoria and the national tour of The Art of Science–Baudin’s Voyagers to Australia.

 

His dedication and friendship has played a major part in championing an enduring relationship between Australia and France with a shared vision of a secure and prosperous future together.