Monaco and Australia is celebrating 10 years of diplomacy with a dedicated series of events led by H.E. Mrs Catherine Fautrier, Ambassador of Monaco to Australia, focusing on environmental, business, tourism, cultural and philanthropic links between the two countries, taking place in Sydney from 18 to 22 September. The week started last night with Monaco's Michelin Starred Chef Benoit Witz serving up Monagasque delights at Sydney's Park Hyatt.

The Monaco Government Tourist and Convention Authority opened a representative office to cover Australia and New Zealand in 2010. The office continues to successfully promote tourism, meetings and convention travel to the destination, with Australian visitors ranking the 9th visitor nationality in 2016.

Over 10,000 Australians visit Monaco each year and more than 150 Australians reside in the Principality of Monaco. The two countries have developed an important relationship thanks to a sharing of common ideals, such as a support for its arts and culture players, protection of the environment and support of sustainable development.

Sustainability and environmental protection is important to the Principality of Monaco and H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco, and is a key focus for the 10th anniversary celebrations.

Key events for Monaco Week include:

19 September 

Professor Tim Flannery, Foundation Board Member of the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation, will open an exhibition to raise awareness for the Foundation's works at UNSW. This exhibition will run 19-25 September at the Michael Crouch Innovation Centre of the University of New South Wales.  (Gate 2 Avenue, Kensington)

19 September   

Park Hyatt Sydney will host a charity dinner to raise funds for the Princess Charlene Foundation and Royal Life Saving Society – Australia. Both organizations work on raising public awareness for swimming safety. Michelin Star Chef Benoît Witz, especially over from the Hotel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, will be behind the stoves with Chef Etienne Karner of Park Hyatt Sydney.

20 September

H.E. Mrs Catherine Fautrier, Ambassador of Monaco to Australia will host a cocktail reception for diplomatic corps and other stakeholders at the Sydney Opera House.

BACKGROUNDER

Current Diplomatic Representation

H.E. Mrs Catherine Fautrier, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Monaco to H.E. the Governor General of the Commonwealth of Australia, appointed by Sovereign Ordinance on 16 June 2011.

Mr Andrew M. Cannon AM, Honorary Consul of Monaco, covering Victoria, Tasmania, South Australia and Western Australia, appointed in 2002 and based in Melbourne.

Mr Hadrien Bourely, Honorary Consul of Monaco, covering New South Wales, Northern Territory and Queensland, appointed in 2016 and based in Sydney. (Mr Bourely is a dual national of both Monaco and Australia.)

H.E. Mr Stephen Brady,Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Australia to Monaco, appointed 4 September 2014.

Bilateral cultural highlights 2012 - 2017

In March 2012, H.S.H. Princess Charlene officially opened the “Princess Grace Exhibition” in Bendigo, Victoria with H.E. Mrs Catherine Fautrier. The carefully curated exhibition of Princess Grace's dresses and personal items was a huge success, drawing record crowds to Bendigo. The warm welcome the exhibition received resulted in a $20 million injection into the local Bendigo economy.

From 24 March until 30 September 2016, an exhibition entitled “Taba Naba” took place at the Oceanographic Museum in Monaco. This extensive exhibition of Australian Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander's Art was themed around man and the ocean. The works highlighted protecting oceans, biodiversity, preserving the environment, sustainable feeding, recycling, cultural and patrimonial transmission through pieces of art.

Continuing in the field of environmental awareness, the Prince Albert II of Monaco Foundation celebrated its 10th anniversary in 2016. The Foundation is a supporter of the TARA Expeditions, voyages to study and understand the impact of climate change and the ecological crisis facing the world's oceans. TARA is completing a world tour in 2016-2017 and the laboratory ship will be in port in Sydney from 18-22 August 2017. The aim of this expedition is to attract political and economic opinion leaders and to raise awareness about the most urgent ecological challenges and the importance of the good health of our oceans.