Mr Zayed has been the Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to Australia since December 2019 (with Cross Accreditation to Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu, Nauru, Marshall Islands).
He joined the Oxford University Foreign Service Program from 1991-1992, and was awarded the Certificate of Diplomatic Studies from Oxford University in 1992. He has worked extensively in numerous departments at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Cairo: the Information Technology Department for 2 years, and the Bureau of Diplomatic Personnel (Human Resources) for a total of 9 years, from 1997-2001 and 2005-2010. His Excellency also served as Deputy Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs for Administrative Affairs (in charge of Administrative Personnel) from 2015-2019. Mr Zayed has had postings in London, Washington D.C. and in Wellington, NZ.
Ambassador Mohamad Mubarak AlQabandi is a career diplomat in the Kuwaiti Foreign Service. He had ambassadorial appointments to Sudan, Central African Republic, and Chad (2016-2022), and to Armenia in 2011-2016. Earlier, he had postings in Europe, (Belgium and Federal Republic of Germany) and Latin America (Venezuela).
He was appointed the State of Kuwait’s ambassador to Australia earlier this year and presented his credentials to the Governor-General on 10 October 2022. Ambassador AlQabandi has a bachelor degree in economics and political science from Bona University in India.
Prior to joining the Palestinian Diplomatic Corp, Mr Abdulhadi was the founding Director General of Bisan Centre for Research and Development, a leading NGO in strengthening civil society and promoting community development in Palestine. Established in 1989, he held this post for 18 years.
Following the Oslo Accords of 1993, he was among a core group of civil society leaders who established the Palestinian NGO Network (PNGO). During this time, he was also involved in the establishment of the Arab NGO Network for Development, and has served on the Steering Committees of both organisations.
In 2006, Mr Abdulhadi was appointed as Head of the General Delegation of Palestine to Australia, New Zealand, and the Pacific. He is an active member and General Secretary of the Council of Arab Ambassadors in Canberra.