Foreign Minister, Winston Peters, has announced two new diplomatic appointments, naming Mark Talbot as the next Ambassador to EU and NATO, and Jeongmin Park as Consul General, Shanghai.
Mr Talbot is New Zealand’s Ambassador-designate to the European Union and NATO. This will be his second stint in Brussels, having served there on his first posting from 2001 to 2004.
He has performed a variety of senior roles in Wellington, including as New Zealand’s APEC Senior Official in our 2021 host year and most recently as Foreign Policy Adviser in the Department of Prime Minister & Cabinet.
Mr Talbot has previously served as High Commissioner to Tonga. He has been posted to Australia and served for two years in the United Kingdom’s Cabinet Office.
Mr Park began his career at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade in 2014. He has held several roles across the Ministry, including leadership positions in the Trade Policy Engagement and Implementation Division, and Economic Division. He has also held roles in the Office of the Chief Executive, Pacific and Development Group, and Asia Regional Division.
Mr Park was previously posted overseas as New Zealand’s Deputy Head of Mission to the Republic of Korea and Deputy Head of Mission to Vanuatu.
Prior to joining the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Mr Park served as an officer in the New Zealand Army, completing two operational tours to Timor Leste and Bosnia and Herzegovina.
