Her Excellency Ms Beryl R. Sisulu assumed the post of High Commissioner of the Republic of South Africa to Australia on 1 March 2017. She has previously served as Ambassador to Norway, Iceland and Japan. Ms Sisulu was born in Soweto, Johannesburg. She matriculated at St. Michael’s School Swaziland and later attended the University of Natal where she attained a Law Degree. After spending time with human rights activities, Ms Sisulu worked for NGOs; set up a Women’s organisation; worked with the Black Sash as the Regional Director for Kwa-Zulu Natal, and worked at the Legal Resources Centre, a public interest law firm, where she also completed her Articles as a candidate Attorney.

She later joined the Department of Justice as the Regional Head (Chief Director), and was responsible for all the courts in the Gauteng Province. In 2000 Ms Sisulu was nominated by the then Minister of Justice to attend a Senior Executive Programme at Harvard University, Boston. High Commissioner Sisulu is fluent in several of the languages spoken in South Africa.