Linda Gellard

The Foreign Affairs Adviser provides subject matter expertise in Peacebuilding, Conflict Prevention, Crisis Recovery, and Disaster Risk Reduction. As a seconded officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Advisor can advocate for their home agency while supporting the work of ACMC.

Foreign Affairs Adviser

Linda Gellard

Linda Gellard is seconded to the ACMC from the Department of Foreign and Trade (DFAT).  She was most recently acting Head of Mission and Deputy High Commissioner in Nairobi from 2020-2023, with accreditation for Burundi Rwanda, Somalia, Tanzania and Uganda. Linda has served as Humanitarian Adviser at the Australian Embassy in Yangon (2015-2017), First Secretary at the Australian High Commission in Port Vila (2008-2011), Civil-Military Adviser to the Australian Defence Force in Uruzgan (2008) and Second Secretary at the Australian High Commission in Islamabad (2007-2008). She has also deployed on several assignments as part of DFAT’s Crisis Cadre. Prior to her posting to Kenya, Linda served in Director roles on DFAT’s COVID-19 Taskforce and at DFAT’s Diplomatic Academy.

Linda has previously worked with the UN High Commissioner of Refugees and the UN Office for the Coordination for Humanitarian Affairs in Africa and Asia, and periodically as a Subject Matter Expert to the Australian War College on the Australian Command and Staff Course.

Linda was DFAT’s representative on the Australian War College’s Defence and Strategic Studies (DSSC) course in 2024 and was awarded a Master of Security and Strategic Studies (Leading International Policy) from Deakin University. She also holds a Master of International Affairs from ANU and a Bachelor of Arts (Combined Hons) from UNSW/ANU.