Kevin Rudd will step down from his posting as Australia’s ambassador to the United States at the end of March 2026, leaving behind a legacy that includes playing a key role in negotiations on the US–Australia Critical Minerals and Rare Earths Framework Agreement.
The former Australian prime minister announced his departure from the role earlier this week, saying on social media platform X that “it has been an honour to serve as Australia’s Ambassador to the United States over the last three years”.
Rudd took up the posting in Washington in March 2023, at a time when Joe Biden was the US president.
In a joint media release from the offices of Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Foreign Minister Penny Wong, the Federal Government thanked Rudd for his “tireless contribution to our national interests over the last three years”, singling out his efforts in “negotiating and concluding” the critical minerals deal with the US.
Resources Minister Madeleine King also said Rudd played a significant role in making the agreement a reality.
“Alongside the Prime Minister, I have attended meetings at the White House and the US Capitol across two administrations to further the Australian critical minerals industry, and Kevin Rudd was the driving force every step of the way,” King said in a LinkedIn post.
After stepping down from the ambassador’s post, Rudd will take up the role of global president of leading international relations think tank the Asia Society.
Speculation has already begun about who will succeed Rudd in Washington, with the names of several career diplomats and former politicians being floated.
Among those mentioned is former Western Australian premier Mark McGowan, who served in the role from 2017 to 2023.
McGowan would bring significant experience and a deep understanding of the mining and resources sector to the ambassadorial role, drawing on his time in government as well as his work as a strategic adviser to BHP and Mineral Resources.
In 2023, McGowan also took up a consulting role with Bondi Partners, which promotes trade and business ties between Australia and the US, and was established by Joe Hockey, a former federal treasurer and former Australian ambassador to the United States.