Draft:Ridwaan Jadwat

Ridwaan Jadwat is an Australian diplomat who has served as the Australian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates since January 2024, he is concurrently serving as Special Envoy to the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation. He was previously the Australian Ambassador to Saudi Arabia from February 2016 to August 2019.

Early life and education
Jadwat was born in South Africa during apartheid, before migrating to Australia as a child. Jadwat settled in the south-western suburbs of Sydney and was educated at Punchbowl Boys High School. He holds a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Economics (Social Sciences) from the University of Sydney.

Career
Jadwat joined the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade as a graduate in 1997, where he studied Arabic at the Australian Embassy in Cairo. He was posted overseas as Counsellor, Australian High Commission, Kuala Lumpur; and Deputy Head of Mission, Australian Embassy, Tehran.

Jadwat was seconded to the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet serving as Assistant Secretary, South and Southeast Asia, Americas and Middle East Branch and more recently as Assistant Secretary and Head of Policy, ASEAN-Australia Summit 2018 Taskforce.

Jadwaat was First Assistant Secretary, Middle East and Africa Division prior to his appointment as Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates in 2024.

Personal life
Ridwaan Jadwat is married to Jessica Swann-Jadwat.