The Canberra Multicultural Community Forum (CMCF) Inc is delighted to announce that the Ambassador of Sweden, Her Excellency Mrs Karin Ehnbom-Palmquist has agreed to become a Forum co-patron.


Her decision further establishes a welcome process whereby the Dean of the Canberra Diplomatic Corps becomes a CMCF co-patron. The position has been vacant since the previous Dean, the Ambassador of Austria, His Excellency Dr Hans Demel, returned to Austria for retirement late last year.

Welcoming Mrs Ehnbom-Palmquist, CMCF Chair Sam Wong said it is important that the strong links between the diplomatic corps and Canberra’s multicultural community be maintained and enhanced.

“There are more than 80 embassies, high commissions and missions in Canberra and we hope they will all play a full part in the day-to-day life of the National Capital,” he said.

“Individuals will come and go, but the corps itself endures, deepening and enriching our city’s multicultural experience.”

Mr Wong said the part played by the diplomatic corps was especially valuable in preparations for the National Multicultural Festival. “We work with it to ensure the festival represents a true reflection of the global village,” he said.

“Mrs Ehnbom-Palmquist has already made a significant contribution to the festival during her time here and has indicated the embassy wishes to support other multicultural events, such as Living in Harmony Day.”

Appointed Ambassador of Sweden to Australia and New Zealand in 2003, Mrs Ehnbom-Palmquist and her husband, Lars, arrived in Australia in November of that year. The couple have two children, Sofia and Daniel, who have both studied in Canberra.

CMCF’s other co-patron is Ellnor Grassby, a former Minister and a former Member of the ACT Legislative Assembly, and wife of the Federal Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs in the Whitlam Government, the late Hon Al Grassby AM.

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