Ms. Julia Booth was appointed as the Honorary Consul of Bhutan in New South Wales in December 2023. The Honorary Consulate opened in Sydney on 9 March 2024 over a simple ceremony attended by Ambassador Sonam Tobgay. Family members and close friends of Ms. Booth, local government officials as well as close friends of Bhutan and members of the Bhutanese community in Sydney also attended the event.
Ms. Booth’s connection with Bhutan goes back to the mid-1990s when she was undertaking research on the country. Her engagement with Bhutan deepened over the years, culminating in numerous visits to the country, including for the coronation of His Majesty The King in 2008. She has facilitated educational opportunities for Bhutanese through scholarships and coordinated important visits from Bhutan to Australia. During the Covid period, she facilitated the supply of PPEs from Australia to Bhutan. In 2022, she facilitated donations of fire uniforms from NSW Fire Service to Bhutan, and is coordinating fire management programs for Bhutan. More recently, she has helped a Bhutanese artist, Karma Tshering Wangchuk of Bhutan Street Fashion, to collaborate with a famous Australian photo editor to publish his book in Australia.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Sonam Tobgay expressed confidence that Ms. Booth’s tenure as Honorary Consul will be marked by excellence, fostering deeper ties between New South Wales and Bhutan across various spheres. He said the Embassy looks forward to working closely with her to strengthen the friendship and partnership between Bhutan and Australia.
The Honorary Consulate is located at 5 Holt St Double Bay, Sydney 2028. The telephone number for the Honorary Consulate is 0427646074. The website is: www.honoraryconsulbhutannsw.com.