Sanjiva De Silva started working as a Counsellor for our department at the Australia High Commission, New Delhi, in September 2021. He is responsible for energy, resources and science bilateral cooperation.

Sanjiva has served as a senior public servant, trade negotiator and international law advisor to the Australian Government since 2005. He led investment negotiations for Australia in the world’s largest regional trade agreement (the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership).

He was a legal advisor at UNFCCC climate negotiations where his proposals shaped key aspects in its multilateral assessment process. He has represented Australia in WTO disputes and the Climate and Sustainability Working Group of the G20. He has provided trade and investment law capacity building support to countries in South East Asia including while stationed in Myanmar’s Directorate of Investment and Company Administration in 2019.

In 2019-2020, Sanjiva headed the taskforce that developed Australia’s Low Emissions Technology Roadmap and delivered its first annual statement.

Before joining the Australian Government he was a commercial lawyer in Sydney and London.

He holds a Masters of Public and International Law (UniMelb), Bachelor of Environmental Science (ANU) and a Bachelor of Laws (Hons, ANU). He is admitted to legal practice in Australia and the UK.