With a career spanning postings in New York and Geneva with the United Nations, Ambassador Dianela Pi has long been immersed in global conversations around human rights, peace, and security. Yet, her journey to Canberra is also deeply personal — a posting that feels, in her words, like a tribute to her father, a dentist, who once considered emigrating to Australia.
As one of only a handful of female heads of mission from her nation, Pi embodies both progress and persistence, steering Uruguay’s presence with warmth, intellect, and an unmistakably Irresistible flair.
We sat down with Ambassador Pi to explore Uruguay’s deep cultural connections with Australia, the communities that thrive here, and why the small South American nation deserves a spot on everyone’s travel wish list.
Ambassador Dianela, what have you just been up to?
Ambassador Dianela Pi: We presented a film yesterday, an animated movie about the famous tango La Cumparsita. It’s our cultural anthem, so it was a joy to share. The cinema was full, and people left smiling, curious about Uruguay. They kept asking what was real and what was fictional, because even though it was animated, the facts were real — the young composer was only 17, we really did win the Olympic gold medal in football in Paris in 1924, the Parisian encounters all happened.
What we wanted most was for people to leave thinking about Uruguay, linking tango to us. People usually associate tango only with Argentina and Buenos Aires, but it’s also deeply Uruguayan. After the screening, many locals said they would go home and Google Uruguay, soccer, tango, and La Cumparsita. That is exactly the response we hope for with cultural events.
You’ve been in Australia nearly five years now. Was Sydney somewhere you always hoped to come to, or was it a surprise to be posted here?
A mix of both. For a woman to become head of mission, to be appointed ambassador, is not easy. We still have a long way to go in Uruguay’s foreign ministry — we don’t have formal gender equality measures yet. Things are changing, but slowly. When I was first considered for a posting, I wasn’t sure. The chief of cabinet at the time told me the Minister wanted to know if I had the rank to lead a mission. Of course, I said yes. Among the options was Australia — and it felt like fate. You see, in the 1980s my father once considered migrating to Australia. Dentists were among the professions invited then, and we had a family lunch discussing the possibility. In the end, my parents decided to stay in Uruguay. But that conversation stayed with me. My father has since passed away, and I felt that coming here as ambassador was a kind of tribute to him.
That’s such a lovely story. And you mentioned you worked at the United Nations before coming here?
Yes. My background is multilateral. I’ve served at the UN in New York and Geneva, and Uruguay’s positions are often aligned with Australia’s. On human rights, peace and security, humanitarian issues, climate, development — I worked closely with Australian colleagues. In New York I was responsible for the Third Committee, which focuses on human rights and humanitarian law. Those years taught me so much about consensus building and listening. I think that experience also made me confident that Australia and Uruguay could achieve a lot together.
What kinds of business links do Uruguayans have in Australia?
Trade between us is modest, but we are working to grow it. We want both countries to see each other not as competitors, but as friends with shared strengths. We both have strong agricultural sectors, so cooperation is key. Our priorities are in agri-tech, clean energy, biotech, and responding together to climate change. We export some wine and pharmaceutical products here, but we face challenges with commodities like beef and dairy because of Australian biosecurity restrictions.
One extraordinary example of cooperation is the ferries built in Hobart, Tasmania by Incat for Buquebus, which links Uruguay and Argentina. Incat has already sold nine ferries, and this year they launched the largest 100% electric ferry in the world. It will sail the Río de la Plata between Buenos Aires and Colonia. It’s a beautiful symbol: Tasmania, powered by 100% renewable energy, building for Uruguay, which generates 97–98% of its electricity from renewables. Together, we are showing the world what clean energy partnerships look like.
What about the Uruguayan community here? How many are there?
We count around 20,000, across first, second, and third generations. Many renew their documents and keep strong links with Uruguay. That figure doesn’t include those on working holiday visas, who often stay for a few years or longer, sometimes transitioning to permanent residency. It’s a vibrant community, and they contribute to the multicultural fabric of Australia.
What have you been most proud of in your time here?
When I arrived, my main objective was visibility. Uruguay was not very well known here. Two achievements stand out. First, the establishment of a parliamentary group of friends of Uruguay in Australia. We already had one for Australia in Montevideo, but none here. Building those relationships within a parliamentary system is essential. In 2022, we finally created the group, and after the most recent elections we are re-establishing it with co-chairs from both major parties. Second, next week we will sign a social security agreement between our two countries. It’s something our diaspora has wanted for 20 years. Many ambassadors before me pushed for it. We began negotiations in 2023, during the 75th anniversary of our diplomatic relations, and now it’s done. We will become only the second Latin American country with such an agreement with Australia. For our citizens — whether Uruguayan in Australia or Australian in Uruguay — it is life-changing.
What are your favourite Australian destinations?
It’s difficult — Australia is so vast and diverse. One of my favourite trips was driving from Canberra to Adelaide. We stopped in small towns along the way to make the journey easier for our children, but also because I love meeting people outside the big cities. In Barossa and McLaren Vale we discovered beautiful wines, and in one garden of a rental house we saw a koala in its natural habitat — an unforgettable moment. Another time, in Cairns, we saw a crocodile swimming near the beach, which was promptly closed! We also visited Rottnest Island in Western Australia, hired bicycles, and found the quokkas with their famous smiles.
Road trips are special. The landscapes change so quickly, and the small towns are full of charm. We love fishing, and everywhere we went, there was a place to cast a line.
You have two children here. How have they found life in Australia?
It’s been wonderful for them. They arrived with little English, but thanks to the support of their French school, they adapted quickly. Now they speak fluent English, with a clear Australian accent! They’ve made great friends, and they move around the city like locals. The idea of leaving next year is hard for them — they’ll be leaving home to return home. It’s bittersweet.
Uruguay is often described as South America’s best kept secret. What surprises Australians most when they visit?
Many are struck by the similarities. Our beaches on the Atlantic coast remind visitors of New South Wales — similar vegetation, similar waves, though our waters are colder. The difference? In Uruguay you don’t have to worry about dangerous creatures in the ocean! Because we are small, you can change landscapes easily within a few hours’ drive — from vineyards to hot springs to coastline. Our wine tourism is special. During harvest celebrations in February, vineyards open their doors to the public. People walk among the vines, taste the grapes, and join the festivities. It feels very different from the more formal vineyard visits here. Then we have the hot springs in the north, with pools ranging from 15°C to nearly 40°C. In winter, you slip into steaming water and step out without feeling the cold — it’s restorative.
What would you say are the must-do places for visitors to Uruguay?
Montevideo, our capital, is beautiful — with its European architecture, wide Rambla waterfront, and stunning skies, even in winter. Colonia del Sacramento is unmissable. A Portuguese-founded city, preserved as an old town, just a 40-minute ferry ride from Buenos Aires. It has vineyards, cobblestone streets, and superb restaurants. On the east coast, Punta del Este is our glamorous resort town, famous for its beaches, nightlife, and restaurants. But just north and south of Punta, you’ll find quieter, more natural beaches. One is Cabo Polonio, a national treasure. You can only reach it on foot, horseback, or with special 4x4s, because the environment is so protected. It has rustic lodgings, great food, and spectacular scenery. And then, of course, the northern hot springs I mentioned earlier. For families and couples alike, it’s paradise.
Uruguay is rich in music and culture. Where can travellers experience that vibrancy?
In Montevideo you’ll find tango everywhere — in theatres, cafés, even public squares offering free lessons. You’ll also encounter candombe, our Afro-Uruguayan drum tradition, especially in Palermo and the Old City. In Punta del Este and in the western city of Mercedes, jazz festivals bring international and local talent to the streets. And in the countryside, folklore music — guitars, bandoneons, and soulful songs — connects you with our rural traditions. Our cultural anthem, La Cumparsita, was written in 1916 by a teenager, Matos Rodríguez. It remains the most recorded tango in the world. At last night’s screening in Canberra, people were astonished by its story. That’s the kind of cultural pride we carry everywhere.
