Barnett chief heads to OECD in Paris

West Australian Premier Colin Barnett's chief of staff has been appointed to a plum diplomatic post.

Brian Pontifex is to become Australia's next ambassador and permanent representative to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) in Paris.

The barrister previously worked as a legal adviser specialising in anti-corruption in the OECD secretariat.

He will replace Chris Barrett, a chief of staff to former treasurer Wayne Swan.