Frances Adamson

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Frances Adamson

AC
Frances Adamson (1).jpg
Adamson, pictured in 2011.
36th Governor of South Australia
In-waiting
Assuming office
October 2021
MonarchElizabeth II
PremierSteven Marshall
Lieutenant GovernorBrenda Wilson
SucceedingHieu Van Le
Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
In office
22 July 2016 – 25 June 2021
Foreign MinisterJulie Bishop
Marise Payne
Preceded byPeter Varghese
Succeeded byKathryn Campbell
Australian Ambassador to China
In office
August 2011 – February 2016
Prime MinisterJulia Gillard
Kevin Rudd
Tony Abbott
Malcolm Turnbull
Foreign MinisterKevin Rudd
Bob Carr
Julie Bishop
Preceded byGeoff Raby
Succeeded byJan Adams
Personal details
Born (1961-04-20) 20 April 1961 (age 60)
Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
NationalityAustralian
Spouse(s)Rod
RelationsChristine Adamson (sister)
Children4
ParentsJennifer Cashmore[1]
EducationWalford Anglican School for Girls
Alma materUniversity of Adelaide (BEc)
Occupation
  • Public servant
  • Diplomat

Frances Jennifer Adamson, AC (born 20 April 1961) is an Australian public servant and diplomat.On 19 May 2021, it was announced by Premier Steven Marshall that Adamson would be succeeding Hieu Van Le as Governor of South Australia in October 2021. Adamson will become South Australia's third female governor.[2]

Early life and education[]

Adamson was born in Adelaide, South Australia, the daughter of former politician Jennifer Cashmore and prominent Adelaide businessman Ian Adamson, and step-daughter of reporter Stewart Cockburn.[1] Her sister, Christine Adamson is a New South Wales Supreme Court judge.

Adamson was educated at the Walford Anglican School for Girls and the University of Adelaide, where she received a Bachelor of Economics. In 1984 she was the first female captain of the Adelaide University Boat Club.[3]

Career[]

Adamson joined the Australian Public Service in 1985.[4] Her roles included Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom (2005–08), Representative to the Australian Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei (2000–05), the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (1998–2000), the Australian High Commission to the United Kingdom (1993–98) and the Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong (1987–1991).[5]

From 2009 to 2010, Adamson was Chief of Staff to Stephen Smith when he was Foreign Minister.[6]

Between 2011 and 2015 she held the post of Australian Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, the first woman in the position.[7][8][9][10]

In 2015 she was appointed a foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.[11][12]

On 20 July 2016, she was appointed Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT); the first female Secretary to be appointed to the portfolio.[13][14][15][16]

Adamson served as the ACT Division of the Institute of Public Administration President from 2017 to 2019 and outlined her views on public service in her final speech as President.[17] She was made a National Fellow of IPAA in 2019.[18]

Following her nomination for Governor of South Australia, Adamson retired from the public service in June 2021.[2] In the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours she was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia.[19]

References[]

  1. ^ Jump up to: a b Walker, Tony (22 January 2016). "PM's foreign affairs adviser Frances Adamson is a 'hard-headed realist'". Australian Financial Review. Fairfax Media.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b Frances Adamson announced as South Australia's new governor, replacing Hieu Van Le – ABC News, ABC News, 19 May 2021
  3. ^ Historical overview of the Adelaide University Boat Club, archived from the original on 26 February 2016
  4. ^ Tingle, Laura (25 September 2016). "How Frances Adamson became DFAT's first female head". Australian Financial Review. Retrieved 5 September 2021.
  5. ^ Business Lunch with HE Ms Frances Adamson, Australian Ambassador to the People's Republic of China (Melbourne), University of Melbourne, 3 July 2014, archived from the original on 7 April 2015
  6. ^ Sheridan, Greg (28 November 2015). "Sound hands at the tiller: Malcolm Turnbull's picks astute picks". The Australian. News Corp Australia.
  7. ^ Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. "Ambassador to China". Australian Government. Archived from the original on 27 March 2014.
  8. ^ "Australian Ambassador to China". Australian Government. Archived from the original on 26 February 2015.
  9. ^ McDonald, Hamish (21 March 2011). "Beijing envoy appointed". The Sydney Morning Herald. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 9 August 2014.
  10. ^ Beneba Clarke, Maxine (7 November 2015), "Meeting Frances Adamson, Australia's first lady in China", The Saturday Paper
  11. ^ "Malcolm Turnbull overhauls the network of advisers at the highest level of government". Australian Financial Review. Fairfax Media. 6 November 2015. Former Beijing ambassador Frances Adamson will provide foreign policy advice.
  12. ^ McDonald, Hamish (23 January 2016). "Turnbull's change of tone in foreign affairs". The Saturday Paper. Archived from the original on 15 February 2016.
  13. ^ Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (2016), Biography of Ms Frances Adamson, Australian Government, archived from the original on 17 August 2016
  14. ^ Doran, Matthew (20 July 2016). "Frances Adamson appointed as DFAT's first female secretary". ABC News. Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on 5 August 2016.
  15. ^ Mannheim, Markus (20 July 2016). "Frances Adamson becomes Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's first female secretary". The Canberra Times. Fairfax Media. Archived from the original on 17 August 2016.
  16. ^ Turnbull, Malcolm (20 July 2016). "Ms Frances Adamson appointed Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade" (Press release). Australian Government. Archived from the original on 21 April 2017. Retrieved 18 August 2016.
  17. ^ https://www.themandarin.com.au/113685-frances-adamson-trust-cooperation-and-inclusion-are-fundamental-for-good-policy-and-delivery/
  18. ^ "IPAA National Fellows". National IPAA. 21 October 2020. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
  19. ^ "Ms Frances Adamson". It's An Honour. Retrieved 13 June 2021.
Diplomatic posts
Preceded by
 Representative, Australian Commerce and Industry Office Taipei
2000–2005 		Succeeded by
Steve Waters
Preceded by
Geoff Raby 		Australian Ambassador to China
2011–2015 		Succeeded by
Jan Elizabeth Adams
Government offices
Preceded by
Peter Varghese 		Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
2016–2021 		Succeeded by
Kathryn Campbell
Retrieved from ""