Frances Adamson announced as new DFAT Secretary

  • Media release

I congratulate Ms Frances Adamson on her appointment as the new Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

I have worked closely with Ms Adamson during her distinguished career as Australia's Ambassador to the People's Republic of China and, more recently, as the International Adviser to the Prime Minister.

Ms Adamson has also served in the Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong, as Representative to the Australian Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei and in the Australian High Commission in London. She was Chief of Staff to the Minister for Foreign Affairs and the Minister for Defence from 2009 to 2010.

I look forward to continuing to work with Ms Adamson in her new role as we take on the challenges of the foreign affairs, trade, tourism and investment and development agendas.

I thank outgoing DFAT Secretary, Mr Peter Varghese for his service to the Government, and I wish him well in his new role as Chancellor of the University of Queensland.

I am pleased to note Ms Adamson is the first woman to hold this prestigious position.

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