Frances Adamson

Frances Adamson (born 20 April 1961) is an Australian public servant and diplomat. On 20 July 2016, she was appointed Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) by the Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull; the first ever female Secretary to be appointed to the portfolio. From 2015 to 2016 she was foreign policy advisor to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and from 2011 to 2015 she was Australian Ambassador to China.
Early life and education.
Adamson was born in Adelaide, Australia, the daughter of former South Australian politician Jennifer Cashmore and prominent Adelaide businessman Ian Adamson, and step-daughter of reporter Stewart Cockburn. 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.
Career.
Adamson joined the Australian Public Service in 1985.. 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).
From 2009 to 2010, Adamson was Chief of Staff to Stephen Smith when he was Foreign Minister.
Between 2011 and 2015 she held the post of Australian Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, the first woman in the position.
In 2015 she was appointed a foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.
On 20 July 2016, she was appointed Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) by the Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull; the first ever woman to be appointed to the role.
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. She was made a National Fellow of IPAA in 2019.
On 19 May 2021, it was announced by Premier Steven Marshall that she would be succeeding His Excellency Hieu Van Le as Governor of South Australia. Adamson will become South Australia's third female Governor. 