Adamson departure clears way for shakeup
By
Chris Johnson
Thursday May 20, 2021 (Image: Adobe/Rafael Ben-Ari)
Frances Adamson’s imminent departure from the helm of DFAT clears the path for a major shakeup in the senior ranks of the APS.
Adamson will end her five-year term as secretary of the foreign affairs department on June 25 to take up the post of South Australian governor later this year.
Speculation is now rife within political and public sector circles as to how the knock-on effect of her leaving will shape up.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has a timely opportunity to seriously restructure the APS leadership.
DFAT chiefâs departure sparks public service reshuffle
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A looming reshuffle among the upper echelons of the public service is unlikely to see the ambitious head of the Home Affairs Department, Michael Pezzullo, move to the Defence Department following the departure of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade secretary Frances Adamson.
In one of Canberraâs worst kept secrets, Ms Adamson was named on Wednesday as South Australiaâs next governor. She will finish up as the nationâs top diplomat on June 25.
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade Secretary Frances Adamson will become South Australian governor in October.Â
Canberra bigwigs vie for plum post
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Foreign Affairs department secretary
Frances Adamson’s departure as the country’s top diplomatic mandarin became official on Wednesday. Foreign Minister
Marise Payne announced that Adamson, our former ambassador to China, would wrap up at DFAT’s Barton offices on June 25 and return to her hometown of Adelaide to become the Governor of South Australia.
Frances Adamson with Mike Pezzullo, Greg Moriarty, Michelle Chan.
Credit:John Shakespeare
Already, there’s a lengthy shopping list of senior mandarins in contention for her role. Frontrunners include Defence secretary