Frances Adamson

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. 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.{{citation|url=http://www.aubc.asn.au/about-aubc/history-of-aubc.html|title=Historical overview of the Adelaide University Boat Club|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160226224937/http://aubc.asn.au/about-aubc/history-of-aubc.html|archivedate=26 February 2016|url-status=live}}

Adamson joined the Australian Public Service in 1985.{{cite news |last1=Tingle |first1=Laura |title=How Frances Adamson became DFAT's first female head |url=https://www.afr.com/life-and-luxury/how-frances-adamson-became-dfats-first-female-head-20160812-gqrfz5 |access-date=5 September 2021 |work=Australian Financial Review |date=25 September 2016 |language=en}} She was an economist at the Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong from 1987 to 1991, before moving to London where she worked at the Australian High Commission to the United Kingdom as a political counsellor for five years. She returned to Australia to work for the Department of Foreign Affairs in Canberra from 1998 until 2000, and then moved to Taipei where she was Representative to the Australian Commerce and Industry Office for five years. She returned to London as Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom from 2005 until 2008.{{citation|url=http://asialink.unimelb.edu.au/calendar/events/business_lunch_with_he_ms_frances_adamson,_australian_ambassador_to_the_peoples_repubulic_of_china_melbourne|title=Business Lunch with HE Ms Frances Adamson, Australian Ambassador to the People's Republic of China (Melbourne)|publisher=University of Melbourne|date=3 July 2014|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150407075030/http://asialink.unimelb.edu.au/calendar/events/business_lunch_with_he_ms_frances_adamson,_australian_ambassador_to_the_peoples_repubulic_of_china_melbourne|archivedate=7 April 2015 }}

While in London, Adamson met Foreign Minister Stephen Smith, who asked her to become his chief of staff.{{cite news|url=http://www.theaustralian.com.au/opinion/columnists/greg-sheridan/sound-hands-at-the-tiller-malcolm-turnbulls-picks-astute-picks/news-story/e23c3953f0bc7224a10574bd6d9dbf30|title=Sound hands at the tiller: Malcolm Turnbull's picks astute picks|first=Greg|last=Sheridan|author-link=Greg Sheridan|newspaper=The Australian|date=28 November 2015|publisher=News Corp Australia}} She took the role on condition that she could manage her young family, and that as a "career diplomat" she would not get involved in politics. When Smith moved to the Defence portfolio, she went with him.

Between 2011 and 2015, Adamson held the post of Australian Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, the first woman in the position.{{cite web|url=http://www.dfat.gov.au/homs/cn.html|author=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade|publisher=Australian Government|title=Ambassador to China|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327040820/http://dfat.gov.au/homs/cn.html|archivedate=27 March 2014}}{{cite web|url=http://www.china.embassy.gov.au/bjng/Ambassador.html|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226225059/http://china.embassy.gov.au/bjng/Ambassador.html|archivedate=26 February 2015|title=Australian Ambassador to China|publisher=Australian Government}}{{cite news|url=http://www.smh.com.au/national/beijing-envoy-appointed-20110320-1c28k.html|newspaper=The Sydney Morning Herald|publisher=Fairfax Media|title=Beijing envoy appointed|first=Hamish|last=McDonald|date=21 March 2011|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140809095411/http://www.smh.com.au/national/beijing-envoy-appointed-20110320-1c28k.html|archivedate=9 August 2014}}{{citation|url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/2015/11/07/meeting-frances-adamson-australias-first-lady-china/14468148002581|date=7 November 2015|title=Meeting Frances Adamson, Australia's first lady in China|first=Maxine|last=Beneba Clarke|newspaper=The Saturday Paper}} During her time there, the China-Australia Free Trade Agreement was negotiated and she has been credited with pushing the idea of partnership with the newly appointed Xi Jinping, allowing the "political and diplomatic relationships" between the two countries to "finally" catch up with the economic one.

In 2015, Adamson was appointed a foreign policy adviser to Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull.{{cite news|url=http://www.afr.com/news/politics/turnbulls-circles-of-power-20151104-gkr83g|quote=Former Beijing ambassador Frances Adamson will provide foreign policy advice.|title=Malcolm Turnbull overhauls the network of advisers at the highest level of government|date=6 November 2015|newspaper=Australian Financial Review|publisher=Fairfax Media}}{{cite news|url=https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2016/01/23/turnbulls-change-tone-foreign-affairs/14534676002793|title=Turnbull's change of tone in foreign affairs|first=Hamish|last=McDonald|newspaper=The Saturday Paper|date=23 January 2016|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160215001742/https://www.thesaturdaypaper.com.au/news/politics/2016/01/23/turnbulls-change-tone-foreign-affairs/14534676002793|archivedate=15 February 2016 }}

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.{{citation|url=http://dfat.gov.au/about-us/our-people/executive/Pages/biography-of-frances-adamson.aspx|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817143653/http://dfat.gov.au/about-us/our-people/executive/Pages/biography-of-frances-adamson.aspx|archivedate=17 August 2016|url-status=live|title=Biography of Ms Frances Adamson|publisher=Australian Government|author=Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade|date=2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-20/prime-minister-appoints-first-female-secretary/7645322|title=Frances Adamson appointed as DFAT's first female secretary|date=20 July 2016|first=Matthew|last=Doran|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation|website=ABC News|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160805062157/http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-20/prime-minister-appoints-first-female-secretary/7645322|archivedate=5 August 2016}}{{cite news|url=http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/frances-adamson-becomes-department-of-foreign-affairs-and-trades-first-female-secretary-20160720-gq9t27.html|newspaper=The Canberra Times|publisher=Fairfax Media|first=Markus|last=Mannheim|date=20 July 2016|url-status=live|title=Frances Adamson becomes Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's first female secretary|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20160817144128/http://www.canberratimes.com.au/national/public-service/frances-adamson-becomes-department-of-foreign-affairs-and-trades-first-female-secretary-20160720-gq9t27.html|archivedate=17 August 2016}}{{cite press release|url=https://www.pm.gov.au/media/2016-07-20/ms-frances-adamson-appointed-secretary-department-foreign-affairs-and-trade|publisher=Australian Government|first=Malcolm|last=Turnbull|author-link=Malcolm Turnbull|date=20 July 2016|access-date=18 August 2016|title=Ms Frances Adamson appointed Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170421035111/http://www.pm.gov.au/media/2016-07-20/ms-frances-adamson-appointed-secretary-department-foreign-affairs-and-trade|archive-date=21 April 2017|url-status=dead}}

In closing her diplomatic career, Adamson was highly critical of China. In her final address, as Secretary DFAT, at the National Press Club, on 23 June 2021, Adamson warned of Chinese "insecurity and power" and advised that Australia "needs to know what it is we’re dealing with". Adamson commented that Beijing was driven by the “volatile combination” of power and insecurity and there was no chance of its outlook changing in the short-term as it suffered from a “siege mentality”. Adamson’s criticisms had been reported throughout the preceding 12 months by the media including her accusations of China seeking to “stoke ethnic divisions in Australia”.News.com, 23 June 2021, https://www.news.com.au/national/politics/dfat-secretary-frances-adamson-warns-of-chinese-insecurity-and-power/news-story/f9469a8dcb9c306cc49918e66e07e69a{{Cite news |date=2021-06-23 |title=China 'dogged by insecurity as much as driven by ambition' DFAT boss says |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-06-23/frances-adamson-on-china-and-australia-relations/100237762 |access-date=2023-05-05}} {{Cite news |last=Hurst |first=Daniel |date=2020-11-25 |title=Australia's foreign affairs chief cautions China against resorting to 'coercion' |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/nov/25/australias-foreign-affairs-chief-cautions-china-against-resorting-to-coercion |access-date=2023-05-05 |issn=0261-3077}}{{Cite web |date=2020-10-29 |title=Top bureaucrat accuses China of stoking ethnic divisions in Australia |url=https://www.scmp.com/week-asia/politics/article/3107665/canberras-top-foreign-affairs-bureaucrat-accuses-china-seeking |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=South China Morning Post |language=en}}

Adamson served as president of the ACT Division of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) from 2017 to 2019 and outlined her views on public service in her final speech as president.{{Cite web|url=https://www.themandarin.com.au/113685-frances-adamson-trust-cooperation-and-inclusion-are-fundamental-for-good-policy-and-delivery/|title = Frances Adamson: Trust, cooperation and inclusion are fundamental to policy and delivery|date = 13 August 2019}} She was made a National Fellow of IPAA in 2019.{{Cite web|date=21 October 2020|title=IPAA National Fellows|url=https://www.ipaa.org.au/national-awards/national-fellows/|access-date=20 March 2021|website=National IPAA}}

On Wednesday 26 September 2018, IPAA ACT hosted a Secretary Address by Kathryn Campbell, then Secretary of the Department of Social Services, formerly Secretary of the Department of Human Services, and responsible for Robodebt. The event was chaired by Adamson, then Secretary of the DFAT and IPAA ACT President., In her closing chair remarks, Adamson congratulated Campbell and praised her performance as a Secretary including over Robodebt. The IPAA event was held after the completion of the Commonwealth Ombudsman Investigation into Robodebt in April 2017 and the subsequent First Senate committee inquiry which began in March 2017.Transcript, IPAA ACT Secretary Address by Kathryn Campbell, Chaired by Francess Adamson, 21 Sep 2018{{Cite web |title=IPAA ACT {{!}} Secretary Series {{!}} Kathryn Campbell CSC |url=https://www.act.ipaa.org.au/2018-pastevent-campbell |access-date=2023-05-05 |website=www.act.ipaa.org.au}}{{Citation |last=ACT |first=IPAA |title=Secretary Series - Kathryn Campbell CSC |date=2018-09-26 |url=https://vimeo.com/291847739 |access-date=2023-05-05}}Commonwealth Ombudsman, Lessons learnt about digital transformation and public administration: Centrelink’s online compliance intervention https://www.ombudsman.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/48813/AIAL-OCI-Speech-and-Paper.pdf{{Cite news |date=2017-03-07 |title=Centrelink debt recovery program to face Senate committee grilling |language=en-AU |work=ABC News |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-03-08/centrelink-debt-recovery-program-to-be-investigated/8334072 |access-date=2023-05-05}}

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.[https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-05-19/frances-adamson-announced-as-south-australias-new-governor/100148336 Frances Adamson announced as South Australia's new governor, replacing Hieu Van Le – ABC News], ABC News, 19 May 2021 Following her nomination for Governor of South Australia, Adamson retired from the public service in June 2021. Foreign Minister Marise Payne said Adamson was one of "Australia's most accomplished and respected public servants and diplomats" and Marshall said her "wealth of knowledge on the international stage will put South Australia in good stead as we continue to put South Australia on the global map."

Adamson was sworn in as Governor of South Australia in a formal ceremony at Government House, Adelaide on 7 October 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.skynews.com.au/australia-news/politics/frances-adamson-sworn-in-as-south-australia-governor/video/16faca6529b82533a922bd94c6b39bf8|title=Frances Adamson sworn in as South Australia Governor|publisher=Sky News|date=7 October 2021|access-date=7 October 2021}}

{{Infobox viceroy styles

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(2021–present)

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In the 2021 Queen's Birthday Honours Adamson was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for "eminent service to public administration through the advancement of Australia's diplomatic, trade and cultural interests, particularly with the People's Republic of China and the Indo-Pacific region, to innovative foreign policy development and high level program delivery, and as the 36th Governor appointed in South Australia."{{Cite web|title=Ms Frances Adamson|url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2009366|access-date=2021-06-13|website=It's An Honour}}

Adamson met and married Rod Bunten, a British diplomat, when they were both posted in Hong Kong. They have four children.{{cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/politics/federal/top-diplomat-and-public-servant-honoured-for-her-service-20210612-p580ft.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|title=Top diplomat and public servant honoured for her service|first=Rob|last=Harris|date=13 June 2021|access-date=7 October 2021}}

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{{commons category|Frances Adamson}}

• [https://www.governor.sa.gov.au/the-governor/the-governor Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, Governor of South Australia]

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{{s-ttl|title=Representative, Australian Commerce and Industry Office Taipei|years=2000–2005}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Australian Ambassador to China|years=2011–2015}}

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{{s-ttl|title=Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade|years=2016–2021}}

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Category:1961 births

Category:Living people

Category:Companions of the Order of Australia

Category:Governors of South Australia

Category:People from Adelaide

Category:Ambassadors of Australia to China

Category:University of Adelaide alumni

Category:Australian women ambassadors

Category:Representatives of Australia to Taiwan

Category:Women governors of the Australian states