‘Best of the best’: New Treasury boss takes helm in historic move

Wilkinson, a “level-headed and sensible” economist, succeeds Steven Kennedy who will shift to secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet.

John KehoeEconomics editor

Jun 10, 2025 – 3.28pm

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Jenny Wilkinson will become the federal Treasury’s first female leader in the department’s 124-year history, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced on Tuesday.

Her elevation to head of the nation’s premier economic advising department has been anticipated among senior bureaucrats in Canberra’s corridors of power ever since she was named head of the Department of Finance in 2022.

John Kehoe is economics editor at Parliament House, Canberra. He writes on economics, politics and business. John was Washington correspondent covering Donald Trump’s first election. He joined the Financial Review in 2008 from Treasury.