Sam Mostyn has crammed more achievements into her 58 years than most people would in five lifetimes. As the nation’s new vice regal, it’s a fair bet she won’t settle for being a stuffed shirt cutting ribbons and hosting open days at Yarralumla.

In appointing her to succeed David Hurley as governor-general, Anthony Albanese blindsided the political establishment. Expectation and rumour for months has focused on an indigenous appointee.