Incoming GG Samantha Mostyn recognised in King’s Birthday honours

Incoming governor-general Samantha Mostyn has been awarded the nation’s highest honour just weeks before she takes up her job as the King’s representative in Australia.

Incoming governor-general Samantha Mostyn has been awarded the nation’s highest honour just weeks before she takes up her job as the King’s representative in Australia, in an unusual move highlighting her lack of traditional military, judicial and government experience compared to her predecessors.

Incoming governor-general Samantha Mostyn has been awarded the nation’s highest honour just weeks before taking up her job as the King’s representative, in an unusual move highlighting her lack of traditional military, judicial and government experience compared to predecessors.

The renowned women’s activist and corporate leader will be a Companion of the Order of Australia for her eminent service in the social justice, sporting, gender equality and business sector work.

Ms Mostyn is the first governor-general in almost 20 years not to already have an AC before she moves into Government House in Yarralumla, Canberra.

When Anthony Albanese unveiled Ms Mostyn as the nation’s second female governor-­general, he lauded the business leader as someone who has “lived her life in the service of a powerful Australian principle: when more people have the opportunity to fulfil their potential, our nation is a better place”.

“This understanding has driven Sam’s tireless advocacy for gender equality, particularly in the world of business, for women’s safety and for reconciliation,” the Prime Minister said in April.

The governor-general designate – who cannot make public comments until she takes over from incumbent David Hurley – promised in April to represent “the values, hopes and aspirations of all Australians”.

“I understand and deeply respect our institutions, the rule of law and in particular the democratic will of the Australian people when it comes to our constitutional arrangements. It is this that will guide me in carrying out the duties of this office,” she said.

Ms Mostyn will become the Order of Australia’s Chancellor and administer the honours when she takes up the governor-general post in July, giving the government a reason to give her the AC.

Her most recent predecessors, Mr Hurley and Sir Peter Cosgrove, were awarded ACs years before they became governor-general as a result of their service in the Australian Defence Forces.

Dame Quentin Bryce received an AC for her groundbreaking work in law and women’s rights nearly five years before becoming the first female governor-general.

The late Michael Jeffrey was also awarded an AC more than seven years before his governor-generalship on the back of his experience as a military commander and governor of WA.

The last governor-general to get an AC just before becoming the monarch’s representative was then Anglican archbishop of Brisbane Peter Hollingworth in 2001.

Mr Hollingworth was, like Ms Mostyn, an out-of-the-box choice for governor-general and the first religious leader in Yarralumla. He was forced to resign 18 months into the job over allegations he covered up child abuse by a church teacher when he was an archbishop.

Samantha Mostyn will serve as the 28th governor-general from July 1.

Ms Mostyn – who worked for the Labor government in the 1990s under communications minister Michael Lee, transport minister Bob Collins and then-prime minister Paul Keating – will serve as the 28th governor-general from July 1.

Her appointment followed months of speculation about who would take the job, with Kim Beazley, Ken Wyatt, Patrick Dodson, Tom Calma, Susan Kiefel, Glyn Davis and current Indigenous Australians Minister Linda Burney raised as possibilities.

Ms Mostyn’s former role as a Labor staffer, attendance at Mr Albanese’s 2022 election victory party and past social media posts elicited criticism from Coalition figures, who said it was “the most political pick for G-G in a long time”.

She has a long history of executive and governance roles across sport, climate change, the arts and not-for-profit sector, and was recently president of Chief Executive Women an organisation representing prominent and influential women from the corporate, public service, academic and not-for-profit sectors.