Steven Marshall to head Australian American Association in New York

Former SA premier Steven Marshall is moving to New York to head the Australian American Association – the first time an Australian has been recruited to head the organisation.

Former SA premier Steven Marshall will become the first Australian to run the Australian American Association in New York. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Former South Australian premier Steven Marshall is moving to New York to head the Australian American Association – the first time an Australian has been recruited to head the organisation in its 76-year history.

Mr Marshall will succeed former US ambassador to Australia John Berry as AAA president from January 1, weeks before Donald Trump’s return as US president amid growing uncertainty over trade relationships.

The appointment of Mr Marshall is being hailed as a fillip for protecting that relationship, given his strong work as SA premier in strengthening economic ties with the US.

As premier from 2018 to 2022, Mr Marshall opened SA’s first US trade missions in San Francisco, New York and Houston, helping foster ties between the US and his home state.

He also championed the creation of Adelaide’s Lot Fourteen, the innovation district doing pioneering work in advanced manu­facturing, defence, space and IT, much of it involving companies with links to the US.

“This really is a dream job for me,” Mr Marshall said. “It feels like a return to my natural habitat as a tremendous chance to do what I love, promoting Australia overseas.

“The relationship between the US and Australia is a hugely important one. It’s the largest consumer and capital market in the world and it is absolutely crucial that we maintain and strengthen that relationship.”

Mr Marshall said he was unfazed taking on the role at a time when the US risked becoming protectionist under Mr Trump, as evidenced by his tariff threats against a close ally in Canada.

“I personally see that the world is in some ways moving away from globalisation towards balkanisation into different trading blocs,” he said.

“That’s why relationships are so important and there is so much common interest between Australia and the US. The AAA has always been at the forefront in protecting and expanding that common interest and I can’t wait to be part of it.”

Mr Marshall remains well regarded and well connected both in SA and nationally, and on both sides of politics. His passion for trade and emerging industries was such that his successor, Peter Malinauskas, canvassed the prospect of appointing him as a roving ambassador for the state.

AAA chairman Craig Chapman said the appointment of Mr Marshall was a natural progression for the former premier.

“Mr Marshall led a strategic transformation of his state’s economy, focusing on future industries such as advanced manufacturing, space, and defence,” he said. “His leadership was instrumental in positioning SA as a global hub for innovation, attracting significant investments in the tech, defence, energy, and film sectors.”

Established by Sir Keith Murdoch in New York City in 1948, the AAA is the leading privately funded organisation supporting American-Australian relations.

It provides scholarships and exchanges for young American and Australian leaders to undertake study, research, and professional and artistic develop­ment in each other’s country.

To date, the association has awarded more than $18m to more than 1100 postgraduate, veteran, artistic and indigenous scholars.