Who is Sam Mostyn? Australia’s new Governor-General
A Canberran who grew up as the daughter of an Australian Army officer, Mostyn was the first female Australian Football League commissioner, and served for over a decade until 2017.
Anthony Albanese has announced that businesswoman and gender equality advocate Sam Mostyn AO will be Australia’s next governor-general.
Ms Mostyn, 59, is currently the chair of Women’s Economic Opportunities Review, and chair of Aware Super fund. She was previously the president of Chief Executive Women (CEW).
A Canberran who grew up as the daughter of an Australian Army officer, Ms Mostyn was the first female Australian Football League commissioner, and served for over a decade until 2017.
She has also held senior roles with Reconciliation Australia, the Australia Council for the Arts, and the National Mental Health Commission.
In December 2023 she was announced as the next chair of mental health support organisation Beyond Blue, taking over from former Prime Minister Julia Gillard.
Ms Mostyn completed Arts and Law degrees at the Australian National University.
In her early career, she was a senior communications adviser to former Prime Minister Paul Keating from 1995 and 1996 before becoming director of corporate affairs for Optus and then group director, human resources for Cable and Wireless and then for IAG.
Ms Mostyn, who is married with one daughter, Lotte, was in 2021 appointed an Officer of the order of Australia for her distinguished service to business, the community and women.
She will be sworn in on July 1, replacing David Hurley, who has served since 2019.
The Prime Minister, naming Mostyn as the 28th Governor-General of Australia, said: “Sam Mostyn is an exceptional leader who represents the best of modern Australia.
“She 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.”
“Her leadership reflects our enduring Australian values of equality, fairness and a responsibility to build a better future for the next generation,” he said.
It follows King Charles’s approval of the Mr Albanese’s recommendation that she be appointed as his representative in Australia. In a statement, Buckingham Palace said that The King, “has been pleased to approve the appointment of Ms Samantha Mostyn, as the governor-general designate of the Commonwealth of Australia.”
Ms Mostyn, the lawyer helming Mr Albanese’s Women’s Economic Equality Taskforce, is the second woman to hold the role of governor-general, following Dame Quentin Bryce who held the role from 2003 to 2008.
Speaking to reporters in Canberra, Ms Mostyn said her business experience and legal training would serve her new position.
“I’ve worked in the highest levels of many Australian companies and spent time working globally. I’ve also had the privilege of advising governments of all persuasions across the country,” she said.
“I can think of no greater purpose, prime minister, than to serve this country I love as governor-general, particularly at a time in our history when the challenges and opportunities we face are large and complex.”