Samantha Mostyn announced as Australia’s next governor-general

Mostyn, approved by His Majesty King Charles III, will succeed His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley AC DSC (Ret’d) and will be Australia’s 28th governor-general when she is sworn in on 1 July this year. The governor-general holds office at the pleasure of the king, however, the term is usually understood to be five years.

In 2021, Mostyn was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to business, the community, and women. She started her career as an associate in the Court of Appeal of the NSW Supreme Court and has worked at law firms Freehills and Gilbert + Tobin. She has more recently been awarded an honorary doctorate of laws from the Australian National University.

She has also been a member of the Australian faculty of The Prince of Wales’s Business & Sustainability Programme for 12 years, and a senior associate in the International Programme.

Accepting the appointment, Mostyn reflected on family values as the daughter of an army officer.

“I’m deeply honoured by this great privilege and look forward to representing the values, hopes and aspirations of all Australians,” according to Governor-General Designate Samantha Mostyn AO.

“I will never underestimate or take for granted the expectations that come with high office and I am ready to serve with integrity, compassion, and respect.

“Like most people, and certainly most people in Australia, my fundamental values were set early by my parents and our family life.

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“Along with my three younger sisters, I grew up in an army family, our father a Royal Military College Duntroon graduate who served Australia with distinction for almost 40 years, supported by the generosity, love, care, and selflessness of our late mother.

“In my very early years, my dad’s military service took us to the United States and Canada before returning to Australia and living in Adelaide and Melbourne, including time spent with my grandmother when my father served in Vietnam. We learned to be resilient.”

Mostyn has been employed at senior levels in telecommunications and insurance companies in Australia and globally. She has also held senior non-executive roles on boards including Transurban, Virgin Australia, and has been chair of Citibank Australia. She currently chairs Aware Super and Alberts Music Group and is on the board of Mirvac.

She has been a commissioner with the Australian Football League (AFL) and a driving force behind the AFL Women’s (AFLW).

Mostyn has chaired multiple not-for-profit boards, including Beyond Blue, the Foundation of Young Australians, Australians Investing in Women, Ausfilm, and the Australian National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety and Australian Volunteers International. She has been president of the Australian Council for International Development and president of Chief Executive Women as well as a National Mental Health commissioner.

“Being of service is what often provides a person with their greatest happiness and sense of purpose. That is certainly the case for me and I can think of no greater purpose … 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,” she said.

“My legal training, including time spent in courts from the Magistrates Court here in Canberra to the Court of Appeal of the New South Wales Supreme Court, ensures that 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.

“My final reflections are reserved for the most important people in my life, my husband Simeon, a senior barrister and our talented and creative daughter, Lottie. A decision to serve the Australian people could only be taken in partnership with my family. Their unwavering support in enthusiastically accepting this appointment in the knowledge and understanding of the considerable changes to our family life is something I will always value. I love them dearly and they will be a big part of what I do as your next governor-general.”

Mostyn replaces His Excellency General the Honourable David Hurley, who will conclude his appointment on 1 July 2024. Hurley, an Australian former senior officer in the Australian Army, has served as the 27th governor-general of Australia since 1 July 2019.

“On behalf of all Australians, I sincerely thank our 27th Governor-General, His Excellency General David Hurley for his outstanding service,” said Prime Minister Anthony Albanese.

“David Hurley has done his duty with dignity, humility and great respect for the country he loves. I wish him, and Mrs Hurley, all the very best for the next chapter of their lives together.

“And on a personal note, I thank him for his engagement with me as Prime Minister, that we have had a respectful dialogue between the Governor-General and Prime Minister, which is so important for the nature of our democracy.”