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The Albanese government has proposed leadership changes across federal government departments, with one outgoing secretary to support Australia’s defence capability strategy under AUKUS.
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Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has announced the appointment of Jan Adams AO PSM as the new Secretary of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, effective from 1 July.
Adams, a senior career officer with DFAT, currently serves as Australia’s Ambassador to Japan.
The new appointee has previously served as Ambassador to China, as a senior trade negotiator, and as Ambassador for Climate Change.
Adams has also been posted to Washington and to the OECD Secretariat in Paris.
She replaces Kathryn Campbell AO CSC, who has served as Secretary of DFAT since July 2021.
Prime Minister Albanese has revealed Campbell would now assume an unspecified “senior appointment” in the Defence portfolio in an “AUKUS-related role”.
Prior to joining DFAT, Campbell served as Secretary of the Department of Social Services from September 2017 to July 2021 and Secretary of the Department of Human Services from 2011 to 2017.
Secretary of Defence Greg Moriarty, Secretary of Home Affairs Michael Pezzullo AO, and Secretary of Veterans’ Affairs Elizabeth Cosson AM CSC have retained their positions.
Joining Jan Adams as new appointees are Jim Betts, named as Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications and the Arts; Natalie James, named as Secretary of the Department of Employment and Workplace Relations. James has an extensive career in public service and employment and workplace relations; and Jenny Wilkinson PSM, named as Secretary of the Department of Finance.
“I congratulate Mr Betts, Ms Adams, Ms James and Ms Wilkinson on their appointments,” Prime Minister Albanese said.
The Prime Minister is expected to soon announce appointment of Secretary of the Department of Industry, Science and Resources, with acting secretaries to be appointed by ministers.
The changes are subject to approval from the Governor General.
[Related: ‘Watch this space’: AUKUS subs announcement nears ]
