Image: Incoming governor general Sam Mostyn at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Wednesday, April 3, 2024. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)
by GRACE JOHNSON
Sam Mostyn AO has been announced as the next governor general.
She will be Australia’s 28th governor general, and the second woman to serve in the post.
The Prime Minister said on Wednesday, “Sam Mostyn is an exceptional leader who represents the best of modern Australia.”
Taking over from David Hurley, she will be sworn into the role in July.
Ms Mostyn, former staffer to Paul Keating, rose to prominence for her corporate work advocating for women’s empowerment.
In 2021, she was appointed an officer of the Order of Australia for distinguished service to business, the community and women.
Unlike previous governor generals, who are generally selected from a small pool – of the last 10, 5 were lawyers, three were army men, one was a politician and the other an archbishop – Ms Mostyn worked not only in law but also in the corporate sector, the community sector, sport and the arts.
She studied arts and law at Australian National University and began her career as an associate in the NSW supreme court of appeal. Her alma mater gave her an honorary doctorate of laws in 2018.
Ms Mostyn was also the first woman appointed as commissioner of the Australian Football League.
She has been a board member or chair of several distinguished companies and nonprofits, including Transurban, Virgin Australia, Citibank Australia, and Beyond Blue, where she recently succeeded Julia Gillard as chair.
“Millions of Australians know this to be true, that being of service is what often provides a person with their greatest happiness and sense of purpose,” Ms Mostyn said.
“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.”
In addition to her advocacy work, Ms Mostyn still engages with communities on the grassroots level, regularly attending the Addi Road Writers’ Festival at the Marrickville community centre.
Co-artistic director of the festival Mark Mordue recently wrote about seeing Ms Mostyn “being hands-on involved in packing hampers for people caught up in lockdowns during Covid” and coming to Wednesday Night Lights and sitting “for a few hours chatting with people there who are dealing with welfare issues and homelessness and battling to stay on top of the cost-of-living crisis.”
“It’s an honour to know her and a pleasure to be able to say she will do good things, full heart and mind on the best for everyone in the community,” he said.
