Frances Adamson Archives

PSsst! Shivering in their boots

By The Mandarin

Federal

Flying the coop, foreign feelings, and London calling. PSsst! Here's what we've heard.

Three new department secretaries appointed

By Chris Johnson

Federal

Scott Morrison has appointed new secretaries for Foreign Affairs, Social Services and the Attorney-General’s Department.

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Insights and analysis

Still call Australia home – the public servants helping stranded Aussies through the COVID-19 pandemic

By Melissa Coade

Federal

Frances Adamson describes DFAT's COVID work as ‘the largest consular operation’ in the department’s history. And all with a backdrop of other volatile events.

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Interviews

The secretary and a yarning circle – lessons in listening

By Melissa Coade

Careers

When Frances Adamson, one of Australia’s top bureaucrats, travelled up north to deliver a speech on achieving an indigenous diplomacy agenda earlier this year, there…

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Columnists

The 39 steps to department secretary power – no Hitchcock required

By Virginia Haussegger

Editors' Picks

A rude number of ‘firsts’ for women this week. Rude because in 2021, are we really still experiencing 'the first woman past the post'?…

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Insights and analysis

Understanding why public sentiment on Beijing has soured

By Melissa Coade

Culture

An annual temperature check of Australian attitudes ‘towards the world around us’ has marked a shift in the public mood towards Beijing.

Adamson leaves DFAT on high note with focus on diverse workforce

By Shannon Jenkins

Culture

'The complexity we face ... demands that we have our most dynamic, creative and talented people on the case,' Adamson said in her last few…

Frances Adamson: China ‘dogged by insecurity’

By Shannon Jenkins

Federal

'Insecurity and power can be a volatile combination. More so, if inadvertently mishandled. We need to understand what we're dealing with,' said Adamson.

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Columnists

Opportunity knocks for those with Secretary ambitions (but mind your head)

By Verona Burgess

Editors' Picks

The drive to reach the top is not just about being close to political power, although that can be shockingly seductive. There’s a characteristic that…

PSst! I spy a spy

By The Mandarin

Australian Capital Territory

Pezzullo feels a draft, I spy a spy, and ‘back in the office’ agencies losing staff at a considerable rate but just can't seem to…

Adamson departure clears way for shakeup

By Chris Johnson

Editors' Picks

Beyond DFAT, other departments likely to be impacted by Frances Adamson’s imminent departure include Defence, Home Affairs, Attorney-General and even PM&C.

Frances Adamson named SA governor

By Shannon Jenkins

Federal

Outgoing Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade secretary Frances Adamson has been appointed as South Australia's 36th governor.

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‘Adversarial’ rhetoric towards China’s dominance reflects mood within national security circles

By Melissa Coade

Defence

A security analyst explains why we should pay attention to Mike Pezzullo’s ‘bleak’ warning about Australia’s national security position, especially when it comes to Beijing.

Frances Adamson: policymakers face ‘immensely challenging period’ in Indo-Pacific

By Shannon Jenkins

Federal

Australia's partners are positioning for the 4th industrial revolution, the dislocation of low-skilled workers in an age of AI and automation, cyber attacks, and other…

Public servants getting on with it in relation to China

By Shannon Jenkins

Editors' Picks

While it's been an enormous job for public servants from across various departments to overcome the China-Australia challenges, it's one they have risen to, as…