SA’s beloved Gov announces decision on future
The Premier wanted her to stay on – now Her Excellency The Honourable Frances Adamson AC has made a call on her tenure at Government House.
Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC – the state’s 36th governor – has released a statement regarding her future leading the state.
“As has already been reported in the media, the Premier has invited me to consider remaining as Governor beyond 6 October 2026, by which time I will have completed five years in office,” she said on Wednesday morning.
“I have today let the Premier know that, while I greatly appreciate the honour of being asked to continue, I have chosen not to do so.
“In the meantime, supported by my husband Rod, I will continue to serve the state and people of South Australia to the best of my ability.”
Adamson started in the role on October 7, 2021.
In an interview with SA Life magazine a few years ago, Adamson chatted about her remarkable diplomatic career, family life and the joys of career spanning from global to grass roots, back home in South Australia.
Adamson was appointed Vice Consul at the Australian Consulate-General in Hong Kong from 1987-90 and later a short-term assignment at the Australian Mission to the United Nations in New York. She then spent four and a half years as a political counsellor at the Australian High Commission in London.
A stint back in Canberra followed, then a posting to Taipei where she headed up the Australian Commerce and Industry Office for three and a half years.
Other high-profile leadership roles soon followed including Australia’s Deputy High Commissioner in London (2005-08), chief of staff to then Minister for Foreign Affairs Stephen Smith (2009-10), Australian Ambassador to the People’s Republic of China (2011-15), and foreign policy advisor to then-Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (2016).
Adamson studied economics at the University of Adelaide and while she was there, was appointed the first female captain of the boat club in its 103-year history.
She went on to join the Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs in 1985.
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In June 2021, Adamson was made a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to public administration through the advancement of Australia’s diplomatic, trade and cultural interests, particularly with the People’s Republic of China and the Indo-Pacific region, to innovative foreign policy development and high level program delivery, and as the 36th Governor appointed in South Australia.
She is also a Dame of Grace of the Order of St John and patron of some 120 organisations in her own right and more than 50 jointly with her husband.
Adamson is a Fellow of both the Institute of Public Administration of Australia and the Australian Institute of International Affairs. She holds Honorary Doctorates from the University of Adelaide and the Australian National University.
Adamson is married to Rod Bunten, a physicist, former British diplomat and high school teacher. They have four adult children.
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