The Australian Government has announced Ms Frances Adamson will
be Australia's next Ambassador to the People's Republic of
China.
Ms Adamson is expected to take up her appointment in August 2011,
replacing Dr Geoff Raby who has been Ambassador since February
2007.
A senior career officer with the Department of Foreign Affairs and
Trade, Ms Adamson has previously served in Hong Kong and as
Representative of the Australian Commerce and Industry Office,
Taiwan.
She has also served in the United Kingdom including as Deputy High
Commissioner from July 2005 to January 2009. Between January 2009
and December 2010 she was Chief of Staff to Stephen Smith, both as
Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister for Defence.
Ms Adamson holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of
Adelaide, speaks Mandarin and is married with four children.