Sam Mostyn facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Sam Mostyn
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Official portrait, 2024
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| 28th Governor-General of Australia | |
| Assumed office 1 July 2024 |
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| Monarch | Charles III |
| Prime Minister | Anthony Albanese |
| Preceded by | David Hurley |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
Samantha Joy Mostyn
13 September 1965 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia |
| Spouse | Simeon Beckett |
| Children | 1 |
| Education | Australian National University (BA, LLB) |
Samantha Joy Mostyn (born 13 September 1965) is an Australian businesswoman and leader. She became the 28th governor-general of Australia in July 2024. The Governor-General is the King's representative in Australia.
Mostyn has spoken out strongly about climate change and gender equality. She was the first woman to be a commissioner for the Australian Football League. She also led Chief Executive Women from 2021 to 2022. She has been a board member for many important companies and groups. These include Mirvac, Transurban, GO Foundation, the Climate Council, Virgin Australia, and the Sydney Swans. The Mostyn Medal, given to the best female AFLW player for the Sydney Swans, is named after her.
Contents
Early Life and School
Samantha Joy Mostyn was born in Canberra around 1965. She is the oldest of four sisters. One of her sisters has an intellectual disability, which meant her family was involved in helping people with disabilities. Her father, William "Bill" Mostyn, was a colonel in the Australian Army for almost 40 years. He served in the Vietnam War.
Mostyn spent her early years in Canberra. But because her father was in the military, her family moved often. She lived in Adelaide for two years with her grandmother while her father was in Vietnam. She also lived in Melbourne, the United States, and Canada. As a child, she loved sports and watching Australian rules football. She went to the ANZAC Dawn Service every year with her family.
Career Highlights
Mostyn has held many important roles in business and government. She has also worked with groups that support climate change action, gender equality, Indigenous reconciliation, and protecting the environment. Her work has included planning for businesses, managing people, changing company culture, and working with communities.
Working for the Public
After university, Mostyn became a solicitor, which is a type of lawyer. She worked part-time in the Magistrates Court and later helped a judge named Michael Kirby. She also worked as a solicitor for law firms like Freehills.
In 1992, Mostyn joined the government. She worked as a senior adviser for ministers like Bob Collins and Michael Lee. She helped with rules about new technologies like pay television. In 1995, Prime Minister Paul Keating asked her to join his team. She also helped plan the 2000 Summer Olympics in Sydney.
In 2022, the government asked Mostyn to lead the Women's Economic Equality Taskforce. This group looks at ways to make women's economic lives better. In 2023, this group suggested that parents should get paid leave for up to a year after having a baby.
Business and Other Roles
Mostyn joined the telecommunications company Optus in 1996. She was in charge of government and company relations. In 1998, a newspaper called her "one of the most powerful women in the information technology industry." Later, she worked for a company in London, managing human resources.
In 2000, Mostyn returned to Optus. She then moved to Insurance Australia Group in 2002.
In 2005, Mostyn became the first woman to join the AFL Commission. She helped create the AFL's Respect and Responsibility Policy. She also strongly supported starting the AFL Women's (AFLW) competition. From 2017, she worked with the Sydney Swans football club for six seasons. She still supports the GO Foundation, which helps Indigenous youth.
In 2010, Mostyn joined the board of Transurban. She also became a director for Citibank Australia.
In 2021, a newspaper called Mostyn Australia's "most influential" company director. She was on boards for companies worth over $480 billion. She was also the president of Chief Executive Women from 2021 to 2022.
As of April 2024, Mostyn is on the board of Mirvac, a property company. She also leads the boards of Aware Super, the Centre for Policy Development, and Albert Music Group.
Non-Profit Work
Mostyn became a director of Australia's National Research Organisation for Women's Safety (ANROWS) in 2018. She became its chair in 2022. ANROWS is a group that does research to help end domestic violence in Australia.
Mostyn has also served on many other non-profit boards. These include the Diversity Council of Australia, Reconciliation Australia, the Australia Council for the Arts, and Beyond Blue, which helps with mental health. She also worked with the National Mental Health Commission.
Climate Change Efforts
Mostyn is a strong supporter of action on climate change. She is the chair of the Climate Council. She has written about bushfires and climate change for this group. She is also a member of the Climate Change Authority.
She was one of the first board members of ClimateWorks Australia. This group does research to help Australia move towards a cleaner energy future. She also supports 1 Million Women, a group that encourages women to take action on climate change.
Governor-General Role
On 3 April 2024, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced that King Charles III had approved Mostyn's appointment. She became the next governor-general of Australia on 1 July 2024. She is the first Governor-General to be born in Canberra.
Many people welcomed her appointment. This included politicians, her colleagues, women's groups, the AFL, and veterans' associations. She was sworn into office on 1 July 2024.
Media Appearances
Mostyn has often written for and been quoted in the media. She has spoken about preventing domestic violence and supporting Indigenous Australian women. She was a guest on the TV show Q+A in March 2021.
In November 2021, Mostyn gave a speech at the National Press Club. She talked about how Australia could recover after the COVID-19 pandemic. She said that investing in care, like paid parental leave and childhood education, would help Australia use all its talent. She also said that women's work, especially in care industries, is often not valued enough.
She has also talked about how few women are CEOs in top Australian companies. She believes that having more women in leadership roles shows that women are equal. She has written in the Sydney Morning Herald about women and the economy.
Honours and Awards
| Viceregal styles of Sam Mostyn (2024–present) |
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| Reference style | Her Excellency the Honourable |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
National Awards
25 January 2021: She was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO). This was for her great work in business, sustainability, and the community, especially for women.- 10 June 2024: She was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC). This was for her outstanding service in social justice, gender equality, sports, culture, business, reconciliation, and environmental protection.
Special Degrees
- 2018: She received an Honorary doctorate of laws (LLD) from the Australian National University. This award is for people who have made amazing contributions to public service or law.
Honorary Positions
- 2024–present: Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Australian Army Medical Corps
- 2024–present: Colonel of the Regiment of the Royal Australian Regiment
Other Recognition
- 2015: The Mostyn Medal was named after her. It is given to the "best and fairest" women in AFL Sydney.
- 2019: She won an IGCC Climate Award.
- 2020: She received a United Nations Day Honour award. This award is for people who have made a big difference to the goals of the UN.
- 2023: She won the Edna Ryan award, called "Grand Stirrer."
- 2024: She was the National Winner of the Australian Awards for Excellence in Women's Leadership.
Personal Life
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Mostyn is married to Simeon Beckett, who is a barrister (a type of lawyer). They have one daughter.
See also
In Spanish: Samantha Mostyn para niños
