Frances Adamson

Who is Frances Adamson?

Frances Adamson is an Australian diplomat. Since 8 August 2011, she has held the post of Australian Ambassador to the People's Republic of China, and is the first woman to do so. Previous postings include Chief of Staff to Stephen Smith, Deputy High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Representative to the Australian Commerce and Industry Office in Taipei, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian High Commission to the United Kingdom and in Hong Kong. She joined the public service in 1985.

Adamson was born in Adelaide, Australia, and educated at Walford Anglican School for Girls and The University of Adelaide, where she received a Bachelor of Economics. She was also, in 1984, the first female captain of the Adelaide University Boat Club. She is married with four children.