Australia Appoints Wilkinson First Woman Treasury Secretary

Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has appointed Jenny Wilkinson as the new Secretary of the Treasury, making her the first woman to hold this top economic position. Wilkinson, previously Secretary of the Department of Finance, will replace Steven Kennedy, who will become Secretary of the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet. Wilkinson’s appointment brings her a seat on the Reserve Bank of Australia's monetary policy board and positions her at the center of key public policy and budget decisions amid international upheavals and a challenging fiscal outlook. She has an extensive public service background, including senior roles in multiple departments and played a critical role in managing Australia’s economic response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Albanese praised both Wilkinson and Kennedy as outstanding public servants who will continue contributing significantly to the nation’s economic and administrative strength. This leadership transition is regarded as a strategic shift that could influence fiscal policy and industry confidence across sectors represented in the ASX 200.