Frances Adamson, Governor of South Australia, emphasized the growing depth of the India-Australia relationship during her recent visit to Bengaluru, spotlighting women’s leadership and innovation as key drivers of collaboration.
At the ‘Women in Leadership’ reception held on Monday, Adamson reflected on her own journey—from joining the Australian diplomatic service in 1985 to becoming the first woman to head the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) three decades later. She highlighted how a genuine women’s leadership strategy transformed DFAT, shifting from rhetoric to action. “It wasn’t just a slogan — it became a structured plan with measurable goals,” she said.
During her tenure, the proportion of women in ambassadorial positions rose significantly — from 25% to 46% — a change driven by internal pressure to align leadership representation with hiring figures.
Adamson noted that her Bengaluru visit underscored the people-centric and cooperative aspects of diplomacy. “It’s the connection with communities that I value most, beyond ceremonial roles,” she remarked.
Bengaluru’s status as a global tech hub holds particular relevance to South Australia, which is advancing in fields like artificial intelligence, water management, and space exploration. “We host the Australian Institute for Machine Learning and the Australian Space Agency — there’s substantial synergy between our innovation ecosystems,” she added.
The Governor also celebrated the surge in Indian students, especially young women, choosing South Australia for higher education, many of whom rise to leadership roles.
Australian Consul General Hillary McGeachy and StudyAdelaide CEO Jane Johnston also attended the event.