AOFM welcomes its 1st female CEO

Anna Hughes enters the role as the first woman to lead the Australian Office of Financial Management’s (AOFM) in its entire 23-year history.

The AOFM is in charge of issuing debt securities on behalf of the Australian government and manages the government’s cash and debt portfolios, along with providing advice on a variety of financial risks.

With over two decades of experience in leadership positions in both the private and public sectors, Ms Hughes has held senior finance roles throughout the Asia Pacific and in the South Australian government.

She will be taking over from former AOFM CEO, Rob Nicholl, who held the role with the organisation since 2011.

Ms Hughes was appointed to her new role by Treasury Secretary Steven Kennedy PSM and is set to commence with her role as of 16 January 2023.

Federal Treasurer Jim Chalmers MP thanked Ms Hughes’ predecessor for his “exemplary leadership” during his tenure as AOFM CEO and for his advice given to the government during “some of Australia’s most complex economic challenges”.

“Ms Hughes has big shoes to fill, but I have no doubt that she will do an outstanding job,” Mr Chalmers added.

Treasurer announces new APRA chair

Mr Chalmers recently announced the new chair of the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority (APRA), taking over from Wayne Byres.

John Lonsdale, previously APRA’s deputy chair, has taken over the role of chair from Mr Byres on 31 October 2022.

Mr Lonsdale was the organisation’s deputy chair since October 2018, having previously worked for the Australian Treasury, where he was a member of the Treasury’s executive committee as well as holding the position of deputy secretary, markets group at Treasury.

Mr Chalmers said at the time: “Mr Lonsdale has been a deputy chair of APRA since 2018 with responsibility for APRA’s regulation of banks, building the prudential regulator’s crisis resolution capability and strengthening its collaboration with peer regulators.

“Prior to joining APRA, he was a deputy secretary in the Australian Treasury where he had responsibility for the financial system and consumer and foreign investment policy. He helped shape Australia’s current regulatory system through his role as head of the Secretariat of the Financial System Inquiry in 2014.

“The government thanks Mr Wayne Byres, the outgoing chair, for his dedication and leadership over the past eight years.”

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