Our Joint Patrons

Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC

Governor of South Australia

Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC is a proud sixth-generation South Australian - her mother, the Honourable Jennifer Cashmore AM, was a South Australian parliamentarian and her late father, Ian, was a manager at Hills Industries. Her late step‑father, Stewart Cockburn AM, was a distinguished Walkley award winning journalist.

Her Excellency studied economics at the University of Adelaide, while there becoming the first female captain of the rowing club in its 103 year history, and went on to join the Commonwealth Department of Foreign Affairs in 1985. She worked in Hong Kong during the early years of China’s reform and opening, eventually becoming Australia’s Ambassador to China from 2011-2015.

In 2016, Her Excellency was appointed head of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, pursuing Australia’s interests as world powers shifted and the COVID-19 pandemic took hold. She also led the department through a period of cultural change, encouraging more women into senior ranks.

She has also been International Adviser to the Prime Minister and Chief of Staff to the Foreign Minister and Defence Minister.

In June 2021 Her Excellency was made a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to public administration through the advancement of Australia's diplomatic, trade and cultural interests, particularly with the People's Republic of China and the Indo-Pacific region, to innovative foreign policy development and high level program delivery, and as the 36th Governor appointed in South Australia.

Her Excellency is married to Mr Rod Bunten, a former British diplomat and high school teacher. They have four adult children and a cavoodle, Alfie.

Mr Rod Bunten

Husband of the Governor of South Australia

Mr Bunten grew up in Cornwall and Gloucestershire.

He studied Physics as an undergraduate and postgraduate at the University of Oxford.

In 1984, he joined the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office and began a successful career as a diplomat, undertaking postings in New York, Taiwan and Canberra.

Mr Bunten met Her Excellency the Honourable Frances Adamson AC, who was then an Australian diplomat, while they were both posted in Hong Kong.

In 2009, Mr Bunten left the British Foreign and Commonwealth Office FCO and after completing a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education at the University of Canberra, commenced a second career as a secondary school teacher of physics and mathematics.

For the next decade he taught at Melba Copland Secondary School, pausing from 2012 to 2015 when he accompanied Her Excellency to China, where she was Australian Ambassador.

Mr Bunten has also been a tutor to students at the Australian Defence Force Academy and Canberra University.

To find out more about our joint patrons please visit governor.sa.gov.au