Reserve Bank appoints its first female deputy governor
MICHELE Bullock has been appointed deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia, the first woman to fill the role in the bank’s 62-year history.
Ms Bullock, currently an assistant governor, will replace the outgoing Guy Debelle, who left the bank on March 16 to pursue his passion for climate change at billionaire Twiggy Forrest’s Fortescue Future Industries.
Ms Bullock – who will start her new job immediately – said she was “honoured to be appointed deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia and excited by the opportunity to serve the people of Australia in this new role”.
RBA governor Philip Lowe said: “I warmly congratulate Michele on her appointment as the deputy governor of the Reserve Bank of Australia.
“Michele brings a wealth of experience to the position.
“She has played a leading role in the bank‘s work on financial stability and has a well-deserved international reputation for her work on payments systems.
“Michele also brings considerable management experience to the role and I look forward to working with her.”
Ms Bullock has held the position of assistant governor since 2010, most recently in the financial system division, which has responsibility for financial stability and oversight of the payment system.
Ms Bullock joined the RBA in 1985, and has held a range of senior roles across a number of departments within the bank.
Josh Frydenberg, in a statement on Thursday morning, said: “The Morrison government looks forward to working with Ms Bullock and thanks Mr Guy Debelle for his outstanding contribution to the RBA over nearly three decades including the last six years as deputy governor.” Opposition Treasury spokesman Jim Chalmers also welcomed the appointment.