Arthur Sinodinos
Arthur Sinodinos AO (/ˌsɪnəˈdiːnəs/ SIN-ə-DEE-nəs; born 25 February 1957) is an Australian diplomat and former Liberal Party politician who was the Ambassador to the United States between February 2020 and March 2023. He served as Chief of Staff to Prime Minister John Howard from 1997 to 2007 and was a Senator for New South Wales from 2011 to 2019, becoming a minister in the Abbott and Turnbull governments.
The Honourable Arthur Sinodinos AO | |
|---|---|
Sinodinos in 2020 | |
| 22nd Ambassador of Australia to the United States | |
| In office 7 February 2020 – 20 March 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Scott Morrison Anthony Albanese |
| Preceded by | Joe Hockey |
| Succeeded by | Kevin Rudd |
| Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science | |
| In office 24 January 2017 – 20 December 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Preceded by | Greg Hunt |
| Succeeded by | Karen Andrews |
| Cabinet Secretary | |
| In office 21 September 2015 – 24 January 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Malcolm Turnbull |
| Preceded by | Alan Griffin |
| Succeeded by | Position abolished |
| Assistant Treasurer of Australia | |
| In office 18 September 2013 – 19 December 2014 | |
| Prime Minister | Tony Abbott |
| Preceded by | David Bradbury |
| Succeeded by | Josh Frydenberg |
| Senator for New South Wales | |
| In office 13 October 2011 – 11 November 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Helen Coonan |
| Succeeded by | Jim Molan |
| Chief of Staff to the Prime Minister | |
| In office 1 September 1997 – 3 December 2007 | |
| Prime Minister | John Howard |
| Preceded by | Grahame Morris |
| Succeeded by | David Epstein |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 25 February 1957 Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Political party | Liberal |
| Residence | Rose Bay |
| Alma mater | University of Newcastle |
| Profession | Economist, investment banker and politician |
Sinodinos was born in Newcastle, New South Wales, and attended the University of Newcastle. For many years he was a public servant until becoming a political adviser. In 1997 he was appointed Chief of Staff to John Howard. After Howard's defeat at the 2007 election, Sinodinos spent time working for both Goldman Sachs and the National Australia Bank, before being appointed to fill a vacant seat in the Senate in 2011. After the Liberal victory at the 2013 election, newly-elected Prime Minister Tony Abbott appointed Sinodinos Assistant Treasurer. Sinodinos later stepped aside from his ministerial duties in 2014 during an investigation by the New South Wales Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). In September 2015, after Malcolm Turnbull's appointment as Prime Minister, Sinodinos was appointed Cabinet Secretary. He was later made Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science in January 2017. He resigned from the Government in December 2017, due to receiving treatment for cancer. In May 2019, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced that Sinodinos would become Ambassador to the United States.