Arthur Sinodinos

Background and early career

Sinodinos was born in Newcastle, New South Wales, to Greek immigrant parents.

Sinodinos graduated from the University of Newcastle in 1979 with a Bachelor of Commerce with Honours. He then entered the Australian Public Service as a graduate recruit, working within the Department of Finance, before working in the Department of the Treasury between 1980 and 1987 and again between 1989 and 1995.

He was the Chief of Staff to then Prime Minister John Howard from 1997 to 2006, after serving with him previously from 1987 to 1989 when he was Opposition Leader and rejoining him in 1995. As a close confidant of the Prime Minister, he was regarded as one of the most powerful people in the country.

Corporate career

Sinodinos left his position as the Prime Minister's Chief of Staff to become a director with the investment bank Goldman Sachs JBWere, and a regional general manager at the National Australia Bank; he reportedly declined an offer to become Australian Ambassador to the United States. In 2008, he was part of a panel that mediated public input into the Defence White Paper. In March 2009, he was appointed a managing director at the National Australia Bank.

Sinodinos became a director of Australian Water Holdings Pty Ltd (AWH) in 2008 and chairman in 2010. He resigned from these positions on becoming a senator.

Political career

Sinodinos was appointed to fill the vacant New South Wales Senate seat opened by the resignation of Helen Coonan on 13 October 2011. He served as honorary Finance Director (2009 to 2011) and President (2011–2012) for the NSW branch of the Liberal Party. Initially touted as a candidate for the lower house seat of Bradfield, Sinodinos was appointed to the Australian Senate representing New South Wales, replacing the resigned Liberal Senator Helen Coonan for the remainder of her term, which was due to expire on 30 June 2014. At the 2013 election he was elected to a further six-year term from 1 July 2014 to 30 June 2020. Howard was present in Parliament when Sinodinos delivered his maiden speech.

Sinodinos is a member of the board of Global Panel Foundation – Australasia, a non-governmental organisation.

During 2012 Sinodinos was a regular columnist, writing in The Australian.

On 19 March 2014, Sinodinos stood aside from his role as Assistant Treasurer prior to giving evidence as a witness before New South Wales's Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC). During the enquiry Sinodinos advised he was unaware of a $74,000 donation made to the Liberal Party by Australian Water Holdings, despite being Deputy chairman on a $200,000 salary. At the time of the payment Sinodinos was also Treasurer of the Liberal Party. He formally resigned on 19 December 2014 as Assistant Treasurer and was succeeded as Assistant Treasurer by Josh Frydenberg. ICAC eventually made no adverse findings against Sinodinos.

In January 2017, Sussan Ley temporarily stood aside as the Minister for Health and Aged Care and Minister for Sport and then subsequently resigned from the ministry. Sinodinos briefly acted in her portfolios until a subsequent rearrangement of the Turnbull ministry where Sinodinos was appointed as the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science. In October 2017, Sinodinos took leave from parliament and the ministry to aid his recovery from an unnamed type of cancer. He "believes the prognosis is very positive and that the cancer is eminently treatable". This was later revealed to be a stage four non-Hodgkin lymphoma, for which Sinodinos required a bone marrow transplant. He was voluntarily removed from cabinet in the December 2017 rearrangement.

On 1 May 2023, The Asia Group announced that Sinodinos will chair the organization's new Australia practice.

Ambassador to the United States

In May 2019, it was announced that Sinodinos would be appointed the next Australian Ambassador to the United States. He resigned as a member of the Senate on 11 November 2019. He replaced Joe Hockey as ambassador on 7 February 2020.

Honours

Sinodinos was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2008 for service to politics through the executive function of government, to the development of economic policy and reform, and to the Greek community.

Personal

Sinodinos lives in New South Wales with his wife, whom he met at a Greek Orthodox Church, and their three children.

References

References

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2. (16 September 2013). "Tony Abbott's cabinet and outer ministry". [[The Sydney Morning Herald]].
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4. (24 January 2017). "New federal ministers officially sworn in". Sky News.
5. Sinodinos, Arthur. (28 November 2011). "Senator Arthur Sinodinos interview". [[ABC Local Radio]].
6. (8 December 2006). "PM'S chief of staff resigns". news.com.au.
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8. Meterell, Mark. (8 December 2006). "PM's top gun quits for bank". The Sydney Morning Herald.
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10. (18 March 2008). "Top Howard aide signs with Labor". The Sydney Morning Herald.
11. "Profile of Arthur Sinodinos". Celebrity Speakers.
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16. (2011). "Biography for SINODINOS, Arthur". Parliament of Australia.
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18. (23 November 2011). "Howard flinches during Sinodinos maiden speech". ABC News.
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31. (11 November 2019). "I have just received a letter of resignation from Arthur Sinodinos @A_Sinodinos as a senator for NSW. The resignation takes effect immediately.". Twitter.
32. (18 January 2020). "Greg Norman, Tony Abbott fly to US for Joe Hockey's farewell". 9News.
33. (9 June 2008). "Search Australian Honours: SINODINOS, Arthur". Commonwealth of Australia.
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