Former News Corp executive Siobhan McKenna has been appointed as Australia's next consul general to New York, a surprising choice given her history as a key strategist and trusted aide to Lachlan Murdoch, a vocal critic of the Labor government. The appointment places one of Australia's most influential media insiders into a role in Donald Trump's home city, where trade and conservative political networks intersect.
Appointment Raises Eyebrows in Political Circles
Veteran media analyst Peter Cox said the selection is about as far from appointing a traditional Labor stalwart as possible. "The appointment of Lachlan's 'right-hand person' will come as a surprise to many, but it would not have been made unless there's a good relationship there with the government," Cox said.
While McKenna is best known for her long association with News Corp, Labor governments have previously placed her in politically sensitive roles, including chairing the national broadband enterprise NBN Co and, currently, Australia Post.
The consul-general role is designed to promote Australia's economic interests in major global centres, where finance and politics often overlap. The position traditionally supports the broader strategy set by an ambassador.
McKenna's Role in Murdoch Family Trust Plan
The appointment marks a significant pivot for McKenna, who formerly headed News Corp's broadcasting division overseeing Foxtel and Sky News Australia, now known as News24.
US court documents recently revealed her central role in a contentious plan to amend a Murdoch family trust, giving Lachlan sole control over the Fox and News Corp media empire without interference from his siblings, in order to maintain its highly conservative editorial stance.
A Nevada judicial officer said in 2024 that the plan, known as Project Family Harmony, was an "attempt to stack the deck in Lachlan Murdoch's favour after Rupert Murdoch's passing so that his succession would be immutable". The probate commissioner, Edmund Gorman, added that "the evidence shows that Project Family Harmony had its origins with Siobhan McKenna and Lachlan Murdoch in the middle of 2023, before Rupert Murdoch was brought into the plan later that year".
The plan was ultimately unsuccessful, and the bitter legal battle involving Rupert Murdoch's heirs only ended when a financial deal was reached in 2025.
Departure from News Corp and New Role
McKenna left News Corp late last year after two decades with the conglomerate, shortly after the company sold its controlling stake in Foxtel. News Corp's global chief executive Robert Thomson said her departure was entirely her own choice.
"Her decision, as it is her decision, is essentially epochal as Siobhan has been a transformational force during her years with News Corp," Thomson told staff in an email in October 2025. "The word 'visionary' is often abused, but not in Siobhan's case, as her ability to perceive the future from the haze-shrouded shapes on the horizon is nonpareil. She is irreplaceable."
McKenna has kept a remarkably low public profile for such a prominent figure and is rarely profiled, despite a resume that includes board roles at Woolworths and the Ten television network. The 54-year-old has also served as a commissioner at the Australian Productivity Commission.
Prime Minister Defends Appointment
During a press conference announcing McKenna's appointment, Anthony Albanese was asked whether he had sought assurances she wouldn't "continue to lobby or deal with Mr Murdoch in advancing business interests".
"Siobhan McKenna is a professional, and she will do an outstanding job representing Australia and the Australian government here in New York," Albanese said. "And the fact that she has experience in both the private sector and the public sector is a very good thing. I'm someone who supports people being appointed on merit. Siobhan McKenna has been appointed on merit."
McKenna was contacted for comment on Monday and is due to start in the new role early in 2027.
