The Right Revd Kay Goldsworthy has been elected Archbishop of Perth, the first woman to hold that office in the Anglican church in Australia. Kay Goldsworthy was consecrated as Australia’s first female bishop in 2008 and has served as Bishop of Gippsland, in Victoria, since 2015.

The Administrator of the Anglican Diocese of Perth, the Right Revd Kate Wilmot, welcomed the appointment, commending Bishop Kay’s commitment and significant experience:

“Bishop Kay was one of the first women ordained to the priesthood in St George’s Cathedral in 1992 and has a wealth of diocesan, national and international experience, including being a long-standing member of General Synod and a member of the international Anglican Consultative Council. The Archbishop-elect is well known in Perth and has displayed excellent leadership and hospitality across the Perth community. We are very much looking forward to welcoming Bishop Kay and her husband Jeri James back to the Perth community.”

Bishop Kay’s election follows an eight-month selection process by the Church, in the wake of the departure of former archbishop Roger Herft in December. The installation will take place in St George’s Cathedral, Perth, in February.