Australia's Treasurer Jim Chalmers has named Sarah Court as the next chair of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission.
Currently serving as the agency’s deputy chair and chief enforcer, Court will succeed Joe Longo when his term concludes on May 31, making her the first woman to lead the corporate watchdog in its 35-year history.
Court's elevation follows a rigorous selection process where she reportedly emerged as the preferred successor over high-profile candidates, including ATO second-in-command Jeremy Hirschhorn.
Her appointment continues a transformative trend under the Chalmers Treasury, joining other historic female firsts such as RBA Governor Michele Bullock and Treasury Secretary Jenny Wilkinson.
With a career spanning 13 years at the ACCC before joining ASIC in 2021, Court is widely credited with hardening the regulator's "enforcement posture."
Alongside Longo, she oversaw a structural overhaul that simplified misconduct reporting and more than doubled formal investigations—from 110 to 252 in the last financial year.
Treasurer Chalmers lauded her expertise in litigation and market integrity, noting that under her guidance, ASIC has delivered some of its strongest enforcement results on record.
Longo also welcomed the move, stating the agency would remain in "capable hands."