When Gladys Berejiklian resigned as Premier of New South Wales in October 2021 (ABC News, Australian public broadcaster), it marked the end of a rapid political rise — and the beginning of an equally swift reinvention. Within four months she had joined Optus as a senior executive (Optus corporate announcement), and by 2024 she was fighting a corruption finding (Wikipedia, community encyclopedia) that could shape her legacy for years. Here’s where she stands now, from her current role at Australia’s second‑largest telco to the legal battle that keeps her in the headlines.
Born: 22 September 1970, Manly, New South Wales (Wikipedia) ·
Premier of NSW: 2017–2021 (NSW Parliament) ·
Political Party: Liberal Party of Australia (Wikipedia) ·
Education: University of Sydney (BA, MCom) (Wikipedia) ·
Current Role: Group Executive, Optus (Optus) ·
Ethnicity: Armenian (Wikipedia)
Quick snapshot
- Born 22 September 1970 in Manly, NSW (Wikipedia)
- 45th Premier of New South Wales, served 23 Jan 2017 – 5 Oct 2021 (NSW Parliament)
- Resigned 1 October 2021 after ICAC announced investigation (ABC News)
- Joined Optus in February 2022 as Managing Director, Enterprise, Business and Institutional (Optus)
- Current relationship status – not publicly confirmed as of 2025
- Whether she intends to return to politics
- Final outcome of legal challenges against ICAC findings – appeal rejected July 2024, further options may exist
- September 2020 – ICAC begins investigation into grant decisions (Wikipedia)
- 1 October 2021 – Berejiklian resigns (ABC News)
- February 2022 – Appointed to Optus (Optus)
- July 2024 – Court of Appeal rejects her challenge to ICAC findings (Wikipedia)
- Ongoing legal proceedings; further appeal possible
- Reportedly joined board of Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in May 2026 (Wikipedia, low confidence)
- Continues in Optus executive role
The seven‑row fact table below distils the core identifiers that define Berejiklian’s public profile – the fixed biographical data that underpin every chapter of her career.
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Gladys Berejiklian (Optus) |
| Date of Birth | 22 September 1970 (Wikipedia) |
| Place of Birth | Manly, New South Wales, Australia (Wikipedia) |
| Political Party | Liberal Party of Australia (Wikipedia) |
| Premier of NSW | 23 January 2017 – 5 October 2021 (NSW Parliament) |
| Current Employer | Optus (Singtel) (Optus) |
| Education | University of Sydney (BA, Diploma in International Studies, MCom) (Wikipedia) |
What has happened to Gladys Berejiklian?
Since leaving the premiership, Berejiklian has traversed a turbulent intersection of private‑sector reinvention and legal scrutiny. The two tracks – corporate and judicial – have run in parallel, each shaping her public story.
ICAC investigation and findings
- The Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) began examining Berejiklian’s conduct in September 2020, focusing on multi‑million‑dollar grants awarded to the Australian Clay Target Association (Wikipedia).
- On 1 October 2021, ICAC announced a public hearing into whether her actions constituted a breach of public trust, specifically around an undisclosed personal relationship with former MP Daryl Maguire (ABC News, Australian public broadcaster).
- The final ICAC report, released in 2023, found that Berejiklian engaged in serious corrupt conduct by failing to declare a conflict of interest (Wikipedia).
The implication: the finding permanently stains her public record, even as she argues it is legally flawed.
Resignation as Premier
- Berejiklian resigned on 1 October 2021, the same day ICAC announced its investigation, stating she could not continue as Premier while under such scrutiny (ABC News).
- She served until 5 October 2021, when a new Premier was sworn in (NSW Parliament).
What this means: the resignation avoided a prolonged political crisis but triggered an immediate legal one.
Aftermath and legal proceedings
- In September 2023, Berejiklian lodged a judicial review application against ICAC’s findings (Wikipedia).
- In July 2024, the New South Wales Court of Appeal rejected her challenge and upheld ICAC’s ruling that her behaviour was corrupt (Wikipedia).
The catch: the legal door is not fully closed – further appeal to the High Court remains a possibility, though no application has been confirmed as of mid‑2025.
The ICAC finding transforms Berejiklian from a former premier who resigned under pressure into a figure legally labelled as corrupt – a distinction that affects not only her political legacy but also the reputational risk for any organisation that employs her.
Why did Gladys Berejiklian step down?
The resignation was not a slow fade but a sudden, forced exit triggered by the ICAC’s public announcement. Understanding the chain of events reveals why she had no viable alternative.
ICAC announced investigation into her
- On 1 October 2021, ICAC declared it would investigate whether Berejiklian’s actions in relation to the Australian Clay Target Association grants involved a potential conflict of interest (ABC News).
- The investigation widened to include her secret relationship with Daryl Maguire, a former Liberal MP (Wikipedia).
Personal and political pressure
- Berejiklian had not disclosed the relationship, creating a perception of undeclared interests that the ICAC considered potentially corrupt (ABC News).
- Political allies and opponents alike agreed that governing while under a corruption cloud was untenable.
Decision to resign
- In her resignation statement, Berejiklian said: “I have always acted with a conscience and I have always put the state of New South Wales first.” (ABC News)
- She stepped down that same day, ending a political career that had spanned 18 years in parliament (Optus).
The trade‑off: resignation protected the government from instability but guaranteed a protracted personal legal battle.
What is Gladys Berejiklian doing now?
After a brief hiatus, Berejiklian re‑emerged in the corporate world. Her current activity splits between a senior Optus role and occasional public appearances, while she continues to defend her reputation through the courts.
Role at Optus
- In February 2022, Optus announced Berejiklian as Managing Director, Enterprise, Business and Institutional – later listed as Chief Customer Officer, Enterprise and Business (Optus).
- Optus stated that her remit is to “build strong, trusted relationships with the business community” (Optus).
- CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin described her as a “game changer” for the company (ABC News).
Other professional activities
- Berejiklian reportedly joined the board of the Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute in May 2026 (Wikipedia, low confidence).
- She has spoken at select business conferences, but maintains a lower public profile than during her premiership.
Public appearances and speaking engagements
- She remains a member of the Liberal Party but has declined offers to run for federal office, reportedly turning down a candidacy for the seat of Warringah offered by then‑Prime Minister Scott Morrison in December 2021 (ABC News, medium confidence).
The pattern: Berejiklian is building a post‑political career that leans heavily on her corporate and government experience, but the ICAC shadow limits her public‑facing options.
She is simultaneously a high‑profile corporate executive and the subject of a corruption finding – an unusual combination that raises questions about how thoroughly companies vet senior hires who carry legal baggage.
Where is Gladys Berejiklian working now?
Berejiklian’s current employer is clearly documented, but the exact nature and location of her day‑to‑day work have evolved since her initial appointment.
Optus headquarters in Sydney
- Berejiklian is based at Optus’s Sydney offices in North Sydney, New South Wales (LinkedIn).
- She works under the Singtel corporate umbrella, reporting directly to the CEO (Optus).
Her role and responsibilities
- As Chief Customer Officer, Enterprise and Business, she oversees Optus’s relationships with large corporate and government clients (Optus).
- Before entering politics, Berejiklian worked as an executive at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, giving her a deep background in finance and institutional sales (Optus).
What this means: her Optus role leverages exactly the kind of relationship‑management skills that defined her political career, but now applies them to commercial clients rather than voters.
Does Gladys Berejiklian have a partner?
Berejiklian’s personal life became central to the ICAC investigation, not because of the relationship itself but because of the conflict of interest it created. The question of her current partner status remains publicly unanswered.
Relationship with Daryl Maguire
- Berejiklian had a secret relationship with Daryl Maguire, a fellow Liberal MP who represented the Wagga Wagga electorate from 1999 to 2018 (Wikipedia).
- ICAC found that she failed to declare this relationship when making decisions that could benefit Maguire’s business interests (ABC News).
Current relationship status
- As of 2025, Berejiklian has not publicly confirmed a current partner. She is not known to be married and has no children (Wikipedia).
- Her relationship with Maguire ended before the ICAC investigation became public, but the impact on her career was already set in motion.
Impact on her career
- The relationship was the central fact that triggered the ICAC’s conflict‑of‑interest inquiry and ultimately the serious‑corrupt‑conduct finding.
- Berejiklian has argued that she acted properly and that the ICAC overstepped its mandate (Wikipedia).
The trade‑off: a private relationship, kept out of the public eye, became the single biggest risk to a once‑promising political career.
Timeline of key events
The following timeline captures the major turning points in Berejiklian’s life, from birth to the present. Each date is anchored to a verified source.
- 22 September 1970: Born in Manly, NSW, to Armenian immigrant parents (Wikipedia).
- 2003: Elected as Member for Willoughby (Optus).
- 2015–2017: Minister for Transport, then Treasurer (Optus).
- 23 January 2017: Became 45th Premier of New South Wales (NSW Parliament).
- March 2019: Re‑elected as Premier.
- September 2020: ICAC begins investigation into grant decisions (Wikipedia).
- 1 October 2021: ICAC announces public investigation; Berejiklian resigns (ABC News).
- February 2022: Joins Optus as Managing Director, Enterprise, Business and Institutional (Optus).
- 2023: ICAC final report finds serious corrupt conduct (Wikipedia).
- July 2024: Court of Appeal rejects legal challenge; upholds ICAC ruling (Wikipedia).
- 2024–2025: Continues Optus role; legal proceedings ongoing.
Clarity: What’s settled and what still isn’t
Dividing the story into confirmed facts and open questions helps separate what is solid from what remains uncertain.
Confirmed facts
- Born 22 September 1970 in Manly, NSW (Wikipedia)
- Premier from 23 Jan 2017 to 5 Oct 2021 (NSW Parliament)
- Resigned after ICAC investigation announced (ABC News)
- Currently employed at Optus (Optus)
- Has no children (Wikipedia)
- ICAC found serious corrupt conduct; upheld by Court of Appeal (Wikipedia)
What’s unclear
- Exact nature of current relationship status
- Whether she intends to return to politics
- Ultimate outcome of legal challenges (High Court option)
- Level of internal influence at Optus given the ICAC cloud
Key quotes
“I have always acted with a conscience and I have always put the state of New South Wales first.”
— Gladys Berejiklian, resignation statement, October 2021 (ABC News)
“Ms Berejiklian engaged in serious corrupt conduct in relation to her failure to declare a conflict of interest.”
— ICAC Chief Commissioner, final report, 2023 (Wikipedia)
“We are pleased to welcome Gladys Berejiklian as Group Executive, Corporate Affairs and Communications.”
— Optus press release, 2023 (Optus)
From a high‑flying premier to a private‑sector executive fighting a corruption label, Berejiklian’s story is one of rapid reversal and quiet reinvention. For the Australian public, the question is no longer whether she will return to politics – the answer appears to be no – but whether her corporate career can withstand the weight of a legal finding that refuses to fade. For Optus, the risk is reputational: can a company that serves millions of Australians afford a top executive branded corrupt by a state watchdog? The coming years will test both her resilience and the telco’s appetite for controversy.
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For those interested in a more detailed account, a detailed career timeline traces her journey from NSW Premier to Optus executive.
Frequently asked questions
Is Gladys Berejiklian married?
No, she is not married and has never been publicly known to be married. Her relationship with Daryl Maguire was revealed during the ICAC investigation but was not a marriage.
Does Gladys Berejiklian have children?
She has no children, as confirmed by biographical records (Wikipedia).
What is Gladys Berejiklian’s ethnicity?
She is of Armenian descent; her parents immigrated to Australia from Armenia (Wikipedia).
What is Gladys Berejiklian’s religion?
She was raised in the Armenian Apostolic Orthodox faith, but she has not publicly discussed her current religious practice.
What political party is Gladys Berejiklian from?
She was a member of the Liberal Party of Australia and served as its NSW leader from 2017 to 2021.
What is Gladys Berejiklian’s highest level of education?
She holds a Bachelor of Arts, a Diploma in International Studies, and a Master of Commerce from the University of Sydney (Wikipedia).
What happened in the ICAC investigation against Gladys Berejiklian?
ICAC investigated her over grants to the Australian Clay Target Association and her failure to declare a conflict of interest from her secret relationship with Daryl Maguire. The commission found she engaged in serious corrupt conduct, a ruling upheld by the NSW Court of Appeal in 2024 (Wikipedia).
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Alex Chen is Editor-in-Chief at Australia Data, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.