Chris Dawson (governor)

Christopher John Dawson AC APM is the 34th Governor of Western Australia and a former police officer who served as the Commissioner of the Western Australia Police Force from 2017 to 2022.^[1][2][3] He was sworn in as governor on 15 July 2022.^[4]

His Excellency The Honourable Chris Dawson AC APM
Dawson in 2022
34th Governor of Western Australia
Incumbent
Assumed office 15 July 2022
Monarchs	Elizabeth II Charles III
Premier	Mark McGowan Roger Cook
Lieutenant Governor	Peter Quinlan
Preceded by	Kim Beazley
Commissioner of Western Australia Police
In office 15 August 2017 – 14 July 2022
Preceded by	Karl O'Callaghan
Succeeded by	Col Blanch
Personal details
Born	Christopher John Dawson 1958/1959 (age 65–66)
Spouse	Darrilyn
Children	2
Residence	Government House, Perth (official)
Education	Perth Modern School
Profession	Police officer Public servant
Police career
Allegiance	Western Australia Police Force
Department	Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Australian Institute of Criminology 2014–2017
Branch	State Emergency and Vaccine Coordination
Service years	1976–2022
Rank	Commissioner (2017–2022) Deputy Commissioner (2004–2014) Superintendent (1999–2004)
Awards	Australian Police Medal (2002)

Police career

Dawson joined Western Australia Police in February 1976 as a cadet. He was promoted to superintendent in 1999. The 2002 Queen's Birthday Honours saw him receive the Australian Police Medal. Dawson was appointed Deputy Commissioner in July 2004 under Karl O'Callaghan. Dawson led security arrangements at CHOGM 2011. He left Western Australia Police in April 2014 to be chief executive officer of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission. He was also Director of the Australian Institute of Criminology. He became the Commissioner of Western Australia Police in August 2017.^[5][6][7] Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Dawson acted in a number of roles, including State Emergency Coordinator and Vaccine Commander.^[8][9] Dawson received an honourable send-off on 14 July 2022 at Western Australia Police headquarters after five years as commissioner.^[9]

Governor of Western Australia

On 4 April 2022, Premier Mark McGowan announced Dawson as the replacement to Kim Beazley as the Governor of Western Australia, after Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, and the WA Cabinet endorsed Dawson's appointment on the same day.^[10][11] He was sworn in on 15 July 2022 and was replaced as Police Commissioner by his former deputy Col Blanch.^[12][13] Dawson was the first police officer to be appointed as the Queen's representative for Western Australia.^[9]

Dawson was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in the 2023 Australia Day Honours for "eminent service to public administration through law enforcement roles, to reconciliation, and as the 34th Governor appointed in Western Australia".

Honours

Viceregal styles of Chris Dawson (2022–present)
Reference style	His Excellency the Honourable
Spoken style	Your Excellency

Orders

• 26 January 2023: Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) "For eminent service to public administration through law enforcement roles, to reconciliation, and as the 34th Governor appointed in Western Australia"^[14][15]
• 31 January 2023: Knight of Grace of the Order of St John^[16]

Decorations

• 10 June 2002: Australian Police Medal (APM)^[17]

Appointments

• 2023: Colonel of the Royal Western Australia Regiment.
• 2023: Deputy Prior of the Order of St John.^[18]

References

1. Hickey, Phil; Foster, Brendan (1 August 2017). "Chris Dawson WA's new top cop". WA Today. Fairfax Media. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
2. Emerson, Daniel (1 August 2017). "'Our police will be the best in the country'". Perth Now. Seven West Media. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
3. "Commissioner of Police". Western Australia Police. Retrieved 26 September 2017.
4. McGowan, Mark (15 July 2022). "New era as Governor Chris Dawson is officially sworn in". Media Statements of the Government of Western Australia. Archived from the original on 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
5. "Commissioner of Police : Chris Dawson". Western Australia Police Force. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
6. "New Police Commissioner for WA – Chris Dawson APM". Premier of Western Australia and Cabinet Ministers. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
7. Hickey, Phil; Foster, Brendan (August 2017). "Chris Dawson WA's new top cop". WAtoday. Retrieved 15 August 2021.
8. "COVID-19 Vaccine Commander appointed for WA". www.wa.gov.au. 24 August 2021. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
9. "Former top cop Chris Dawson sworn in as 34th governor of Western Australia". ABC News. 15 July 2022. Retrieved 15 July 2022.
10. McNeill, Heather (4 April 2022). "Police Commissioner Chris Dawson announced as next WA Governor". WAtoday. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
11. "New Western Australian Governor announced". Media Statements. 4 April 2022. Archived from the original on 28 April 2022. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
12. Bourke, Keane (14 June 2022). "WA Police deputy Col Blanch named new commissioner, replacing Chris Dawson". ABC News. Retrieved 26 June 2022.
13. "McGowan Government thanks outgoing Police Commissioner". Media Statements. 14 July 2022. Archived from the original on 5 November 2022. Retrieved 14 July 2022.
14. "Australia Day 2023 Honours: Full list". The Sydney Morning Herald. 25 January 2023. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
15. Hiatt, Bethany (25 January 2023). "WA Governor Chris Dawson tops list of West Aussies recognised in Australia Day honours". The West Australian. Retrieved 25 January 2023.
16. "Investiture of the Governor into the Order of St John". Government House, Western Australia. Governor of Western Australia. Retrieved 23 August 2023.
17. "The Queen's Birthday 2002 Honours" (PDF). Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. 10 June 2002.
18. "Understanding the Most Venerable Order of St John" (PDF). Governor of New South Wales. 12 December 2014. Retrieved 24 August 2018.

Police appointments
Preceded by Karl O'Callaghan	Commissioner of Western Australia Police 2017–2022	Succeeded by Col Blanch
Government offices
Preceded by Kim Beazley	Governor of Western Australia 2022–present	Incumbent