Gladys Berejiklian went from leading Australia’s most populous state to facing a corruption inquiry and then to a corporate executive role at one of the country’s biggest telecoms. On 5 October 2021, she resigned as Premier of New South Wales after the state’s Independent Commission Against Corruption (ICAC) launched an investigation into her conduct.

4 related posts

Born: 22 September 1970 ·
Premier of NSW tenure: 23 January 2017 – 5 October 2021 ·
Political party: Liberal Party of Australia ·
Current role: Executive, Optus

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
  • Resigned as NSW Premier on 5 October 2021 (Wikipedia)
  • ICAC found she engaged in serious corrupt conduct (June 2023) (ABC News)
  • Appointed to Optus executive role in February 2022 (The Guardian)
  • Never married, no children (Wikipedia)
2What’s unclear
  • Whether she will return to political life
  • Details of the ICAC final report findings (pending as of 2025)
  • Exact nature of current personal relationships
3Timeline signal
  • 22 Sep 1970: Born in Manly, NSW
  • 23 Jan 2017: Became Premier
  • 5 Oct 2021: Resigned
  • Feb 2022: Joined Optus
4What’s next
  • Remains at Optus, no immediate changes after ICAC findings
  • Possible future in public speaking or board roles

The pattern: a career built on policy and public service, later tested by scandal.

Label Value
Full name Gladys Berejiklian
Date of birth 22 September 1970
Place of birth Manly, New South Wales, Australia
Political party Liberal Party of Australia
Premier of NSW 23 January 2017 – 5 October 2021
Education BA Commerce (UNSW), MIR (University of Sydney)
Current position Managing Director, Business at Optus

What happened to Gladys Berejiklian?

Why did Gladys Berejiklian resign as premier?

  • On 5 October 2021, Berejiklian stepped down as Premier of New South Wales after the state’s anticorruption watchdog, ICAC, announced it was investigating her conduct (Wikipedia).
  • She stated in her resignation speech that she had not breached public trust but that the inquiry would make it impossible to continue effectively (ABC News).

What did the ICAC investigation find?

  • ICAC’s Operation Keppel examined whether Berejiklian had breached public trust by failing to disclose her personal relationship with former MP Daryl Maguire while approving grant funding (ABC News).
  • In June 2023, ICAC found that Berejiklian engaged in serious corrupt conduct by deliberately failing to disclose her close personal relationship when exercising official functions (ABC News).
  • The findings were upheld by the NSW Court of Appeal in July 2024 (SBS News).
The upshot

ICAC concluded that Berejiklian’s failure to disclose her relationship compromised her decision-making on a specific grant proposal for the Riverina Conservatorium of Music. The watchdog also noted she was an unsatisfactory witness in some respects (ABC News).

Bottom line: Berejiklian’s resignation was triggered by an ICAC investigation that ultimately found her conduct corrupt. The finding has been upheld on appeal, but she has not faced criminal charges.

What is Gladys Berejiklian doing now?

What is her current job at Optus?

  • In February 2022, about four months after resigning as premier, Berejiklian was appointed to a newly created executive role at Optus as Managing Director, Enterprise, Business and Institutional (The Guardian).
  • She leads Optus’s enterprise and business division, a role that involves winning market share from rivals (The Straits Times / Reuters).
  • After the ICAC findings were released in June 2023, Optus stated there would be no immediate changes to her employment (The Guardian).

Has she returned to public life?

  • Berejiklian remains active on social media, posting about her work and personal interests, but has not sought a return to politics.
  • She is a member of the Liberal Party but has not indicated any intention to run for office again.
What to watch

Berejiklian’s position at Optus appears secure, but the ongoing legal and reputational fallout from the ICAC findings could influence her future career trajectory. The NSW Court of Appeal’s decision to uphold the findings means the stain of corruption remains on her record.

Does Gladys Berejiklian have a partner?

Who is Gladys Berejiklian’s partner?

  • Berejiklian has never been married and has no children (Wikipedia).
  • She was in a relationship with former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire, which she kept private until it became public during the ICAC inquiry (ABC News).
  • As of 2025, she is not publicly known to be in a relationship.

Was she ever married?

  • No. Berejiklian has stated in the past that she prioritised her career over marriage and family.
Bottom line: Berejiklian’s personal life has been a subject of intense public interest, largely because her relationship with Daryl Maguire was central to the ICAC findings. She remains single and focused on her corporate role.

What religion is Gladys Berejiklian?

Is Gladys Berejiklian Armenian Apostolic?

  • Yes, Berejiklian is a practising member of the Armenian Apostolic Church (Wikipedia).
  • She attended church regularly and has described her faith as a private matter but one that has guided her life.

How does her faith influence her?

  • Berejiklian has spoken about her Armenian heritage and faith as a source of strength, particularly during her time as premier.
  • She has been involved in the Armenian community in Sydney, including attending commemorative events.

What is Gladys Berejiklian’s background?

What is her ethnicity?

  • Berejiklian is of Armenian descent. Her parents, Krikor and Arsha Berejiklian, were Armenian immigrants who arrived in Australia in the 1960s (Wikipedia).
  • She has spoken about the importance of her Armenian heritage and the values her parents instilled in her.

What is her education?

  • She earned a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of New South Wales and a Master of International Relations from the University of Sydney (Wikipedia).
  • Before entering politics, she worked in the private sector and as a ministerial adviser.

Where was she born?

  • Born on 22 September 1970 in Manly, New South Wales, Australia.
Bottom line: Berejiklian’s identity is deeply shaped by her Armenian heritage and her education in Sydney. She is a first-generation Australian who rose through the Liberal Party ranks to become the state’s first female premier.

Timeline

  • 22 September 1970: Born in Manly, NSW
  • 1991: Joined the Liberal Party
  • 2003: Elected to NSW Legislative Assembly for Willoughby
  • 2011–2015: Minister for Transport
  • 2015–2017: Treasurer of NSW
  • 23 January 2017: Became 45th Premier of New South Wales
  • 5 October 2021: Resigned as premier
  • February 2022: Joined Optus as managing director, business
  • June 2023: ICAC finds serious corrupt conduct
  • July 2024: NSW Court of Appeal upholds ICAC findings

What’s confirmed and what’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Berejiklian resigned on 5 October 2021 during an ICAC investigation
  • She is a practising member of the Armenian Apostolic Church
  • She has no children and never married
  • She is currently a managing director at Optus
  • ICAC found she engaged in serious corrupt conduct
  • The NSW Court of Appeal upheld the ICAC findings

What’s unclear

  • The exact nature of her current personal relationships
  • Whether she will return to political life
  • Details of the ICAC final report findings (pending as of 2025)
  • Whether she will face any further legal consequences

Quotes

“I have never breached the public trust. I have acted with integrity and honesty throughout my public life.”

— Gladys Berejiklian, resignation speech, 5 October 2021 (ABC News)

“The commission is satisfied that Ms Berejiklian engaged in serious corrupt conduct by deliberately failing to disclose her close personal relationship with Mr Maguire.”

— ICAC findings, June 2023 (ABC News)

“Optus is pleased to announce the appointment of Gladys Berejiklian to the newly created role of Managing Director, Enterprise, Business and Institutional.”

— Optus company announcement, February 2022 (The Guardian)

For Berejiklian, the transition from premier to corporate executive came with a price: an enduring corruption finding that has been tested in court and upheld. The pattern is clear: her political legacy is now permanently tied to the ICAC probe, while her corporate career at Optus continues largely unaffected. For the Australian public, the question is whether a leader once seen as a steady hand can ever fully separate her past from her present.

Additional sources

itwire.com, theklaxon.com.au, 9news.com.au

Don't miss these

Frequently asked questions

What caused Gladys Berejiklian to resign as premier?

She resigned on 5 October 2021 after ICAC announced it was investigating her conduct, specifically her failure to disclose her relationship with Daryl Maguire while approving grant funding.

What is the ICAC probe into Gladys Berejiklian about?

ICAC’s Operation Keppel examined whether Berejiklian breached public trust by not disclosing her personal relationship with former MP Daryl Maguire when she made decisions about grant funding, including for the Riverina Conservatorium of Music.

Where does Gladys Berejiklian work now?

She is Managing Director, Business at Optus, a role she started in February 2022. She leads the company’s enterprise and business division.

What is Gladys Berejiklian’s relationship with Daryl Maguire?

They were in a personal relationship that she kept private. Maguire was a Liberal MP for Wagga Wagga. The relationship became a key focus of the ICAC investigation.

Is Gladys Berejiklian still a member of the Liberal Party?

Yes, she remains a member of the Liberal Party of Australia, though she has not held party office since resigning as premier.

Has Gladys Berejiklian written any books?

No, she has not published any books as of 2025.

What awards has Gladys Berejiklian received?

She has received several recognitions, including being named a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2022 for distinguished service to the people of New South Wales.