By Kerry Rodgers, World Coin News October 28, 2009

On Sept. 5 Janine Murphy, CEO of the Royal Australian Mint, died following a long illness.

Mrs. Murphy enjoyed a distinguished career in the Australian Commonwealth Treasury commencing in 1976. Her principle concern was with micro-economic reform, in particular the deregulation of the financial system and taxation policy.

From 1998-2000 she led the Foreign Investment Division and, prior to taking up her role at the mint in March 2006, had a three-year posting at the Australian Embassy in Washington, D.C. as minister-counselor (economic). She remains one of the few women ever to be appointed to a Senior Executive Service Band 2 position in Treasury.

In her all too short time at the RAM, Mrs. Murphy oversaw a remarkable transformation of that institution. Just four days after her death, the governor-general, Her Excellency Ms. Quentin Bryce AC, opened the newly refurbished mint facilities that had consumed a major part of Mrs. Murphy’s working life over the past three years.

On the day, her minister, The Honorable Nick Sherry observed, “I am very certain that this opening is an event that would have made Janine very proud … the much-improved, more accessible Mint will stand as a testament to her work. … Janine’s warmth, compassion and energy will be missed at the Mint, at Treasury and across the Australian Public Service.”

The mint has placed a condolence book in their new public foyer for those who wish to express their sympathy to Mrs. Murphy’s family. Those living interstate or overseas who wish to send condolences can e-mail info@ramint.gov.au. The mint will present all e-mails along with the condolence book to Mrs. Murphy’s husband, Jim, and their two children, Olivia and James.