Few people go from leading a state government to running a corporate sales division in under two years. But Gladys Berejiklian, the 45th Premier of New South Wales, has done exactly that — resigning in October 2021 and joining Optus as a senior executive in 2022.

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Born: 22 September 1970 · Premier: 2017–2021 · Party: Liberal Party · Resigned: October 2021 · Current role: Optus executive · Ethnicity: Armenian Australian

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Current relationship status (partner unknown or private)
  • Outcome of her Supreme Court appeal against ICAC findings
  • Any future political ambitions
3Timeline signal
  • Resigned Oct 2021 → Joined Optus Feb 2022 → ICAC report 2023 → Appeal rejected July 2024
4What’s next
  • Supreme Court appeal after ICAC finding of serious corrupt conduct
  • Continuing executive role at Optus amid company’s $100M unconscionable conduct penalty

Six key facts at a glance:

Label Value
Full Name Gladys Berejiklian
Born 22 September 1970, Manly, NSW
Political Party Liberal Party of Australia (NSW Division)
Premier Term 23 January 2017 – 5 October 2021
Current Employer Optus (Singapore Telecommunications subsidiary)
Education BA (University of Sydney), Diploma in International Studies (University of Sydney), MCom (UNSW)
Ethnicity Armenian (parents immigrated from Armenia)
Bottom line: Berejiklian swapped a premier’s salary and public accountability for a corporate office at Optus. The legal shadow from ICAC means her future at the company remains uncertain.

What has happened to Gladys Berejiklian?

Resignation and ICAC inquiry

  • Gladys Berejiklian resigned as Premier of New South Wales in October 2021 after the ICAC announced an investigation into whether she faced a conflict of interest involving former MP Daryl Maguire (Yahoo Finance Australia).
  • The ICAC later released a report finding that she had engaged in serious corrupt conduct (Wikipedia).
  • Berejiklian has consistently denied the finding and lodged a legal challenge in the New South Wales Supreme Court in September 2023 (Wikipedia).

Post-premiership career shift

  • In February 2022, Optus appointed Berejiklian as Chief Customer Officer, Enterprise and Business (Optus executive profiles).
  • Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin described her as a “game changer” for the business (Yahoo Finance Australia).
  • Her salary was not disclosed, but the role was estimated to pay in the six figures (Yahoo Finance Australia).

Current public profile

  • Berejiklian remains active on social media, particularly Instagram, where she highlights personal and professional achievements.
  • She maintains a low public profile compared to her time as Premier, focusing on her corporate role and legal battles.

The pattern: three years after resigning, Berejiklian’s public life is split between a corporate career and a legal fight that could define her legacy.

The paradox

A former premier accused of corruption now leads enterprise sales at Australia’s second-largest telco — while that same company faces a record $100 million penalty for unconscionable conduct (ACCC).

Why did Gladys Berejiklian step down?

ICAC investigation into relationship with Daryl Maguire

  • The ICAC began investigating whether Berejiklian had a conflict of interest by approving funding for projects in the electorate of Daryl Maguire, with whom she had a secret relationship (Yahoo Finance Australia).
  • The relationship lasted from around 2015 to 2020, according to evidence given to the commission (Wikipedia).
  • Berejiklian has said she acted with integrity at all times but acknowledged the relationship was “poor judgment” (Yahoo Finance Australia).

Loss of public confidence

  • The ICAC investigation led to intense media scrutiny and eroded public trust in her government.
  • On 1 October 2021, Berejiklian announced her resignation, saying she could not continue while the investigation was ongoing (Yahoo Finance Australia).

Legal and political pressure

  • Under New South Wales law, the ICAC’s investigation triggered a potential conflict of interest that made her position untenable.
  • Senior Liberal Party figures privately urged her to step down to avoid further damage to the party’s reputation.

The implication: Berejiklian’s resignation ended a period of stability during the COVID-19 pandemic but opened a legal battle that continues into 2025, with implications for the accountability of public officials.

Why this matters

The ICAC probe turned a private relationship into a public liability, and the findings have permanently altered Berejiklian’s political legacy.

Where is Gladys Berejiklian working now?

Optus appointment

  • Berejiklian joined Optus in February 2022 as Chief Customer Officer, Enterprise and Business (Optus executive profiles).
  • Her role was later described as Group Executive, Business and Institutional (Yahoo Finance Australia).

Role responsibilities

  • She leads Optus’s enterprise and government sales division, managing relationships with large business clients.
  • Optus is Australia’s second-largest telecommunications provider (ACCC).

Corporate transition

  • Before politics, Berejiklian was an executive at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (Optus executive profiles).
  • Her move to Optus marked a return to the corporate sector after 18 years in parliament.

The catch: Berejiklian traded a premier’s salary (around $400,000) for a corporate role that likely pays more — but now answers to shareholders and regulators, not voters.

The trade-off

A former head of government now manages enterprise sales. The move signals a complete departure from public service.

What is Gladys Berejiklian doing now?

Current professional activities

  • As of 2025, Berejiklian continues as a senior executive at Optus, working under CEO Stephen Rue (Singtel Annual Report 2025).

Legal proceedings

  • Berejiklian lodged legal action against the ICAC in September 2023 seeking judicial review of its findings (Wikipedia).
  • The NSW Court of Appeal rejected her challenge in July 2024, upholding the ICAC’s original ruling (Wikipedia).
  • She is now reportedly considering an appeal to the High Court of Australia.

Public appearances

  • Berejiklian makes occasional public appearances at industry events, but avoids political commentary.
  • She maintains an Instagram presence where she posts about her Armenian heritage and family.

What this means: Berejiklian remains professionally active at Optus but legally entangled with the ICAC. Her appeal defeat means the finding of serious corrupt conduct stands unless the High Court intervenes.

Bottom line: Berejiklian continues to work at Optus while pursuing a High Court appeal. The corruption finding hangs over both her personal reputation and her corporate role.

Does Gladys Berejiklian have a partner?

Relationship with Daryl Maguire

  • Berejiklian was in a secret relationship with former Liberal MP Daryl Maguire from around 2015 to 2020 (Wikipedia).
  • The relationship was a central focus of the ICAC investigation because Maguire sought funding for projects in his electorate.
  • Maguire resigned from parliament in 2018 after the ICAC investigated him over separate corruption allegations.

Current relationship status

  • Berejiklian has not publicly confirmed a current partner since the end of her relationship with Maguire.
  • Media speculation occasionally links her to unnamed individuals, but no confirmed information is available.

The catch: Berejiklian’s private life became a public liability because she failed to disclose the relationship while in office — a key factor in the ICAC’s adverse findings.

What’s unclear

Her current relationship status remains private. No confirmed partner has been reported since Maguire.

Does Gladys Berejiklian have children?

Family background

  • Gladys Berejiklian has no children (Wikipedia).
  • She is the daughter of Armenian immigrants Krikor and Arsha Berejiklian, who fled the Armenian genocide (Wikipedia).
  • She has a younger sister but keeps family details private.

Personal life

  • Berejiklian has spoken about the influence of her Armenian heritage on her values and work ethic.
  • She is known to be close to her parents, who still live in Sydney.

The implication: Berejiklian’s family background as the daughter of genocide survivors shapes her public identity, but she guards her personal life closely.

Timeline: Gladys Berejiklian’s journey

  • 22 September 1970 – Born in Manly, New South Wales
  • 2003 – Elected to NSW Legislative Assembly for Willoughby
  • 2017 – Became 45th Premier of New South Wales (Optus executive profiles)
  • October 2021 – Resigned as Premier following ICAC investigation (Yahoo Finance Australia)
  • February 2022 – Appointed Chief Customer Officer, Enterprise and Business at Optus (Optus executive profiles)
  • 2023 – ICAC released report finding serious corrupt conduct; Berejiklian challenged findings (Wikipedia)
  • July 2024 – NSW Court of Appeal rejected Berejiklian’s challenge (Wikipedia)

Clarity check

Confirmed facts

  • Born 22 September 1970
  • Resigned as Premier on 5 October 2021
  • Joined Optus in February 2022
  • Has no children
  • Armenian heritage
  • Education: BA, DIntS, MCom

What’s unclear

  • Current relationship status (partner unknown or private)
  • Outcome of ICAC appeal in Supreme Court
  • Future political ambitions

Quotes that define the story

“I have always acted with integrity in every public role I have held.”

– Gladys Berejiklian, resignation speech, 2021 (Yahoo Finance Australia)

“The commission found that Ms Berejiklian engaged in serious corrupt conduct.”

– ICAC Chief Commissioner, 2023 (Wikipedia)

Gladys Berejiklian’s story is far from over. For the former premier, the choice is clear: accept the ICAC ruling and focus on her corporate career, or continue a legal fight that could take years. For Optus, having a leader under a cloud of corruption findings while the company faces a $100 million penalty for unconscionable conduct is an uncomfortable position. The coming years will show whether Berejiklian can rebuild her public reputation — or whether the ICAC shadow will follow her indefinitely.

Additional sources

reddit.com, linkedin.com, youtube.com, optus.com.au, en.wikipedia.org, facebook.com, lightreading.com, facebook.com

For a more detailed biography and career timeline, including her early political rise, readers can refer to detailed biography and career timeline.

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Frequently asked questions

Where is Gladys Berejiklian now?

She works at Optus as Chief Customer Officer, Enterprise and Business, based in Sydney.

Is Gladys Berejiklian married?

No, she is not married. Her current relationship status is private.

What did the ICAC find about Gladys Berejiklian?

The ICAC found she engaged in serious corrupt conduct by failing to disclose a conflict of interest involving Daryl Maguire.

Has Gladys Berejiklian been charged with a crime?

No. The ICAC finding of corrupt conduct is civil in nature, not criminal. No criminal charges have been laid.

How long was Gladys Berejiklian Premier?

She served from 23 January 2017 to 5 October 2021 — a term of 4 years, 8 months.

What does Optus say about hiring Gladys Berejiklian?

Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin called her a “game changer” and said she brought valuable leadership and government experience.

Did Gladys Berejiklian ever face a no-confidence vote?

No, she resigned before any no-confidence motion was brought against her.

What are Gladys Berejiklian’s key achievements?

She was credited with managing the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in NSW, delivering infrastructure projects, and being the state’s first female Premier of Armenian background.

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