The Anglican Church of Australia has elected the Rt Revd Dr Mark Short as the 18th Primate.

The Board of Electors, consisting of all Diocesan Bishops, as well as 12 clergy and 12 laity elected by the General Synod of the Anglican Church of Australia, gathered at St Andrews House, Sydney on Saturday 19 July 2025. Bishop Mark received a majority of votes in each category of bishops, clergy and laity and he accepted the appointment.

The Primate is the spiritual leader of the Anglican church in Australia, the Chief Executive Officer of the Church’s national staff team and a member of every national committee, council and board. The Primate represents the church nationally and internationally, especially at the Anglican Communion Primates’ Meeting.

Bishop Mark will take up his new duties on 1 November 2025 following Archbishop Geoffrey Smith's completion of the role on 31 October 2025. Bishop Mark will serve as Primate along with his current role as Bishop of the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn.

The current Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia, Archbishop Geoffrey Smith, stated, "I welcome the appointment of Bishop Mark Short as the next Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia. I was pleased that the election process demonstrated strong support for Mark. I am confident that he will bring a Godly, considered leadership to the role, incorporating his wide experience of the Australian Church, a scholarly outlook and a calm approach. I wish him all the best as he prepares to take on the role.”

Bishop Mark shared that he was “honoured and humbled by this call to serve,” and stated that he looked forward to “working together with Anglicans across Australia to share the lasting hope we are given in the Lord Jesus Christ”.

The Rt Revd Anthony Poggo, Secretary General of the Anglican Communion, shared his support for the newly elected Primate, saying, “I extend my congratulations and support for Bishop Mark as he prepares to take on this new responsibility as Primate of the Anglican Church of Australia this November. We give thanks for their part in the global Anglican family. I pray that God will grant him wisdom in this new chapter of his ministry and will be a blessing to all those he serves.”

Before becoming Bishop of Canberra and Goulburn, Bishop Mark was National Director of the Bush Church Aid Society and has served as Rector of Turvey Park (now South Wagga) and Archdeacon of Wagga Wagga in the Diocese of Canberra and Goulburn.

Educated at Moore Theological College and the University of Durham, UK, he was ordained as deacon in 1996 and priest in 1997, in Canberra & Goulburn Diocese, after formerly working as a Graduate Economist for the Commonwealth Department of Industrial Relations and Journalist for the Sydney Morning Herald.

For more information, contact Bill Condie from the Diocese of Adelaide.

Find out more about the Anglican Church of Australia.