Mark McGowan was the Labor Party member for Rockingham in the Western Australia Legislative Assembly. After the WA state elections in March 2017, he became the 30th Premier of Western Australia, Minister for Public Sector Management; State Development, Jobs and Trade; Federal-State Relations. Following the 2021 state election, Mr McGowan added the role of treasurer to his existing responsibilities due to the retirement of Ben Wyatt from politics. He also relinquished the State Development, Jobs & Trade portfolios to deputy premier Roger Cook. Mr McGowan decided to step down from politics, and as a member for Rockingham, on 4 June 2023.
Prior to this, in opposition, he was the leader of the WA Labor party and spokesman for regional development, economic reform, and public sector management. He became opposition leader and Labor leader in 2012 after Eric Ripper's resignation.
Since leaving politics, Mr McGowan has taken on a series of private sector advisory roles including positions at BHP, Mineral Resources, APM Human Services and Bondi Partners. He was announced as the incoming chair of renewable energy aspirant Frontier Energy in August 2024 but left the role before starting. In November 2024, he joined the National Foundation for Australia-China Relations.
Mr McGowan joined the Royal Australian Navy in 1989 and served at the HMAS Stirling Naval Base. In 1994, he was elected as a councillor for the City of Rockingham. Mr McGowan went on to serve as deputy mayor of Rockingham before winning the State seat of Rockingham in December 1996.
Mr McGowan was born in regional New South Wales, and studied Arts and Law at the University of Queensland.
