The Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry has appointed mental health advocate Kate Carnell as its new chief executive after the departure of Peter Anderson late last year.
Ms Carnell, the chief executive of beyondblue for the past two years, will take up her new role in May.
The former Liberal ACT chief minister has also been the chief executive of the Australian Food and Grocery Council.
ACCI executive chairman Peter Hood said the appointment followed a comprehensive recruitment process.
"Kate's firsthand small-business background, top-level political leadership and industry association skills will be instrumental to ACCI's advocacy as the voice of Australian business," he said in a statement on Wednesday.
Ms Carnell was made an Officer of the Order of Australia in 2006 for her services to the community.
Jeff Kennett, the chairman of beyondblue, said Ms Carnell had resigned her position to take up her new role.
"Kate leaves beyondblue in a much stronger position than when she was appointed CEO, and she has helped develop a solid strategic direction for the organisation," Mr Kennett said in a statement.
Ms Carnell said beyondblue is a "fantastic organisation".
"It is great that ACCI already has a strong relationship with beyondblue and I hope to continue creating mentally healthy workplaces in my new role," she said in the statement.
