Government of Japan awards Order of the Rising Sun Medal to EFA Chair Debra Hazelton
Export Finance Australia (EFA) Chair Debra Hazelton has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, a prestigious honour bestowed by the Government of Japan in recognition of distinguished service.
Media release
Friday 1 May 2026
Export Finance Australia (EFA) Chair Debra Hazelton has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun, a prestigious honour bestowed by the Government of Japan in recognition of distinguished service.
Established in 1875 by Emperor Meiji, the Order of the Rising Sun is Japan’s oldest national decoration, recognising outstanding contributions and symbolising merit, achievement and enduring partnership.
Ms Hazelton has received the Order of the Rising Sun Gold Rays with Neck Ribbon medal in recognition of her contribution to strengthen economic relations between Japan and Australia.
EFA Managing Director & CEO John Hopkins said the award coincided with the 50th anniversary of the Basic Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Australia and Japan (the NARA Treaty), signed on 16 June 1976.
“Export Finance Australia congratulates Debra on this significant honour, which reflects her longstanding contribution and dedication to strengthening economic cooperation and mutual understanding between Australia and Japan,” Mr Hopkins said.
“Debra has devoted so much effort and time across her distinguished career to strengthen Australia-Japan relations, always with a view to enhancing the partnership between both nations. We are tremendously proud to have Debra as our Chair and for this achievement.”
Information on the Order of the Rising Sun 2026 recipients can be found here.
Media contact:
EFA
media@exportfinance.gov.au
Tel. 0282735209
About Debra Hazelton
Debra is the Chair of Export Finance Australia as well as a Non-Executive Director on the boards of Westpac Banking Corporation, Australia Post and Persol Holdings Co. Ltd (Tokyo Stock Exchange: 2181), and was appointed a Vice President of the Australia Japan Business Cooperation Committee (AJBCC) in October 2021.
Her executive career in corporate banking had a particular focus on Australia and Japan. Debra was the first non Japanese senior executive in a Head Office global role for a Japanese mega bank (Mizuho Financial Group), the first Non Japanese to be CEO of a Japanese bank in Australia (Mizuho Bank) and the first Australian woman to be CEO of an Australian bank in Japan (CBA). Debra is the immediate past Chair of AMP Ltd.
She has graduate and post graduate degrees in Finance, Philosophy and Japanese and studied at the University of Sydney, University of NSW and Keio University.
