Bishop coy on new DFAT boss

Julie Bishop is tight-lipped on reports her foreign affairs department is about to get its first female boss.

There is speculation Frances Adamson, a former ambassador to China, is in line for the DFAT secretary role after incumbent Peter Varghese steps down on July 1.

Ms Adamson was Australia's representative in Beijing from 2011 to 2015, and more recently has served as Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull's foreign affairs adviser.

Ms Bishop told a Lowy Institute lunch on Monday she was unable to confirm who will be appointed to the role because of caretaker government conventions.

Ms Adamson was in the audience at the lunch and Ms Bishop described her career as distinguished.

The foreign minister is confident whoever takes on the position will carry on the great tradition of DFAT secretaries serving Australia well.

"Were it to be a woman, that would be notable because it would be the first female," she said.