Jane Lomax-Smith

Jane Diane Lomax-Smith (born 19 June 1950) is an Australian histopathologist and politician serving as Lord Mayor of Adelaide since 14 November 2022. Lomax-Smith previously held the position of Lord Mayor between 1997 and 2000. She was the member of parliament (MP) for the electorate of Adelaide from 2002 to 2010, who represented the South Australian branch of the Australian Labor Party (ALP).

Lomax-Smith was born in Walthamstow, East London. She obtained her education in medicine from London Hospital Medical College where she graduated with degrees in anatomy and medicine. She gained experience in pathology at hospitals in London. After moving to Australia in 1977 to teach pathology at the University of Adelaide, she obtained her Doctor of Philosophy degree in pathology concentrating on IgA nephropathy and liver diseases. Prior to her career in politics, she did research work at Harvard University and has served as a pathologist in different hospitals including St James' Hospital, London Hospital, Institute of Medical and Veterinary Science and the Royal Adelaide Hospital until her exit from academics in 1991.

Lomax-Smith got into politics in 1991 after working in the pathology field. She served in the Adelaide City Council for Grey Ward and later as Lord Mayor of Adelaide between 1997 and 2000, making her the second woman ever to occupy this office. As a councillor, she championed issues such as heritage protection, the conservation of the Adelaide Park Lands, affordable housing, reconciliation and the attraction of foreign students via Study Adelaide. Following the 2002 election, Lomax-Smith was elected as ALP's representative for Adelaide in the South Australian House of Assembly and became a minister in the Rann government with several portfolios such as Tourism, Education, Small Business, Employment, Science and Information Economy, Mental Health and Substance Abuse, and Minister for the City of Adelaide. Lomax-Smith was reelected in 2006 although with an improved majority only to lose her seat in the 2010 South Australian state election against the Liberal Party's candidate Rachel Sanderson.

After leaving parliament, Lomax-Smith has had several positions in government and advisory roles such as chairwoman for the Higher Education Base Funding Review, acting director of the Royal Institution of Australia, chairwoman of the board of directors of the South Australian Museum, and also chaired other organisations such as the Don Dunstan Foundation and the Australian Federation of Friends of Museums. She rejoined the ranks of local government in 2022 by being elected as the Lord Mayor of Adelaide for a second term after defeating former senator Rex Patrick as well as current Lord Mayor Sandy Verschoor. In 2025, she announced that she would seek re-election as Lord Mayor at the next council election.