MADRID, 14 Jul. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Australian economist Michele Bullock will become as of September 18 and for a period of seven years the first woman to head the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA), which began operating on January 14, 1960, according to has announced the central bank of the oceanic country.

Bullock, current deputy governor of the institution, will become the ninth governor of the entity in September and will thus succeed Philip Lowe, who will remain in charge of the institution until the end of his term on September 17.

"I congratulate Michele on being appointed Governor. The Reserve Bank is in very good hands as it meets the challenge of today's inflation," Lowe said.

Following her appointment, Michele Bullock stated that she felt "deeply honoured" stressing that "it is a challenging time to assume this position."

Last week, the Reserve Bank of Australia decided to keep interest rates at 4.10%, the highest since April 2012, although it warned that a further rate hike may be needed to bring inflation back to target. within a reasonable time.

Australia had raised interest rates by 400 basis points since May last year in response to sharply rising inflation.