Penelope Wensley
Encyclopedia
Penelope "Penny" Anne Wensley, AC (born 18 October 1946) is the Governor
of Queensland
and a former Australian diplomat.
Born in Toowoomba, Queensland, she was educated at Penrith High School
in New South Wales, the Rosa Bassett School
in London (UK), and the University of Queensland
where she graduated with a first class honours degree in English and French literature. She was a resident of the Women's College there. She joined the Australian Foreign Service in 1967. Wensley was posted to Paris (1969–1972), returned to work in Australia, and then given a posting in Mexico
(1975–1977). She and her husband, Stuart McCosker, a veterinary surgeon
, had a daughter while posted in Mexico.
Her next diplomatic appointment was in Wellington
, New Zealand (1982–1985). She was consul general in Hong Kong from 1986–1988. From 1991 to 1992, she was head of the International Organisations Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
. In 1994, Wensley was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy by the University of Queensland. Wensley was Ambassador for Environment from 1992 to 1996. She then became the first woman to be Australian Permanent Representative
to the United Nations in New York in 1997.
In 2001, Penny Wensley was made an Officer of the Order of Australia
(AO) for service to the development of Australia's international relations, particularly through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She was then appointed as the first female Australian High Commissioner
to India
, a role she held until 2004. From 2005 to 2008, she was Australia's Ambassador to France, and non-resident Ambassador to Algeria
, Mauritania and Morocco
.
On 6 July 2008, the Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh
, announced that Queen Elizabeth II had approved Penny Wensley's appointment as the next Governor of Queensland, in succession to Quentin Bryce
, who was relinquishing the office prior to being sworn in as Governor-General of Australia
. Wensley was sworn in on 29 July 2008. She was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2011.
Governors of the Australian states
The Governors of the Australian states are the representatives of the Queen of Australia in each of that country's six states. The Governors perform the same constitutional and ceremonial functions at the state level as does the Governor-General of Australia at the national level...
of Queensland
Queensland
Queensland is a state of Australia, occupying the north-eastern section of the mainland continent. It is bordered by the Northern Territory, South Australia and New South Wales to the west, south-west and south respectively. To the east, Queensland is bordered by the Coral Sea and Pacific Ocean...
and a former Australian diplomat.
Born in Toowoomba, Queensland, she was educated at Penrith High School
Penrith High School
Penrith High School is a selective, public, co-educational high school located in Penrith, a western suburb of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia....
in New South Wales, the Rosa Bassett School
Rosa Bassett School
Rosa Bassett School was a grammar school for girls in South London. It was established in Stockwell in 1906 as the Stockwell County Secondary School and in 1913 moved to Welham Road on the boundary between Streatham and Tooting, becoming the County Secondary School, Streatham, often referred to as...
in London (UK), and the University of Queensland
University of Queensland
The University of Queensland, also known as UQ, is a public university located in state of Queensland, Australia. Founded in 1909, it is the oldest and largest university in Queensland and the fifth oldest in the nation...
where she graduated with a first class honours degree in English and French literature. She was a resident of the Women's College there. She joined the Australian Foreign Service in 1967. Wensley was posted to Paris (1969–1972), returned to work in Australia, and then given a posting in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
(1975–1977). She and her husband, Stuart McCosker, a veterinary surgeon
Veterinary surgeon
Veterinary surgeon is a term used to describe:*The full title of a vet, who treats disease, disorder and injury in animals, in the United Kingdom and several Commonwealth countries**See also Veterinary medicine in the United Kingdom...
, had a daughter while posted in Mexico.
Her next diplomatic appointment was in Wellington
Wellington
Wellington is the capital city and third most populous urban area of New Zealand, although it is likely to have surpassed Christchurch due to the exodus following the Canterbury Earthquake. It is at the southwestern tip of the North Island, between Cook Strait and the Rimutaka Range...
, New Zealand (1982–1985). She was consul general in Hong Kong from 1986–1988. From 1991 to 1992, she was head of the International Organisations Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade
Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (Australia)
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade is a department of the government of Australia charged with advancing the interests of Australia and its citizens internationally...
. In 1994, Wensley was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy by the University of Queensland. Wensley was Ambassador for Environment from 1992 to 1996. She then became the first woman to be Australian Permanent Representative
Permanent Representative
A Permanent Representative is the head of a diplomatic mission to one of various international organisations. The best known of the organisations to which states send Permanent Representatives is the United Nations; of these, the most high-profile ones are those assigned to headquarters in New...
to the United Nations in New York in 1997.
In 2001, Penny Wensley was made an Officer of the Order of Australia
Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...
(AO) for service to the development of Australia's international relations, particularly through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. She was then appointed as the first female Australian High Commissioner
High Commissioner (Commonwealth)
In the Commonwealth of Nations, a High Commissioner is the senior diplomat in charge of the diplomatic mission of one Commonwealth government to another.-History:...
to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, a role she held until 2004. From 2005 to 2008, she was Australia's Ambassador to France, and non-resident Ambassador to Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
, Mauritania and Morocco
Morocco
Morocco , officially the Kingdom of Morocco , is a country located in North Africa. It has a population of more than 32 million and an area of 710,850 km², and also primarily administers the disputed region of the Western Sahara...
.
On 6 July 2008, the Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh
Anna Bligh
Anna Maria Bligh is an Australian politician and the Premier of Queensland since 2007. The 2009 Queensland state election was the first time a female-led political party won or retained state or federal government in Australia...
, announced that Queen Elizabeth II had approved Penny Wensley's appointment as the next Governor of Queensland, in succession to Quentin Bryce
Quentin Bryce
Quentin Bryce, AC, CVO is the 25th and current Governor-General of Australia and former Governor of Queensland....
, who was relinquishing the office prior to being sworn in as Governor-General of Australia
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
. Wensley was sworn in on 29 July 2008. She was made a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) in 2011.