9 October 2008 

The Constitution Education Fund Australia (CEFA) is delighted to announce that Australia’s newly appointed Governor-General has honoured CEFA and accepted to be Patron-in-Chief.

Her Excellency has had a distinguished career in the legal profession where she became one of the first women to be accepted to the Queensland bar. Between 1988-1993, she served as Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner. Following this appointment, she became the founding chair and Chief Executive Officer of the National Childcare Accreditation Council. She has also served as Chair of the National Breast Cancer Advisory Council and the Chief Executive Officer of The Women’s College with the University of New South Wales. 

She was appointed as Governor of Queensland in 2003 on the recommendation of Premier Peter Beattie and served in that position until Prime Minister Kevin Rudd recommended her for the position of Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia on April 13, 2008. Her Excellency is the first female Governor-General of Australia. She is the 25^th Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia. 

Her Excellency is an inspirational leader to all Australians and a role model of responsible citizenry. As Patron-in-Chief, she will inspire and mentor thousands of children and students participating in CEFA’s civics projects educating and empowering young Australians to become active, engaged and responsible citizens.