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Home | Office Holder | Penelope Wensley
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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. |
