Ms Bligh received a Doctor of Laws honoris causa in recognition of her distinguished career and service to the state.
Ms Bligh was born in Warwick, Queensland and attended schools including Miami State High School at the Gold Coast. She was awarded her UQ Bachelor of Arts in 1981, and was elected as the member for South Brisbane in 1995. She became a Minister in 1998, and deputy Premier in 2005, before being sworn in as Queensland Premier in September 2007. She remained Queensland Premier until 2012.
As Premier, she advocated for Queensland research and worked alongside universities to cultivate partnerships with international research centres, businesses and philanthropists. Her government supported universities and other institutions to attract and foster talented researchers.
In 2014, Bligh was appointed CEO of YWCA New South Wales. In 2017, she was made CEO of the Australian Banking Association.
As CEO, Bligh led the industry’s response to the Royal Commission into Misconduct in the Banking, Superannuation and Financial Services Industry, setting out to strengthen bank culture and rebuild trust. She oversaw the development of an updated Banking Code of Practice and worked with the industry to deliver significant reform.
