The Honourable Penelope Wensley AC

1994

CITATION

Mr Chancellor, 

Penelope Wensley was born in Toowoomba in 1946 and attended school.in Penrith and Great Britain before returning to Queensland and graduating with First Class Honours in English Language and Literature in 1968. She joined the Department of ForeignAffairs and Trade, serving in Paris, Mexico City and Wellington and was the firstAustralianto be appointed Consul General to Hong Kong, a position held from 1986 to 1988 which contributed significantly to Australia's enhanced Asian profile. She returned to Canberra as first Assistant Secretary to the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (International Organisations and Legal Division) and in 1992 became Australian Ambassador for the Environment in Geneva. In 1993 she was appointed Australian Ambassador and Perma­nent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva; a key diplomatic appointment which required her'to lead Australia's participation internationally in such important issues as human rights, humanitarian relief, the environment and refugees. Already in 1994 the Alumni Association of The University of Queensland has chosen to recognise this remarkable career by choosing Penelope Wensley as Alumnus of the Year. 

Mr Chancellor, in recognition of her distinguished contributions to the Common­wealth of Australia, I present to you Penelope Anne Wensley, Bachelor of Arts of this university, for the conferral of the award of Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa to which she has been admitted by the Senate of the University.

Awards

UQ Alumnus of the Year (created by Alumni Friends)
1994
Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa
1994

Qualifications

Bachelor of Arts (Honours)
1968
Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa
1994