We congratulate our Patron - Her Excellency, Queensland Governor, Quentin Bryce AC

QIMR is delighted with the news that their Patron, Governor Quentin Bryce AC, has been appointed as the first female Governor General of Australia. Governor Bryce has been Patron of the Institute since 2003, shortly after she became Governor of Queensland. Since assuming the role, she has been passionately supportive of women in science, of science education for the youth of Australia, and of Indigenous health and medical issues. Her dedication to and personal interest in community health has been an enormous boon to QIMR.

Governor Bryce’s life-long commitment to human rights and equality, especially to the rights and welfare of women, children and the family are legendary, and have been passionately expressed throughout her professional career.

She has been inaugural Director of the Queensland Women’s Information Service in the Office of the Status of Women, Queensland Director of the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission, Federal Sex Discrimination Commissioner, founding Chair and Chief Executive of the National Childcare Accreditation Council, Principal and Chief Executive Officer of The Women’s College, University of Sydney, and Member of Australian Delegation to the United Nations Human Rights Commission.

Australia has shown its appreciation for Governor Bryce’s service through a number of Honours over the years. In 1988 she was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for service to the community, particularly to women and children, in 2000 the Australian Sports Medal for services to women’s cricket and the Centenary Medal 2001 for service to Australian society in business. In 2003, she was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for her immense and outstanding achievements and participation in professional and community service.