Politics & Government

Sallyanne Atkinson AO FAIM, FAICD, FAPI is a Business Leader and Former Politician.

Sallyanne began an arts degree at The University of Queensland, before becoming a journalist on the Brisbane Telegraph from 1960 to 1962, the Sydney Telegraph from 1962 to 1963, and The Courier-Mail from 1963 to 1964. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in History and Political Science, in 1967. She was Lord Mayor of Brisbane from 1985 to 1991 and to date has been the only woman to have held this position.

Sallyanne was the College Council President from 2009 to 2020. In honour of Sallyanne’s leadership and service, in 2021 the College renamed ‘Old Wing’ – the building where she resided at The Women’s College in 1960 – to the Sallyanne Atkinson Building. 

• B. Arts (1967), The University of Queensland
• Doctor of the University honoris causa (2007), The University of Queensland

• AO in recognition of service to the community and local government (1993)
• Centenary Medal for distinguished service to local government and to business (2001)
• UQ Alumnus of the Year (2014)
• Queensland Greats Award (2014)

Judith Bell AM was a primary and secondary school teacher. In 1995, Judith become one of two pioneering women to be appointed by the State Government to serve on the Board of Trustees of Brisbane Grammar School (BGS). Judith then became the only female on the board, serving for 16 years. Judith was also appointed to the Senate of The University of Queensland, where she helped steer an ambitious building program and an expansion of important research institutes such as The Brain Institute. She also worked for the Queensland government from 2008 to 2013 as a commissioner at the Crime and Corruption Commission.

• B. Education, Queensland University of Technology
• B. Arts, The University of Queensland

• AM for significant service to the administration of justice, to the visual arts, and to education. (2021)
• Centenary Medal for distinguished service to the community. (2001)

The Honourable Dr Penelope Wensley AC is an Australian former public servant and diplomat who served as the 25th Governor of Queensland from 2008 to 2014. She was previously High Commissioner to India from 2001 to 2004 and Ambassador to France from 2005 to 2008.

• B. Arts (1967), The University of Queensland
• Doctor of Philosophy honoris causa (1994), The University of Queensland

• UQ Alumnus of the Year (1994)
• AC for eminent contribution to the people of Queensland, and to Australia’s international relations through senior diplomatic representational roles and as a key contributor to initiatives of the United Nations. (2011)

The Honourable Anna Bligh AC resided at The Women’s College in 1978, during her first year of studying a Bachelor of Arts degree at The University of Queensland (UQ).

Before entering politics, Anna worked for various community organisations. She was then first elected to the State Parliament in 1995. In July 2005, Anna was promoted to Deputy Premier, and was subsequently promoted to Queensland Premier in 2007. In office from 2007 to 2012, Anna served as the 37th Premier of Queensland. After retiring from politics, Anna was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Banking Association, a role she held from 2017 to 2025.

• B. Arts (1981), The University of Queensland
• Doctor of Laws honoris causa (2010), The University of Queensland

• AC for eminent service to the Parliament of Queensland, particularly as Premier, to infrastructure development and education reform, as an advocate for the role of women in public life, and to the not-for-profit sector. (2017)
• UQ Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Award (2023)

Heidi Venamore PSM is a distinguished diplomat with more than 30 years of service to the Australian Government. She has been the Australian Ambassador to the United Arab Emirates since January 2020, and was the ambassador to Jordan from 2012 to 2016.

• M. Laws, University of Cambridge
• Grad. Dip. Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australian National University
• B. Arts / B. Laws, The University of Queensland

PSM for outstanding public service in furthering Australia’s commercial, security, political and humanitarian interests under difficult and challenging circumstances in Iraq. (2016)