Gladys Berejiklian

Brief description

Full description

Gladys Berejiklian, daughter of Armenian immigrants Krikor and Arsha Berejiklian, was born on 22 September 1970 at Manly NSW. She attended Peter Board High School at North Ryde. She graduated from the University of Sydney in 1992 with a Bachelor of Arts (BA) and in 1996 with a Graduate Diploma in International Relations. In 2001 she graduated with a Master of Commerce (MCom) from the University of New South Wales. (1)

Ms Berejiklian joined the Liberal Party in 1991 and was President of NSW Young Liberals from 1996 to 1997. (2)

Ms Berejiklian was employed as the general manager of the Commonwealth Bank from 1998 to 2003. (3)

She stood for the State Electorate of Willoughby and was elected as the Liberal Member for the seat from 22 March 2003. She was a Member of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) from 8 May 2003 to 12 October 2005 and a Member of the Committee on the Office of the Valuer-General from 20 November 2003 to 6 April 2005. She served in nine shadow portfolios: Shadow Minister for Cancer and Medical Research, and Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader on Ethnic Affairs (13 April 2005-20 March 2006); Shadow Minister for Youth Affairs (7 September 2005-20 November 2006); Shadow Minister for Mental Health (7 February 2005-20 November 2006); Shadow Minister for Community Services (20 March 1006-20 November 2006); Shadow Minister for Waterways (20 November 2006-11 April 2007); Shadow Minister Assisting the Leader on Citizenship (20 March 2006-11 April 2007); Shadow Minister for Citizenship (11 April 2007-28 December 2008); and, Shadow Minister for Transport (20 November 2006-28 March 2011). (4)

Commencing with the 94th O'Farrell-Stoner Ministry Ms Berejiklian served as the Minister for Transport (3 April 2011-2 April 2015) and also as the Minister for the Hunter (3 April 2014-2 April 2015). From the 97th Baird-Grant [II] Ministry Ms Berejiiklian served as both Treasurer and Minister for Industrial Relations (2 April 2015-23 January 2017). (5)

From 23 January 2017 to 5 October 2021, a period of 4 years 8 months and 13 days, Ms Berejiklian served as Premier of New South Wales. (6) She will be remembered by many people for her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic during 2020 and 2021. (7)

Apart from her political roles Ms Berejiklian was involved with many clubs including the Northbridge Rotarian, Willoughby Historical Society, Walter Burley Griffin Society, Armenian Sporting and Cultural Association, Sydney Institute, and Chatswood Chamber of Commerce. (8)

Endnotes
1. Who's Who in Australia 2018, Melbourne, Information Australia, 2018, p.213 (q.v. Berejiklian, The Hon. Gladys).
2. NSW Parliament website, Members, Ms Gladys Berejiklian https://www.parliament.nsw.gov.au/members/Pages/member-details.aspx?pk=21 (cited 7 October 2021).
3. Who's Who 2018, p.213.
4. See note 2.
5. See note 2.
6. See note 2.
7. Sydney Morning Herald, 1 October 2021 (resignation speech).
8. Who's Who 2018, p.213.

Notes