The Hon Julia Gillard AC, the 27th Prime Minister of Australia, is the first woman to ever serve as Australia’s Prime Minister or Deputy Prime Minister. Ms Gillard is now chair of the Global Partnership for Education, a leading organization dedicated to expanding access and quality education worldwide. Ms Gillard is a non-resident Distinguished Senior Fellow with the Center for Universal Education at the Brookings Institution in Washington. Ms Gillard also serves as Patron of Camfed, the Campaign for Female Education, which tackles poverty and inequality by supporting girls to go to school and succeed, and empowering young women to step up as leaders of change.

Ms Gillard is an Honorary Professor at the University of Adelaide, and Patron of the John Curtin Prime Ministerial Library in Perth, Western Australia. Ms Gillard serves as Chair of the board of directors of beyondblue, a leading not-for-profit organisation committed to helping Australians understand and manage anxiety and depression. Ms Gillard is Patron of the Layne Beachley Aim For The Stars Foundation, which supports girls and women to invest in their future to fulfill their potential, and also serves on the Board of Governors of the Committee for the Economic Development of Australia.