Margaret Beazley

Margaret Joan Beazley (born 23 July 1951) is an Australian jurist who is the 39th and current governor of New South Wales, serving since 2 May 2019. She was the president of the New South Wales Court of Appeal, the first woman to hold the office, from March 2013 until February 2019. Beazley graduated from the Sydney Law School at the University of Sydney in 1974 in law, with honours.

Legal career Beazley served her articles of clerkship with Winter & Sharp, and was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in 1975. She was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1989.

From 1996 to 2019, she was a Judge of Appeal of the New South Wales Court of Appeal. She was President of the court, the first woman to hold the office, from 2013 until February 2019.

Beazley has also served on the Australian Executive of Amnesty International (1980).

Governor of New South Wales

In January 2019, Beazley accepted the position of 39th Governor of New South Wales, succeeding David Hurley, and was sworn in as governor on 2 May 2019. In 2020, she was promoted to Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service to the people of New South Wales, particularly through leadership roles in the judiciary, and as a mentor of young women lawyers.

In November 2021, it was reported that a member of the governor's staff had anonymously lodged whistleblower complaints about bullying with the Department of Premier and Cabinet, which provides staff for the governor's office. Following an investigation, the Departmentwhile not referring to a decisionthanked the complainant and promised measures to foster a "respectful" workplace culture in the office.

Beazley's term in office was extended in March 2024 to May 2026 and then her term was extended again in January 2026 to 1 May 2028.

Honours and awards

Honorary appointments 2019: Honorary Colonel of the Royal New South Wales Regiment. 2019: Governor of the New South Wales Police Force. 2019: Deputy Prior of the Order of St John.

22x22px 2019: Honorary Air Commodore of No. 22 Squadron Royal Australian Air Force.

Honorary degrees 2008: Honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) by the University of Sydney. 2019: Honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) by the Australian Catholic University. 2022: Honorary Doctorate of Laws (LLD) by The University of Notre Dame Australia.

Personal life Beazley is married to Dennis Wilson. She has three adult children from her first marriage to barrister Alan Sullivan. She and Sullivan were reportedly "the first husband and wife from the private legal profession to become QCs".