Patricia Giles

Patricia Jessie Giles (; 16 November 1928 – 9 August 2017) was an Australian politician and activist for women's rights. She was a Senator for Western Australia from 1981 to 1993, representing the Australian Labor Party (ALP). She was the president of the International Alliance of Women for three terms, the last ending in 2004.

Early life Giles was born on 16 November 1928 in Minlaton, South Australia. She was the older of two daughters born to Marjorie Eva (née Norris) and Eustace Frederick White; her mother was a schoolteacher and her father was a car salesman, shopkeeper and accountant. She and Sara Dowse contributed the piece "Women in a Warrior Society" to the 1984 anthology Sisterhood Is Global: The International Women's Movement Anthology, edited by Robin Morgan.

Later life Following her retirement from politics, Giles continued to be active in women's rights, serving three terms as president of the International Alliance of Women. On Australia Day, 2010, she was named a Member of the Order of Australia, "For service to the community through organisations and advisory bodies that promote the interests of women, and to the Parliament of Australia". She died on 9 August 2017 from dementia, aged 88.