Anna Bligh

Anna Bligh
Bligh in 2020
37th Premier of Queensland
Elections: 2009, 2012
In office
13 September 2007 – 26 March 2012
MonarchElizabeth II
GovernorQuentin Bryce
Penelope Wensley
DeputyPaul Lucas (2007–2011)
Andrew Fraser (2011–2012)
Preceded byPeter Beattie
Succeeded byCampbell Newman
Minister for Reconstruction of Queensland
In office
21 February 2011 – 26 March 2012
PremierHerself
Preceded byNew position
Succeeded byJeff Seeney
Leader of the Labor Party in Queensland
In office
13 September 2007 – 26 March 2012
DeputyPaul Lucas (2007–2011)
Andrew Fraser (2011–2012)
Preceded byPeter Beattie
Succeeded byAnnastacia Palaszczuk
46th Treasurer of Queensland
In office
2 February 2006 – 13 September 2007
PremierPeter Beattie
Preceded byPeter Beattie
Succeeded byAndrew Fraser
30th Deputy Premier of Queensland
Deputy Leader of the Labor Party in Queensland
In office
28 July 2005 – 13 September 2007
PremierPeter Beattie
Preceded byTerry Mackenroth
Succeeded byPaul Lucas
Minister for the Arts of Queensland
In office
12 February 2004 – 21 February 2011
PremierPeter Beattie (2004–2007)
Herself (2007–2011)
Preceded byMatt Foley
Succeeded byRachel Nolan
Minister for Education of Queensland
In office
22 February 2001 – 28 July 2005
PremierPeter Beattie
Preceded byDean Wells
Succeeded byRod Welford
Minister for Families, Community Services, Disability Services and Youth of Queensland
In office
29 June 1998 – 22 February 2001
PremierPeter Beattie
Preceded byNaomi Wilson
Member of the Queensland Parliament
for South Brisbane
In office
15 July 1995 – 30 March 2012
Preceded byAnne Warner
Succeeded byJackie Trad
National President of the Labor Party
In office
August 2010 – 1 July 2011
Preceded byMichael Williamson
Succeeded byJenny McAllister
Personal details
Born
Anna Maria Bligh

(1960-07-14) 14 July 1960 (age 64)
Warwick, Queensland, Australia
Political partyLabor Party
Spouse(s)Greg Withers (1986–2015)
Anthony Bertini (m. 2017)[citation needed]
Children2
Alma materUniversity of Queensland
Signature

Anna Maria Bligh AC (born 14 July 1960) is an Australian lobbyist and former politician who served as the 37th Premier of Queensland, in office from 2007 to 2012 as leader of the Queensland Labor Party. She was the first woman to hold either position. In 2017, she was appointed CEO of the Australian Banking Association.

Bligh was born in Warwick, Queensland, and studied at the University of Queensland. Before entering politics she worked for various community organisations. Bligh entered the Queensland Legislative Assembly at the 1995 state election, winning the seat of South Brisbane. She was promoted to the ministry in 1998, under Peter Beattie, and became deputy premier in 2005 and state treasurer in 2006. Bligh succeeded Beattie as premier in 2007 – Queensland's first female premier and Australia's third. She led Labor to victory at the 2009 state election, but at the 2012 election suffered a landslide defeat and announced her retirement from politics. From 2010 to 2011, Bligh was National President of the Australian Labor Party.