Penelope Wensley

The Honourable Penelope Wensley AC
25th Governor of Queensland
In office 29 July 2008 – 29 July 2014
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Premier	Anna Bligh Campbell Newman
Preceded by	Quentin Bryce
Succeeded by	Paul de Jersey
Personal details
Born	Penelope Anne Wensley (1946-10-18) 18 October 1946 Toowoomba, Queensland, Australia
Spouse(s)	Stuart McCosker
Alma mater	Penrith High School University of Queensland
Occupation	Public servant, Governor

Penelope Anne "Penny" Wensley AC (born 18 October 1946) is a former Australian public servant, who was the Governor of Queensland from 2008 to 2014.

Life and career

Born in Toowoomba, Queensland, she was educated at Penrith High School in New South Wales, the Rosa Bassett School in London (UK), and the University of Queensland where she graduated with a first class honours degree in English and French literature. She was a resident of the Women's College there. She joined the Australian Public Service (Department of External Affairs) in 1967. Wensley was posted to Paris (1969–1972), returned to work in Australia, and then given a posting in Mexico (1975–1977). She and her husband, Stuart McCosker, a veterinary surgeon, had a daughter while posted in Mexico.

Her next diplomatic appointment was in Wellington, New Zealand (1982–1985). She was consul general in Hong Kong from 1986–1988. From 1991 to 1992, she was head of the International Organisations Division of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade. In 1994, Wensley was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Philosophy by the University of Queensland. Wensley was Ambassador for Environment from 1992 to 1996. She then became the first woman to be Australian Permanent Representative to the United Nations in New York in 1997.

She was then appointed as the first female Australian High Commissioner to India, a role she held until 2004. From 2005 to 2008, she was Australia's Ambassador to France, and non-resident Ambassador to Algeria, Mauritania and Morocco.

On 6 July 2008, the Premier of Queensland, Anna Bligh, announced that Queen Elizabeth II had approved Penny Wensley's appointment as the next Governor of Queensland, in succession to Quentin Bryce, who was relinquishing the office prior to being sworn in as Governor-General of Australia. Wensley was sworn in on 29 July 2008. On 24 January 2013, Wensley's term was extended to July 2014.

Honours and awards

	Companion of the Order of Australia (AC)	26 January 2011
	Officer of the Order of Australia (AO)	2001, For service to the development of Australia's international relations, particularly through the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
	Dame of the Order of St John	2008
	Grand Officer of the National Order of Merit	2009 (France)

External links

• Government House, Queensland, official website

References

Diplomatic posts
Preceded by Richard Butler	Permanent Representative of Australia to the United Nations 1997–2001	Succeeded by John Dauth
Preceded by Rob Laurie	Australian High Commissioner to India 2001–2004	Succeeded by John McCarthy
Preceded by Bill Fisher	Australian Ambassador to France 2005–2008	Succeeded by David Ritchie
Government offices
Preceded by Quentin Bryce	Governor of Queensland 2008–2014	Succeeded by Paul de Jersey