Anna Bligh

Anna joined YWCA NSW as CEO in January 2014 following a long and distinguished political career.

Anna was elected to the Parliament of Queensland in 1995, became the first female Premier of the State in 2007 and Australia’s first popularly elected female Premier when she won the 2009 Queensland State election in her own right.

From her earliest school days Anna had a burning desire to make a difference. Her first job after completing an Arts degree in Social Sciences was as a child support officer in a women’s refuge. She then went on to work as a community worker in a Neighbourhood Centre and to establish a new family support service.

Anna has held ministerial responsibilities for a number of portfolios including, Education, Social Welfare, Arts, Economic and State Development, Infrastructure, Finance, Treasury and Deputy Premier. Her energy, drive and enthusiasm resulted in major leaps forward in policy and legislation.

Importantly, Anna ensured policy was implemented for the benefit of all. For example, in Education she drove massive reforms in early childhood learning, including the introduction of an extra year of school. Anna has a passion for education, believing it to be one of life’s truly transformative experiences and has been granted an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Queensland for her work in the Education sector.

After retiring from politics in 2012, Anna moved to Sydney with her family. She was drawn to YWCA NSW by its energetic drive to make a difference, strong values, strength of mission and purpose and its innovative structure and funding base.

Anna brings a wealth of experience, strong leadership skills and a commitment to making long term sustainable change in the lives of vulnerable people in NSW to her role at YWCA NSW.