Gladys Berejiklian, a retired Australian politician and former Liberal Party member, made history as the first elected female Premier of New South Wales. During her tenure, she focused on strengthening the state’s economy and implementing important reforms in reproductive health and bushfire management. However, her involvement in a controversial relationship with a fellow MP led to an investigation into corrupt conduct and breach of public trust, ultimately resulting in her resignation. Currently, she has joined Optus as an executive and has expressed no intention of returning to politics. Despite facing scrutiny over her personal life, Berejiklian firmly believes that merit should be the determining factor in her political career, not her single and childless status.
Quick Facts
- Australian Celebrities Born In September
- Age: 53 Years, 53 Year Old Females
- Family: father: Krikor Berejiklian, mother: Arsha Berejiklian
- Born Country: Australia
- Political Leaders
- Australian Women
- Height: 5’5″ (165 cm), 5’5″ Females
- More Facts
- Education: University Of Sydney, University of New South Wales
Childhood, Early Life & Education
Gladys Berejiklian was born in Sydney, Australia, on September 22, 1970. She was the eldest of the three daughters of her Armenian-origin parents, Krikor and Arsha. Unfortunately, her twin sister died at childbirth, and Berejiklian only discovered her existence when she needed her birth certificate to get a passport at the age of 13. Her birth certificate identified her as the “elder of the twins.” Her grandparents were survivors of the Armenian genocide, and her father was born in Syria before moving to Australia for better opportunities.
Berejiklian attended North Ryde High School, which later became known as Peter Board High School. As a primary school student in Australia, she initially struggled with English and was more comfortable speaking Armenian. She excelled academically and consistently ranked at the top of her class. She went on to attend the University of Sydney, where she obtained a BA and a graduate diploma in international studies in 1996. She furthered her education by earning a master’s degree in commerce from the University of New South Wales in 2001.
Early Political Career
In 1993, Berejiklian joined the Liberal Party and quickly rose through the ranks. From 1997 to 1998, she made history as the third female president of the New South Wales Young Liberals. She served on various committees and councils and worked for notable figures such as Peter Collins and Senator Helen Coonan. In 2003, she became a Member of the New South Wales Parliament for Willoughby, a position she held until 2021. Throughout her career, she took on roles such as Shadow Minister for Mental Health, Transport Minister under the O’Farrell government, and Treasurer of New South Wales under the Baird government. She played a significant role in the development of infrastructure and the financial progress of the state.
Career as a Premier
In 2017, Berejiklian made history once again by becoming the 45th Premier of New South Wales. She was the first elected female NSW Premier, the only conservative female political leader in Australia, and the first female Liberal member to hold the position of Premier. She focused on building a strong economy and managed to achieve a $700 million surplus in 2019, despite significant investments in infrastructure and drought relief. She also played a crucial role in the decriminalization of abortion in NSW and led the state’s drought and bushfire recovery efforts in 2019.
Corporate Career
After resigning as Premier in October 2021, Berejiklian embarked on a corporate career. She joined Optus as the managing director of its enterprise, business, and institutional division. She secured major contracts for the company, including agreements for 5G coverage at the Melbourne airport and the use of satellite services by emergency service agencies.
Personal Life
Berejiklian is a devoted follower of the Armenian Apostolic Church. In June 2021, she began dating high-profile barrister Arthur Moses, who represented her in the corruption case involving her former boyfriend, Daryl Maguire. Although she has never been married or had children, she has six godchildren. She has stated that she believes people should judge her based on her merit and not her personal life. In her free time, she enjoys opera, reading books, and indulging in wine.