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Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AO QC is the 39th Governor of New South Wales, commencing her five year tenure on 2 May 2019.

Prior to her appointment as Governor, Her Excellency enjoyed a long and distinguished law career spanning 43 years, during which time she served as a role model for women in law at both the State and national level.

Appointed Queen’s Counsel in 1989, in 1993 she was made a judge of the Federal Court of Australia, the first woman to sit exclusively in that Court. In 1996, she achieved the distinction of being the first woman appointed to the New South Wales Court of Appeal and, subsequently, as the first woman to be appointed as its President. She served, on a number of occasions, as Administrator of the Government of the State of New South Wales.

She was made an Officer in the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List on 12 June 2006 for service to the judiciary and the law.

Her Excellency has three children – Erin, Lauren and Anthony Sullivan – and is married to Mr. Dennis Wilson, a barrister, mediator, accredited international arbitrator and Adjunct Professor of Law, at Notre Dame University, Sydney.

Her Excellency brings her deep commitment to education, youth leadership, human rights and social justice to the role in service of the people of New South Wales.

Mr Dennis Wilson is a barrister, mediator, and accredited international arbitrator, whose work generally includes difficult cases in both fact and law, dealing in matters of high value or involving significant principle.

He is a long-standing member of the legal profession in Australia and has advised on legislative review and policy development and implementation in environmental law and in the mining and resources sectors. Mr Wilson has a particular interest in the World Trade Organisation, the Energy Charter Treaty, Mining and Oil and Gas law and dispute resolution.

Mr Wilson, is an Adjunct Professor of Law, at Notre Dame University, Sydney.

Helen Wiseman has been a long-time supporter of SHINE for Kids having served as Chair of the organisation for 12 years until 2016, when she subsequently became Patron.

Helen has been a tireless advocate for the rights of children and young people who experience having a family member in prison and has helped to lift the profile of SHINE for Kids across the community, and the business community in particular.

Helen brings insights drawn from her involvement over many years in a wide-variety of community and social justice organisations as a volunteer, as a director and as a mentor.

A former director of the Sydney Community Foundation and the Sydney Women’s Fund, Helen established the By My Side sub-fund to raise further awareness of, and drive philanthropic support towards women and children affected by the justice system providing the feeling that someone is by their side.

A Chartered Accountant and businesswoman, Helen currently practices as a non-executive director to public and private companies, and mentors decision-makers.

In 2014, she was named as one of the Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence. Helen was also featured in the 2010 American Express Enriched List, highlighting people who are “using their skills, talents and dreams to give more out, get more back and realise their potential”.

Helen holds a Bachelor of Science in European Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and has recently completed the INSEAD International Directors Program.