WestWords is thrilled to announce the joint Vice Regal Patronage by The Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales and Mr Dennis Wilson.

To view the Governor’s message see below

The office of Governor of New South Wales is the oldest public office in Australia, dating from 1786 when Captain Arthur Phillip was issued with a Commission to become the Governor of New South Wales after the First Fleet had arrived.

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 a Companion of the Order of Australia in the Australia Day Honours List on 26 January 2020 for “eminent service to the people of New South Wales, particularly through leadership roles in the judiciary, and as a mentor of young women lawyers”.

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.

Please click below for the video message from Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, Governor of New South Wales