Gladys Berejiklian

Gladys Berejiklian
Photographer unknown, posted on an official Government website. · CC BY 4.0 · source
Name	Gladys Berejiklian
Birth date	1970-09-22
Birth place	Canberra, Australian Capital Territory
Nationality	Australian
Alma mater	University of Sydney
Occupation	Politician
Party	Liberal Party of Australia
Office	45th Premier of New South Wales
Term start	2017-01-23
Term end	2021-10-05

Gladys Berejiklian Gladys Berejiklian is an Australian politician who served as the 45th Premier of New South Wales and leader of the Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division). She represented the electoral district of Willoughby in the New South Wales Legislative Assembly and held ministerial portfolios including Treasurer of New South Wales and Minister for Transport. Berejiklian's career intersected with major Australian institutions and events such as the Sydney Metro, the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season, and the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia.

Early life and education

Born in Canberra, Berejiklian is of Armenian heritage, with family links to the Armenian Genocide diaspora and the Armenian Apostolic Church. She grew up in North Ryde and attended Parsley Bay Public School and Meriden School before studying commerce at the University of Sydney, where she engaged with student politics linked to the Liberal Party of Australia. During this period she encountered figures and institutions such as the Australian Labor Party indirectly through inter-party student activities and policy debates involving the New South Wales Teachers Federation and local civic groups.

Political career

Berejiklian entered state politics contesting preselection within the Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division) and was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Assembly for Willoughby at a by-election following the resignation of Peter Collins. Early parliamentary service involved collaborations and interactions with ministers from the Coalition including allies and rivals from the National Party of Australia and members associated with the Gosford City Council and other local government bodies. She rose through shadow ministries under leaders such as Barry O'Farrell and Mike Baird, later becoming Minister for Transport in the Baird government, engaging with agencies like Transport for NSW and projects including the WestConnex motorway and the Sydney Metro rail program.

Premiership of New South Wales

Following the resignation of Mike Baird amid controversies over tolls and infrastructure, Berejiklian succeeded him after a party-room ballot influenced by factions within the Liberal Party of Australia (New South Wales Division) and support from colleagues including Dominic Perrottet and Stuart Ayres. As Premier she led the New South Wales government through crises including the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season alongside national agencies like the Australian Defence Force and emergency services such as Fire and Rescue NSW. Berejiklian also managed intergovernmental relations with the Commonwealth of Australia and premiers such as Daniel Andrews of Victoria during the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia, coordinating public health measures with bodies like the NSW Health and the National Cabinet.

Policy initiatives and governance

Berejiklian prioritized major infrastructure programs, advancing the Sydney Metro, WestConnex, and regional road upgrades while coordinating funding arrangements with the Commonwealth of Australia and financing partners including state treasury mechanisms. Her government implemented transport reforms affecting agencies such as NSW TrainLink and Sydney Trains, and pursued housing and planning reforms interacting with the NSW Land and Housing Corporation and councils including North Sydney Council. Economic management under her premiership involved fiscal targets akin to those debated in the Parliament of New South Wales and fiscal entities such as the Treasury (New South Wales), while social policies intersected with institutions like the NSW Department of Education and the NSW Health system during responses to the COVID-19 pandemic in Australia and recovery efforts after the 2019–20 Australian bushfire season.

Controversies and investigations

Berejiklian's tenure included scrutiny over infrastructure decisions such as WestConnex contracts and road toll policies that drew criticism from figures connected to the ICAC and political opponents in the Australian Labor Party and minor parties like the The Greens (Australia). Allegations regarding conduct in office prompted inquiries by the ICAC, which examined communications and associations involving public officials, legal advisers, and business figures operating in sectors including construction and property development linked to entities such as the Property Council of Australia. This period also involved legal interplay with statutes administered by the NSW Parliament and public commentary from former premiers and politicians including Barry O'Farrell and Mike Baird.

Later career and personal life

After resigning as Premier and from the New South Wales Legislative Assembly amid ICAC procedures, Berejiklian's subsequent activities included engagements with private-sector and community organizations, cultural institutions tied to the Armenian community in Australia and advocacy groups involving diaspora networks. Her personal life has been noted in relation to workplaces and public figures, and she has maintained residences in the Lower North Shore, New South Wales area near constituencies such as Lane Cove and Mosman. Berejiklian's biography and public legacy continue to be discussed across media outlets, political analyses from think tanks such as the Grattan Institute, and academic studies at institutions like the University of Sydney and the Australian National University.

Category:Premiers of New South Wales Category:Australian politicians of Armenian descent