Anna Bligh

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The Honourable Anna Bligh AC
Bligh in 2020
37th Premier of Queensland
In office 13 September 2007 – 26 March 2012
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor	Quentin Bryce Penelope Wensley
Deputy	Paul Lucas (2007–2011) Andrew Fraser (2011–2012)
Preceded by	Peter Beattie
Succeeded by	Campbell Newman
Minister for Reconstruction of Queensland
In office 21 February 2011 – 26 March 2012
Premier	Herself
Preceded by	New position
Succeeded by	Jeff Seeney
Leader of the Labor Party in Queensland
In office 13 September 2007 – 26 March 2012
Deputy	Paul Lucas (2007–2011) Andrew Fraser (2011–2012)
Preceded by	Peter Beattie
Succeeded by	Annastacia Palaszczuk
46th Treasurer of Queensland
In office 2 February 2006 – 13 September 2007
Premier	Peter Beattie
Preceded by	Peter Beattie
Succeeded by	Andrew Fraser
30th Deputy Premier of Queensland Deputy Leader of the Labor Party in Queensland
In office 28 July 2005 – 13 September 2007
Premier	Peter Beattie
Preceded by	Terry Mackenroth
Succeeded by	Paul Lucas
Minister for the Arts of Queensland
In office 12 February 2004 – 21 February 2011
Premier	Peter Beattie (2004–2007) Herself (2007–2011)
Preceded by	Matt Foley
Succeeded by	Rachel Nolan
Minister for Education of Queensland
In office 22 February 2001 – 28 July 2005
Premier	Peter Beattie
Preceded by	Dean Wells
Succeeded by	Rod Welford
Minister for Families, Community Services, Disability Services and Youth of Queensland
In office 29 June 1998 – 22 February 2001
Premier	Peter Beattie
Preceded by	Naomi Wilson
Member of the Queensland Parliament for South Brisbane
In office 15 July 1995 – 30 March 2012
Preceded by	Anne Warner
Succeeded by	Jackie Trad
National President of the Labor Party
In office August 2010 – 1 July 2011
Preceded by	Michael Williamson
Succeeded by	Jenny McAllister
Personal details
Born	Anna Maria Bligh (1960-07-14) 14 July 1960 (age 64) Warwick, Queensland, Australia
Political party	Labor Party
Spouse(s)	Greg Withers (1986–2015) Anthony Bertini (m. 2017)[citation needed]
Children	2
Alma mater	University of Queensland
Signature

Anna Maria Bligh AC (born 14 July 1960) is an Australian lobbyist and former politician who served as the 37th Premier of Queensland, in office from 2007 to 2012 as leader of the Queensland Labor Party. She was the first woman to hold either position. In 2017, she was appointed CEO of the Australian Banking Association.

Bligh was born in Warwick, Queensland, and studied at the University of Queensland. Before entering politics she worked for various community organisations. Bligh entered the Queensland Legislative Assembly at the 1995 state election, winning the seat of South Brisbane. She was promoted to the ministry in 1998, under Peter Beattie, and became deputy premier in 2005 and state treasurer in 2006. Bligh succeeded Beattie as premier in 2007 – Queensland's first female premier and Australia's third. She led Labor to victory at the 2009 state election, but at the 2012 election suffered a landslide defeat and announced her retirement from politics. From 2010 to 2011, Bligh was National President of the Australian Labor Party.