Jeannette Rosita Young AC PSM (born 1963) is an Australian medical doctor and administrator who is currently Governor of Queensland, since 1 November 2021. Before being sworn in as Governor, Young was Chief Health Officer of Queensland from 2005 to 2021.[3][4]
Jeannette Young | |
|---|---|
 Young in 2020 | |
| 27th Governor of Queensland | |
| Assumed office 1 November 2021 | |
| Monarchs | Elizabeth II Charles III |
| Premier | Annastacia Palaszczuk Steven Miles David Crisafulli |
| Preceded by | Paul de Jersey |
| Chief Health Officer of Queensland | |
| In office 17 August 2005 – 1 November 2021 | |
| Deputy | Sonya Bennett (2020–2021) Peter Aitken (2021) Lynne McKinlay (2021) James Smith (2021) |
| Preceded by | Gerry FitzGerald |
| Succeeded by | John Gerrard |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1963 (age 60–61)[1] Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Spouse |
Graeme Nimmo (m. 2000) |
| Children | 2 |
| Education | St Ives High School |
| Alma mater | |
| Signature |  |
Career
editYoung was born in 1963 in Sydney, New South Wales.[1] She attended secondary school at St Ives High School, graduating in 1980, before studying at the University of Sydney and graduating in 1986 with a Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery. She started her career as a doctor at Westmead Hospital in Sydney in 1986 where she completed her internship and one year as a resident medical officer before completing 4.5 years as a registrar in emergency medicine. In July 1992 she moved in to medical administration at the same hospital.[3][page needed]
She relocated to Queensland upon her appointment as director of medical services at Rockhampton Hospital in December 1994. In April 1995, she attained a Master of Business Administration by Macquarie University. She then moved into a position similar to her role in Rockhampton, as executive director of medical services at Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane, in January 1999.[citation needed]
On 17 August 2005, she was appointed to succeed Gerry FitzGerald as Chief Health Officer of Queensland. She gained prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020,[5] holding multiple press briefings regarding the disease. Her recommendation to the Palaszczuk Government to close the state's borders, which was implemented, proved controversial as she received numerous death threats and was placed under police protection in September 2020.[6][7]
On 21 June 2021, the then-Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced Young would become the 27th Governor of Queensland. The incumbent Governor Paul de Jersey was due to retire in July 2021, but extended his term until November to allow Young to focus on the COVID-19 vaccine rollout as Chief Health Officer.[8]
Honours
edit| Viceregal styles of Jeannette Young (2021–Present) | |
|---|---|
| Reference style | Her Excellency the Honourable |
| Spoken style | Your Excellency |
| Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) | 2022 Queen's Birthday Honours for "eminent service to public health administration, to medicine and medical research, to the tertiary education sector, and as the 27th Governor appointed in Queensland." | 12 June 2022[9] | |
| Public Service Medal (PSM) | 2015 Queen's Birthday Honours for "outstanding public service to Queensland Health." | 8 June 2015[10] | |
| Dame of Grace of the Order of St John | 2022 Special Honours appointment as Deputy Prior of the Venerable Order of Saint John. | 21 October 2022[11] |
Degrees
edit- 1986: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery from the University of Sydney
- 1995: Master of Business Administration from Macquarie University
Fellowships
edit- 2004: Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators
Honorary degrees
edit- 2015: Honorary doctorate from Griffith University[12]
- 2017: Honorary doctorate from Queensland University of Technology
Honorary appointments
edit- 1 November 2021, as of her swearing in as governor
Australian Army, Regimental Colonel of the Royal Queensland Regiment.[13]
Order of St John, Deputy Prior of the Order of St John.[14][13]
Royal Australian Air Force Honorary, Air Commodore of No. 23 Squadron RAAF[13]
References
edit- ^ Received an honorary degree.
- ^ Received an honorary degree.
- ^ a b "The Governor's Biography". Government House Queensland. Archived from the original on 16 November 2021. Retrieved 2 November 2021.
- ^ Miles, Janelle (4 December 2020). "'I lost eight people in one shift': CHO's horror night". The Courier-Mail. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2021.
- ^ a b "Bundaberg Hospital Commission of Inquiry – Statement of Dr. Jeanette Rosita Young" (PDF). Queensland Public Hospitals Commission of Inquiry. 20 May 2005. Archived (PDF) from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 5 November 2021.
- ^ Lynch, Lydia (30 April 2020). "Jeannette Young: who is the woman leading Queensland's fight against COVID-19?". Brisbane Times. Archived from the original on 22 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ Lang, Kylie (5 June 2020). "Dr Jeanette Young humbled by Queenslander of the Year nomination". The Courier-Mail. Archived from the original on 5 August 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ Bosely, Matilda (14 September 2020). "Queensland's chief health officer given police protection after death threats". Guardian Australia. Archived from the original on 29 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ Radford, Antoinette (19 September 2020). "Brett Sutton rose to cult status during the coronavirus pandemic. Jeannette Young received death threats". SBS News. Archived from the original on 24 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ "Dr Jeannette Young Queensland's New Governor". Ministerial Media Statements. Archived from the original on 24 June 2021. Retrieved 21 June 2021.
- ^ "Queen's Birthday 2022 Honours - the full list". Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. 12 June 2022. Archived from the original on 5 October 2022. Retrieved 12 June 2022.
- ^ "Dr Jeannette Rosita YOUNG". Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ Invested as a Dame of Grace of the Order of St John, Governor of Queensland Twitter, archived from the original on 6 March 2023, retrieved 22 October 2022
- ^ Jacobson, Michael (13 August 2015). "Griffith honorary doctorates for trio of achievers". Griffith University. Archived from the original on 27 November 2020. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
- ^ a b c d "Patronage". Governor of Queensland. Retrieved 2 September 2024.
- ^ "Understanding the Most Venerable Order of St John" (PDF). Governor of New South Wales. Governor of New South Wales. 12 December 2014. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 March 2018. Retrieved 24 August 2018.
External links
editMedia related to Jeannette Young at Wikimedia Commons