Margaret Beazley

Beazley was born and grew up in Hurstville, Sydney, New South Wales, one of five children to Gordon and Lorna Beazley; her father worked as a milkman. She was educated at Catholic schools – St Declan's Primary School in Penshurst, St Joseph's Girls High School in Kogarah, and Mount Saint Joseph, Milperra.^[2] Beazley graduated from the Sydney Law School at the University of Sydney in 1974 in law, with honours.^[3][1]

Beazley served her articles of clerkship with Winter & Sharp, and was admitted to the New South Wales Bar in 1975. She was appointed Queen's Counsel in 1989.^[2]

Beazley was a Judicial Member of the Equal Opportunity Tribunal from 1984 to 1988. She was an Acting District Court Judge from 1990 to 1991. From 1991 to 1992, Beazley served as Assistant Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption. She was a judge of the Federal Court of Australia from 1993 to 1996, an additional Judge of the Supreme Court of the Australian Capital Territory from 1994 to 1997, and a judge of the Industrial Relations Court of Australia from 1994 to 1996.^[4]

From 1996 to 2019, she was a Judge of Appeal of the New South Wales Court of Appeal. She was President of the court, the first woman to hold the office, from 2013^[5] until February 2019.^[6][7]

Beazley has also served on the Australian Executive of Amnesty International (1980).

In January 2019, Beazley accepted the position of 39th Governor of New South Wales,^[8] succeeding David Hurley,^[9] and was sworn in as governor on 2 May 2019.^[1][10] In 2020, she was promoted to Companion of the Order of Australia 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.^[11][12]

In November 2021, it was reported that a member of the governor's staff had anonymously lodged whistleblower complaints about bullying with the Department of Premier and Cabinet, which provides staff for the governor's office. Following an investigation, the Department—while not referring to a decision—thanked the complainant and promised measures to foster a "respectful" workplace culture in the office.^[13][14]

Beazley's term in office was extended in March 2024 to May 2026^[15] and then her term was extended again in January 2026 to 1 May 2028.^[16]

Beazley is married to Dennis Wilson. She has three adult children from her first marriage to barrister Alan Sullivan.^[27][28] She and Sullivan were reportedly "the first husband and wife from the private legal profession to become QCs".^[29]

• List of judges of the Supreme Court of New South Wales