Patricia Forsythe
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Patricia Forsythe | |
|---|---|
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| Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand | |
| In office 2 March 2019 – 31 March 2022 | |
| Preceded by | Ewen McDonald |
| Succeeded by | Harinder Sidhu |
| Executive Director of Sydney Business Chamber | |
| In office September 2006 – March 2019 | |
| Preceded by | Margy Osmond |
| Succeeded by | Katherine O'Regan |
| Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council | |
| In office 25 May 1991 – 22 September 2006 | |
| Succeeded by | Matthew Mason-Cox |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Patricia Wingrove 1 March 1952 |
| Party | Liberal Party |
| Alma mater | University of Newcastle Graduate School of Government at The University of Sydney |
Patricia Forsythe AM (born 1 March 1952) is an Australian politician and diplomat who was the Australian High Commissioner to New Zealand from March 2019 to March 2022. As of 2024, she is Chancellor at the University of Newcastle. She was previously the Executive Director of the Sydney Business Chamber since September 2006. Prior to her appointment to the Chamber, she was a member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales representing the Liberal Party between 1991 and 2006.
Born in Newcastle, New South Wales, she received a Bachelor of Arts (Diploma of Education) from the University of Newcastle, Australia and became a high school teacher from 1974 to 1978 and 1983 to 1986. She had joined the Liberal Party in 1968, and served on the State Executive 1982-1991 and 1993–1995. After a period as a public affairs manager from 1987 to 1988, she was Executive Officer to the Minister for Local Government and Planning from 1988 to 1991.[1]
Political career
In 1991, Forsythe was elected to the New South Wales Legislative Council as a Liberal member. During her period in the Legislative Council, Forsythe spoke against moves by the Federal party and student Liberal organisations who were promoting voluntary student unionism [citation needed] In 2005, Forsythe expressed concern over the "extreme religious right" in the Liberal Party after the resignation and suicide attempt of then Liberal leader John Brogden. Forsythe named David Clarke as leader of the religious right.[2]
Forsythe was challenged for preselection by Matthew Mason-Cox for the 2007 state election. However, she resigned on 22 September 2006 and took up appointment as Executive Director of the NSW Business Chamber. She was replaced by Mason-Cox in the Legislative Council.
