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Linda DessauAustralian lawyer and politician
Date of Birth: 08.05.1953
Country:  Australia |
Content:
Linda Dessau: A Life of Service
Early Life and EducationLinda Dessau, born on May 8, 1953, was the youngest of four children to John and Sybil Dessau in Melbourne, Victoria. Her father, John, had fled Poland in 1929 due to persecution as a Jew. Her mother, Sybil, was a Melbourne native who passed away when Linda was 17 years old.
Linda Dessau graduated with honors from the University of Melbourne Law School in 1973, earning a Bachelor of Laws degree.
Legal Career
In 1975, Dessau began practicing law in the Supreme Court of Victoria, specializing in family law. She married Anthony Howard in 1982, and they collaborated in the Attorney-General's Department in Hong Kong. Upon returning to Australia in 1985, she worked on the Criminal Cases Management Project.
Judicial Appointments
In June 1995, Dessau was appointed as a judge in the Family Court of Australia, serving for 18 years until July 2013.
Governorship
In February 2015, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews announced Dessau's appointment as Governor of Victoria, effective July 1, 2015. On June 30, 2015, she was sworn in, becoming the state's 29th Governor and the first woman to hold the position.
Honors
Linda Dessau was awarded the Member of the Order of Australia (A.M.) in June 2010. In 2017, she was promoted to Companion of the Order of Australia (A.C.).
