The Hon Linda Dessau AM

Victoria’s new governor plans to put social inclusion and diversity will be high priorities for her in the role.

Former magistrate and judge Linda Dessau will become the 29^th Governor of Victoria when she takes over from present governor Alex Chernov at the end of June.

“Social inclusion and respect form diversity and harmony and unity generally in our community will be very much at the forefront of the activities I will be doing,” she said after the announcement of her appointment.

“I know first-hand how important it is for all to us to feel a sense of belonging in the community, a sense of respect and self-respect,” Ms Dessau said.

A strong advocate of women in senior business board roles, Ms Dessau said she would continue with that work.

A passionate supporter of the Essendon AFL Club, Ms Dessau has had a long and distinguished career in law, serving as a Family Court judge from 1995 to 2013, a role in which she chaired national projects on family violence and child abuse.

Before working in the Family Court, she was a magistrate in the Children’s Court, Coroner’s Court and the Melbourne Magistrate’s Court. Prior to that she was a barrister; being admitted to the bar in 1979.

Ms Dessau was born in Melbourne in 1953. In 1973, she became Melbourne University’s youngest law graduate.

She is a patron of the Epilepsy Foundation and was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2010.

She is President of the Melbourne Festival Board and trustee of the National Gallery of Victoria.

Helen Matovu-Reed
AMES Staff Writer