Penelope Anne Wensley was born in Toowoomba,Queensland,to Neil Wensley and his wife Doris McCulloch.[2] She was educated at Penrith High School in New South Wales,the Rosa Bassett School in London (UK),and the University of Queensland,where she graduated with a first class Honours degree in English and French literature. She was a resident of the Women's College there.[3] Her brothers,Robert Wensley and Bill Wensley,[2] also attended the University of Queensland,as had her parents.[4]
Diplomatic career
Wensley joined the Australian Public Service in 1967,working in the Department of External Affairs in 1967. She was posted to Paris (1969–1972),returned to work in Australia,and was then given a posting in Mexico (1975–1977). During this posting Wensley was threatened with kidnapping.[5] She and her husband,Stuart McCosker,a veterinary surgeon,had a daughter while in Mexico.[6]
Wensley was then appointed as the first female Australian High Commissioner to India,a role she held until 2004.[6] When Australia established diplomatic relations with Bhutan in September 2002,Wensley,as High Commissioner in India,was appointed as Australia's first ambassador there from May 2003.[8] From 2005 to 2008,she was Australian Ambassador to France,and non-resident Ambassador to Algeria,Mauritania and Morocco.[9]
Since 2015,Wensley has served as chair of the Australian Institute of Marine Science Council.[12] She is also chair of the advisory committee for Reef 2050,an advisory body working with the Australian and Queensland governments on a plan to protect and improve the Great Barrier Reef.[13] She also serves on the board of the Lowy Institute. Wensley has been long-term patron of Soil Science Australia[14] and is currently the National Soils Advocate of Australia.[15]
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↑ "Office of the Governor – Annual Report 2009 – 2010". Annual Report. Brisbane, Queensland: The State of Queensland (Office of the Governor): 15. 2010. ISSN1837-2775.
↑ "Wensley, Penelope Anne". Search Australian Honours. Australian Government. Retrieved 26 January 2011.
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