Julia Gillard, the first female prime minister of Australia, will be the keynote speaker of the 6th Annual Global Engagement Distinguished Speaker series, April 8th at 6:00 p.m. in the LSC Grand Ballrooms. The event is free and open to the public, tickets will be required through the LSC box office.
“Julia Gillard is the first and only woman to date to hold the positions of Deputy Prime Minister, Prime Minister, and leader of a major party in Australia,” said Shauna DeLuca, Assistant Director of Global Co-Curricular Initiatives at the Office of International Programs. 
As Prime Minister, Gillard was central to the successful management of Australia’s economy during the global financial crisis and delivered nation-changing policies. These policies included reforming education at every level, creating an emission trading scheme, improving the provision and sustainability of health care, aged care and dental care, commencing the nation’s first scheme to care for people with disabilities, and restructuring the telecommunications sector. She strengthened ties with many foreign countries during her time in office and developed Australia’s guiding policy paper “Australia in the Asian Century”.
In 2012, Prime Minister Gillard received worldwide attention for her speech in Parliament on the treatment of women in professional and public life. Prime Minister Gillard retired from politics in 2013 and now follows her passion for education. In 2014, she was appointed chair of the Global Partnership for Education, a leading organization dedicated to expanding access and quality education worldwide. The International Commission for Global Education Opportunity appointed her Commissioner in 2015.
“As a world-class, global university it is imperative that Colorado State University engage with prominent leaders from around the world,” said DeLuca.
“By bringing the world to Colorado State University we can create a community that is better informed and more prepared to address the challenges and opportunities of the 21st century.”
This event is put on by the Office of International Programs, with several sponsors, including the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, Women & Philanthropy, Department of Political Science, and more.
For more information contact Shauna Deluca: shauna.deluca@colostate.edu
