The Nightly On Leadership: Quentin Bryce on sacrifice, service and her best advice

There are many labels Quentin Bryce can wear: Lawyer, advocate, academic, the country’s first female governor-general are among them. Here, she shares her career highlights, being called a trailblazer and the best advice she ever received.

On being called a trailblazer . . .

Of course I am honoured, but I also find it quite overwhelming. There is a responsibility being the first and I did feel that keenly at times in my career as I know others have. But I hope that we are coming to a time where being a woman leader is no longer remarkable.

My greatest career achievement . . .

I certainly felt the importance and weight of history when I was Sex Discrimination Commissioner at the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission. I think today we take for granted what a huge advance The Sex Discrimination Act was for women’s rights.

I have been inspired by . . .

Being part of Australia’s women’s movement, working with others towards meaningful reform for women and children. I learnt a great deal from the women I met leading the charge, especially those in rural and remote Australia forging change through grassroots activism. My own work was constantly inspired by their commitment and passion.

When I was young I . . .

Wanted to change the world and decided I would be a lawyer like Rose Heilbron, Justice of the High Court in England, the first woman to be appointed silk in the UK. She was my first role model.

Read the full edition of The Nightly On Leadership for FREE here

I think I always knew I wanted to dedicate my life to advocacy . . .

Those values were passed down to me and my three sisters from our parents. I never questioned that community service would be a foundation stone for whatever I chose to do. It was a given.

There is nothing I would change in my time as governor-general . . .

I was honoured and am proud to have served as governor-general, a unique and special role.

I will never stop fighting for Indigenous rights in Australia . . .

I fully support a path to treaty and truth-telling. In 2023 I was deeply perturbed by the result for the national referendum on an Indigenous Voice to Parliament — especially in my home State of Queensland. By the time I realised the way the vote was likely heading it was too late to stop the tide. It was devastating.

I am pleased that we have another female governor-general . . .

But I am rather perplexed that it took so long to appoint a second. I look forward to the time when we no longer need to talk about jobs in terms of gender, when we have truly achieved equal opportunities for women in Australia.

I always support women . . .

Whether they are leaders or otherwise. I value the immense support I have received from my female friends and colleagues in all aspects of my career and life. It feels completely natural to me to nurture and look after one another. Why wouldn’t you?

We are gaining ground in the strive for equality . . .

You only have to look at the number of women in the current government, but things could be and should be moving faster, notably in equal pay. Also, women still carry the burden of domestic chores. I notice with concern that a lot of young mothers are on the verge of exhaustion.

I believe good leaders . . .

Give time to listen to, understand and get to know those they are seeking to support or help. Meeting people where they live, building lasting, respectful relationships. You need to walk in someone else’s shoes.

The best advice I received . . .

Was from my headmistress at Moreton Bay College, Mrs Millicent Drewe, who told me “never waste time on regrets. When you’ve made a decision, do get on with it”. It was a lesson for me at a particular time when I was a teenager and something I’ve found very helpful and returned to time and again when making tough choices.

I learnt a great deal from the women I met leading the charge, especially those in rural and remote Australia forging change through grassroots activism.

There are too many inspiring female leaders to name . . .

But of those women leaders I’ve met, two personal heroines stand out — the brilliant Dr Catherine Hamlin whose work in fistula surgery in Ethiopia I witnessed and Justice Sandra Day O’Connor, one of three justices who preserved legal action to abortion in the US when it was challenged, who I was thrilled to invite to supper at Government House in Queensland.

Being a team player is the most important aspect of leadership . . .

I see myself as a quiet agent of change, bringing others along with me so together we can make Australia and the world a better place.

Royalties from my biography will be donated to Women’s Legal Service Queensland . . .

The level of domestic violence in Australia is horrific and unacceptable. The Women’s Legal Service Queensland provides vital, accessible free legal support to help women facing domestic violence move forward with the force of the law behind them. They change women’s lives in a real and effective way.

I don’t think we are doing enough to end family and domestic violence . . .

It needs to be top priority for everyone — governing bodies and individuals too. We cannot be bystanders, we all need to ask ourselves what can I — me, myself, I — do?

If I had the power to change the world, the first thing I would do would be . . .

To establish well-funded, high quality early learning centres for every child in Australia. Children are our most precious resource and we must ensure that in those years so critical to their development that they are given every opportunity to grow their potential and thrive.

Quentin Bryce: The Authorised Biography by Juliet Rieden, published by Penguin Random House is out now.