Woman Premier Ministers of External Territories

Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership

WOMAN
CHIEFS OF GOVERNMENTS OF
EXTERNAL TERRITORIES


1977 Lucinda E. da Costa Gomez-Matheeuws, Netherlands Antilles (The Netherlands)

Minister of Health and Environment, Welfare, Youth, Sports, Culture and Recreation 1970-77 and in 1977 Minister Presidente and Minister of General Affairs. She was also Vice-President of The Nationale Volkspartij 1971-76 and around 1995 Member of the Raad van Advies, the Council of Advisors. She is the widow of Dr. M.F. da Costa Gomez (1907-66), Premier of the state 1951-54. She lived (1929-2016).


1982-85 Lucette Michaux-Chevry, Guadalupe (France)
 

As President of the Regional Council she was also Chief of Executive Council. 1986-87 Secretary of State and 1993-95 Minister Delegate of Foreign Affairs in the French Government, 1987-95 Maire de Gourbreyre, and from 1995 Maire de Basse-Terre, 1992-2004 President of the Conseil Regional (Parliament),(b. 1929-)


1984-86 and 1988-93 Maria Ph. Liberia-Peters,
Nederlandse Antillen (The Netherlands)
 

Health Councillor 1977-78 and Lieutenant-Governor of Curaçau 1982. Minister of Economy 1982-83 and 1984-86 also, Minister of General Affairs and the Interior, Health and Environment. She was also Chairperson of the Nationale Volkspartij/Partido Nashional de Peuplo (PNP) 1984-98. (b. 1941-)


1987 Princess Stella Margaret Nomzamo Sigcau, Transkei (South African Homeland)

Minister of Education 1970-73, the Interior (Including Industry, Trade and Tourism) 1973-78, Internal Affairs 1979-81, Post and Telecommunication 1981-87, Leader Transkei National Independence Party in 1987, Minister of Public Enterprises 1994-98 and of Public Works 1998-2006 in the Government of South Africa for ANC. She was daughter of Chief Botha Jongilizwe Sigcau of East-Pontoland (1912-78) who was President of Transkei (1976-78) and the mother of four children. She lived (1937-2006).


1988-90 Sila Maria Calderón Serra, Estado Libre Asociado de Puerto Rico (USA)
2001-05 Governor (Chief Executive)

As Secretary of State she ran the daily government business and was deputy to the governor. As Governor she was the chief executive. Chief of Staff of the Governor in 1985, 1986-90 Secretary of Interior and since 1996 Mayor of San Juan (The Capital), 1999 she became President of Partido Popular Democrático and Governor 2001-05.  (b. 1952-)


1988-91 2003-07 Anne Green, Tristan da Cunha (St. Helena) (British Territory)
2003 Acting Administrator (November-December)
2004 Acting Administrator (06.03-26.05)

She was Chief Islander and in the second period also Leader of the Legislative Council. When she acted as Administrator, she was the representative of the British Governor of St. Helena,  and in 2004 she acted in the interim between the resignation of the former and arrival of the new Administrator. Appointed as Member of the Iscland Council in 2007. Her brother, James Glass, was Chief Islander from 1994. Married to Joseph Green. Photo: © J. Brock (Tristan Times) 


1992-95 Lillian Oh, Christmas Island (Australia)

As President of the Shire Council she was both President of the Parliament and Chief Executive of the territory


1993-94 Marita Petersen, Faero Islands (Denmark) 

A former Leader of the Teacher's Union she was Minister of Justice, Education Culture and Church Affairs 1991-93. As Premier she was also Minister of External Relations, the Underground, Administration and Public Wages. Chairperson of the Social Democrats 1993-96, Chairperson of the Lógting (Assembly) 1994-95 and 1998-2001 substitute member of the Danish Folketing. She lived (1940-2001)


1993 and 1998-99 Suzanne F.C. Camelia-Römer, Nederlandse Antillen (The Netherlands)

She had been Minister of Justice since 1992 when she became acting Premier after the resignation of Mrs. Libera-Peters. 1999-2002 Vice Premier and Minister of Economy and the National Recovery Plan, and 1998-2002 Leader of the Partido Nashional di Pueplo. Appointed Minister of Trafic, Transportation and Urban Developent in 2015. (b. 1959-)


1993-2001 Anson Chan, Hong Kong (UK/China)

After having held a number of high administrative posts since the 1960s she was Secretary of Economy 1987-93 and Member of the Executive Council before becoming the first Chinese and first female Chief Secretary during the British rule. As Chief Secretary she was leader of the administration and is principally responsible to the Chief Executive for the formulation of government policies and their implementation. As the head of the Public Service, the Chief Secretary is one of the Chief Executive's principal advisers, The Chief Secretary exercises direction primarily as head of the Government Secretariat, the central organization comprising the secretaries of the policy bureau and resource bureau and their staff. She deputized for the Chief Executive during his absence, and is the Senior Official Member of the Executive Council. She resigned in 2001 a year ahead of schedule because of disagreements with the Chief Executive about the way to conduct the politics of the Territory. Mother of two children. (b. 1940-)


1996-99 Hon. Norma Burgos Andújar, Puerto Rico (USA)

As Secretary of State she was leader of the Government Administration and Deputy to the Governor. Also Secretary of the Planning Board and first Vice-President of Partido Nuevo Progressista since 1998 and Senator from 2000. 


1997-98 Pamela Felicity Gordon, Bermuda (British Overseas Territory)

She was Parliamentary Secretary of Community Development, Culture and Youth 1992, Minister of Youth, Sport and Recreation 1992-96, Environment, Planning and National Resources 1996-97. As Premier she was also Minister of Information and Attorney General. She was former Deputy Chairperson and was elected to succeed the previous Premier after his resignation. She was Leader of the United Bermuda Party 1997-2001 and leader of the Opposition 1998-2001.  (b. 1955-).


1998-2003 Jennifer Meridith Smith, Bermuda (British Overseas Territory)

Deputy Opposition Leader 1994-96, Opposition Leader 1996-98 as Leader of the Progressive Labour Party, PLP. As Premier she also holds the Portfolios of Education and Human Affairs. Her own party ousted her just three days after she led it to an historic General Election victory. MP until 2012.
(b. circa 1948).


2003-04 Mirna Louisa-Godett, Nederlandse Antillen (The Netherlands)

She is sister of the Leader of Frente Obrero Liberashon 30 di Mei (FOL) Anthony Godett, who could not become Premier because he is charged with corruption and fraud. Married to a member of the Legislature for FOL, Johnny Louisa. (b. 1954-).


2004- Nassimah Mangrolia-Dindar, Réunion (French Oversea's Territory)

Vice-President of the Regional Council 2001-04 and from 2004 President of the General Council and the Executive Council (Government). Councillor of the President of France from 2007. (b. 1960-).


2004-07 Marie-Noëlle Thémereau, Nouvelle Caledonie (French Oversea's Territory)

Member of the Congrès of Nouvelle-Calédonie and to the Assembly of Province Sud 1989-2001 and again from 2004,  2. Vice-President of de la Province Sud 1990-99 and 1. Vice-President of the Congrès de 1999-2001, before being elected President of the Government. Resigned from politics in August 2007. (b. 1950-).


2004 Brenda Christian, Pitcairn Island (United Kingdom Territory)

Member of the Island Council 2000-05, Vera Amelia Lupton-Christian became Acting Mayor and Chief Executive Officer, after the former mayor (her brother, Steve Christian) was one of the many male islanders convicted of rapes and other sexual abuse of children, but one month later, she was defeated by Jay Warren, the only of the defendants to be acquitted of the charges. From 2001 she was Police Officer. (b. 1954-).


2005 Marisara Pont Marchese, Commonwealth of Puerto Rico (Association with United States of America)

A lecturer at Puerto Rico's University she was President of the Commission of Transition 2004-05. As Secretary of State she ran the daily government business and is deputy to the governor, the chief executive.


2006-10 Emily de Jongh-Elhage, Nederlandse Antillen (Self-governing Part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Commissioner of Public works and Public Housing of Curaçao 1998-99, Commissioner of Education, Sport and Cultural Affairs 1999-2002, Minister of Education and Culture of the Nederlandse Antillen 2002-03 and Commissioner of Public Enterprises and Public Housing 2004-05 of Curaçao. From 2005 Leader of De Partido Antia Restrukturá (PAR). Also Minister of General Affairs and External Relations until 2010 when the Netherlands Antilles was abolished and substituted by the lands of Curaçao and Sint Marten within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. Her party won the elections in Curaçao but an alterative coalition was formed.


2007-11 Viveca Eriksson, Åland (Finish External Territory)

Chairperson of the Liberal Parliamentary Group 1999-2001, Member of the Speaker's Conference 1999-2000, Chairperson of the Finance Committee 1999-2001, first Vice-speaker 2000-01  and 2005-07, Speaker 2001-05 and Party Chairperson from 2004. (b. 1956-).


2008 (Acting) Marthe Ogoundélé-Tessi, St-Martin (French External Territory) (25.07-07.08.08)

2007-08 1. Vice-President in charge of Employment, Educational Training, Professional Training, Teaching, Culture, Youth and Sports, School Transport, Also President of the Conseil Territory, Candidate for the Post of President in 2008 and since 2008 Member of the Executive Council.


2010-12 Premier Paula A. Cox, Bermuda (British Overseas Territory)

Succeeded her father, Eugene Cox as Minister of Finance when he died in January 2004. 1998-2002 Minister of Labour and Home Affairs and Public Security, 2002-04 Minister of Education, 2002-03 Minister of Development, 2003-04 Attorney General and Minister of Justicea nd Minister of Finance 2004-12, Deputy Leader of the Progressive Labour Party and Deputy Premier 2006-10, Party Leader2010-12 (b. 1969-).


2010-14 Prime Minister Sarah Wescot-Williams, Sint Maarten (Self-governing Part of the Kingdom of the Netherlands)

Circa 1995-2009 Commissioner of General Affairs, Education etc., 1999-2009 Leader of the Government, Social and Cultural Development, Finance, Juridical Affairs, Emergency Services, Information, Communication and Protocol, Strategic Policy, Planning and Development of Sint Maarten which was part of the Netherlands Antilles from 2010 when it became a self ruling entity within the Kingdom of the Netherlands. She is Leader of the St. Maarten Party and Speaker of the Parliament in 2014.


2011-15 Premier Camilla Gunell, the Åland Islands (Finish External Territory)
Member of the Lagting since 2003, Chairperson of the Parliamentary Group of the Social Democrats 2003-05 and Party Chairperson from 2009, Minister of Education and Culture 2005-2007 and Deputy Premier from 2015. (b. 1970-).

2012-13 Premier Juliana O’Connor-Connolly, the Cayman Islands  (British Overseas Territory)
Minister of Community Development, Sports, Youth Affairs and Culture 1997-2000 and 2003-04, Minister for Planning, Communications, District Administration and IT 2004-05, Deputy Premier 2009-12, Minister for District Administration, Works, Lands and Agriculture since 2009, Minister of Environmental Health, Telecommunication and Gender Affairs2 009-12 and Minister of Finance from 2012, Speaker of the Legislative Assembly 2001-03 and from 2013, Deputy Leader of the United Democratic Party 2009-12 and Leader of People's National Alliance in 2013.

2013-14 Premier Aleqa Hammond, Greenland (Danish Selfruling Territory)
Also Minister of External Affairs. Minister of Family Affairs and Justice 2005-07,  Minister of Finance and External Affairs 2007-08 and Chairperson of Siumut 2009-14. In 2014 she resigned because of misuse of public funds, and new elections were called. (b. 1965-).

2013-17 Aline Hanson, Saint Martin (French External Territory)
Vice-President 2012-13. The President of the Territorial Council is both head of the Government and Parliament of the Territory.

2013 Nivaleta Iloai, Ilês Wallis et Futuna, (French External Territory)
Member of the territorial assembly for about 20 years. The President of the Assemblée Territorial is boath Head of the Government and Parliament of the Territory.


2014-15 President of the Government Cynthia Ligeard, Nouvelles Caledonie (French External Territory)
Vice-President 2011-12, President of the Province du Sud 2012-14 and appointed Minister of Public Works in 2015.

2015- Premier Katrin Sjögren, Åland (Finish External Territory)
2007-11 Minister of Social Affairs, Health and Care and Environment, Vice-Chairperson of the Liberal Party until 2012 and Party Leader from 2012.

2016- Premier Sharlene Cartwright Robinson Turk and Caicos Islands (British Overseas Territory)
Also Minister of Finance. Deputy Leader in 2012 and Leader of the People's Democratic Movement since 2012 and Leader of the Opposition 2012-16. (b. 1971-).

2017- Chief Executive-elect Carrie Lam, The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (China)
Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor was Permanent Secretary for Home Affairs 2006-07. Secretary o Development 2007-2012 and Chief Secretary and Deputy Chief Executive 2012-17.

Last update 04.04.17

 

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