SENTENCING expert, professor of law and avid bushwalker Kate Warner says she is overwhelmed by the honour of becoming Tasmania's 28th governor.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Professor Warner was announced in the role yesterday, and will be sworn into office next month.
Born in Tasmania, Professor Warner has enjoyed a decorated career at the University of Tasmania spanning more than three decades.
Receiving her master's degree in law in 1978, she later became the first woman to serve as Dean of the Tasmanian Law School.
Professor Warner is nationally recognised for her reports on law reform, criminal sentencing and criminology.
She has headed the Law Reform Institute, is a member of both the Gaming Commission and Sentencing Advisory Council and president of the philanthropic Alcorso Foundation.
Professor Warner said yesterday she was excited to embrace the constitutional, ceremonial and community aspects of her new role.
"I really want to dedicate myself to Tasmania and the people of Tasmania," Professor Warner said.
"I feel really privileged to have that opportunity."
Professor Warner vowed to continue advocating for improving educational outcomes across the state.
Announcing the appointment yesterday, Premier Will Hodgman said the appointment of Tasmania's first female governor was a significant occasion.
However, Mr Hodgman made it clear that Professor Warner was selected on merit alone.
He described the state's next governor as an academic and reformer of tremendous capacity.
"Notwithstanding the fact that she is our first female governor, it's the qualities and the attributes and the experience and the skills that Kate Warner brings to the job that are the most important," Mr Hodgman said.
"I'm sure Kate would want to be judged on her performance in this role, as she was in the past being a leader in academic circles."
Professor Warner will succeed Peter Underwood, who died earlier this year.
She acknowledged the late governor would be a difficult act to follow.
"I think he brought intellect, dignity, warmth and compassion to the position and I would really hope to be able to do as a good a job as he did," she said.
A passionate gardener and cyclist, Professor Warner will take up residence at Government House with husband Richard Warner, a farmer from New Norfolk.
The couple are likely to be visited often by their two daughters and five grandchildren, all of whom live in the state.