An Arts Honours 1 graduate from the University of Queensland, Penny Wensley has had a long and highly distinguished career of public service: as a diplomat for forty years (1968-2008) representing Australia in a wide range of overseas postings and senior policy positions; as the State Governor of Queensland (2008-2014); and for the past decade, in diverse leadership and advocacy roles, focused on international relations, sustainable development and protection of the environment.

She has a particular interest in soil and marine science, dating from her time as Australia’s Ambassador for the Environment in the early 1990’s, when she played a leading role in development of the three landmark UN Conventions on Climate Change, Biodiversity and Desertification, chaired the negotiating process of the First UN Conference on the Sustainable Development of Small Island States and instigated establishment of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI). She was Chairman of the Australian Institute of Marine Science Council, 2015-2022, Chairman of the Great Barrier Reef Advisory Committee 2015-2023, and Australia’s National Soil Advocate from 2020-2023. She has been the National Patron of Soil Science Australia since 2011 and of the Cooperative Centre for High Performance Soils (Soil CRC), since 2020. She is an independent member of the Global Soil Partnership and of the Coalition of Action for Soil Health (CA4SH).

Ms Wensley has achieved national and international recognition for her contribution to international relations and initiatives of the United Nations, and for the development of policy responses to national and global challenges. She is a Companion of the Order of Australia (AC) and a Grand Officer of the French National Order of Merit. She holds Honorary Doctorates from four Australian universities, is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of International Affairs (FAIIA) and an Honorary Fellow of the Environment Institute of Australia and New Zealand (HFEIANZ). In May 2024, she was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal of the International Union of Soil Sciences (IUSS). This annual award recognizes world leaders who have translated soil science into action and contributed significantly to promoting and reinforcing public policies for soil resource preservation.