Natalie Bennett
Natalie Bennett | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Leader of the Green Party of England and Wales | |
| Assumed office 3 September 2012 | |
| Deputy | Will Duckworth |
| Preceded by | Caroline Lucas |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 2 October 1966 Sydney, Australia |
| Political party | Green Party of England and Wales |
| Alma mater | University of Sydney University of New England University of Leicester |
Natalie Louise Bennett (born 10 February 1966) is the leader of the Green Party of England and Wales. She was elected to her position on 3 September 2012.[1][2] A journalist by profession, Bennett was editor of The Guardian Weekly from December 2007 until March 2012, and previously its deputy editor having also worked at other British newspapers.
Early and personal life
Bennett was born in Sydney, Australia.[3] She was educated at MLC School for girls in Burwood, New South Wales. Later she completed a Bachelor of Agricultural Science (Hons) degree at the University of Sydney, a BA (Hons) in Asian Study through the University of New England, and a Master's degree in Mass Communication through the University of Leicester.[citation needed]
Career
Journalism
Her first job in journalism was at the Eastern Riverina Observer in Henty, New South Wales, Australia. She then worked for the Cootamundra Herald and the Northern Daily Leader in Tamworth. She spent two years as an Australian Volunteer Abroad working in the Office of the National Commission of Women's Affairs, before moving to the Bangkok Post newspaper, where she was chief foreign sub-editor. She has been writing for the Guardian's "Comment is Free" section since 2006.[4] She is also a blogger.[5]
Political career
Bennett stood for the Green party in the 2006 Camden Council election for Regent's Park ward and in the 2010 Camden Council election for Somers Town ward, losing both times. She was the internal communications coordinator on the national executive of the party from September 2007 to August 2011.
In January 2010, she was selected to stand for the Parliamentary seat of Holborn and St Pancras.[6] She came in fourth with 2.7% of the vote.[3] She stood in the 2012 London Assembly elections, becoming the fourth placed candidate on the London-wide list for the Green Party.[7]
Bennett, who has considered herself a feminist since she was a young child, founded the Green Party women's group and is a trustee of the Fawcett Society. She became interested in environmental issues when she obtained a degree in Agricultural Sciences, becoming a member of the Green Party in 2006.[3][8]
On 3 September 2012 she replaced Caroline Lucas as leader of the Green Party of England and Wales. 3,127 ballot papers were returned in the 2012 Green Party leadership elections, a turnout of 25.1%.[1] This turnout was defended by Bennett who said in a BBC interview "if you hold an election in the month of August you kind of expect that turnout won't be particularly high".[9] Following her election as party leader Bennett told a press conference that the policies of the Green Party were "the only viable way forward for British people, for the world".[2]
Bibliography
- Editor, Thailand Country Study: Best Practice Guide on Sustainable Action Against Child Labour (1998) ISBN 974-8369-59-5[10]
- Editor, Women’s Health and Development, Country Profile Thailand[11]
References
- ^ a b "New Leader and Deputy Leader announcement". Green Party. 3 September 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
- ^ a b "Natalie Bennett elected new Green Party leader in England and Wales. She beat three other candidates to the position in a poll of Green Party members". BBC. Retrieved 3 September 2012.
- ^ a b c Rath, Kayte. "Profile: Green Party leader Natalie Bennett". BBC News. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
- ^ "Natalie Bennett Profile". The Guardian web site. London: Guardian News and Media Limited. 2 June 2008. Retrieved 21 December 2009.
- ^ Evans, Kate (17 April 2006). "How to Run a Carnival of Feminists: Natalie Bennett". Life Matters. ABC Radio National. Retrieved 21 December 2009. (web note of a broadcast interview)
- ^ "Green Party name Natalie Bennett as Holborn and St Pancras election candidate". Camden New Journal. 22 April 2010. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
- ^ "Green Party leader Natalie Bennett turns fire on Labour". BBC News. 7 September 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
- ^ "A new leader will not push the Green Party off the political fringe". The Economist. 8 September 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
- ^ "Natalie Bennett elected as Green Party leader". BBC News (Daily Politics video). BBC. Retrieved 11 September 2012.
- ^ "Thailand Country Study Towards a Best Practice Guide on Sustainable Action Against Child Labour". International Labour Organisation. January 1998. Retrieved 12 April 2013. (Copy of the paper on Bennett's web site)
- ^ "Women's Health and Development: Country Profile, Thailand:Authors". Women's Health and Development. World Health Organization. Retrieved 12 April 2013. (Copy of the paper on Bennett's web site)
External links
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