Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership

CURRENT FEMALE PRESIDENTS 
OF PARLIAMENTS 
AND
PARLIAMENTARY BODIES
Also see
Female Presidents of Parliaments 1920-2007
Female Heads of Assembly prior to the 20th Century
Female Heads of Parliamentary Bodies

1996-97 President of the Provisorial Legislative Council
 1997- President of the Legislative Council Rita Fan Hsu Lai-tai, Hong Kong (First under UK then under China)

She was member of the Executive Council 1984/1989-92. (b. 1945-).

1999- Speaker of the National Assembly Ntlhoi Motsamai, Lesotho
2002- Chairperson of the Southern African Development Community Parliamentary Forum
 

She was Deputy Speaker 1996-99.

1999- President of the Asembleia Legislativa Susana Chou Lei, The Special Administrative Region of Macau (China)

Member of the Legislative Assembly since 1976. (b. 1941-)

2000- Speaker of the House of Representatives Alix Boyd Knights, Dominica

Former human Right's Advocate

Around 2000- President of the Kotu Nui The Tika Mataiapo Dorice Reid, Cook Islands (In Free Association with New Zealand)

The Kotu Nui or Council of Chiefs is a council consisting of sub-chiefs.

 

2001- Presiding Officer of the House of Assembly Anne Mitchell-Gift, Tobago (Trinidad and Tobago)

Head Librarian of Tobago, a self-ruling island.

2002- Speaker of The Országgyülés Dr. Szili Katalin, Hungary

Dr. Szili was Political State Secretary of Environmental Protection 1994-98 and Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly 1998-2002. Unsuccessful Presidential Candidate in 2005. As Speaker she is Deputy Head of state. (b. 1956-).

2002- Co-President of the ACP-EU Joint Parliamentary Assembly Lady Glenys Kinnock (United Kingdom)  

She is the European Co-chair of the Assembly of the agreement between the African, Caribbean and the Pacific States with the European Union jointly with the ACP Co-President, who is a man. She was the 1. Vice-President of the Assembly 1994-2002, she is married to the former British Labour Leader Neil Kinnock, who was given the title of Baron in 2004 upon his retirement as EU-Commissioner. (b. 1944-).

2002- Chairperson of the Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas Céline Hervieux-Payette (Canada)

Canadian Liberal MP 1979-85, 1980-82 Parliamentary Secretary to the Solicitor General, 1982-84 Minister of State (Amateur Sport) and 1984 Minister of State (Youth). Senator since 1995. (b. 1941-).

2003- Chairperson of the Eerste Kamer of the Staten General mr. Y.E.M.A. Timmerman-Buck, The Netherlands

Yvonne Timmerman was Secretary of the  C.D.A. Parliamentary Faction in the Second Chamber 1999-2001 before becoming it's chairperson in 2001. (b. 1956-).

 

2003- Chairperson of the Council of Chiefs Paramount Chiefess Kgôsi Mosadi Seboko a Mokgôsi of Balete, Botswana

On the 3rd of December 2001 She was elected to succeed her brother Seboko II Mokgôsi (1959-2001) as head of the baMalete tribe. She took over her duties after her election, which was approved by the minister of Local Government, Margaret Nasha, in the beginning of January 2001. When she was crowned in August 2003 she had already become leader of the House of Chiefs. Mother of two children. (b. 1950-)

  

2003- Co-President of the Polish-Ukrainian Parliamentary Assembly Jolanta Danielak (Poland)

From 2001 Vice-Marshall of the Polish Senate. (b. 1954-).

 

2004- President of the Senate Leslie-Ann Seon, Grenada

She had a distinguished career as a Private Attorney. She is the third female Senate President in the Country.
2004- Speaker of Cumhuriyet Meclisi Dr. Fatma Ekenoğlu, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus

MP from 2000. As Chairperson of the Assembly of the Republic she is also Deputy Head of State. (b. 1949-).
2004- Speaker of the House of Representatives D. Gisele Isaac-Arrindell, Antigua and Barbuda

Giselle Isaac is the country's third Speaker, she was the second woman to be appointed Speaker of the House - but the first woman was not elected to the House until 2004. She is a social activist and novelist.
  2004- Speaker of the National Assembly Baleka Mbete, South Africa

Chairperson of the (ANC) Parliamentary caucus 1995-96 and Deputy Speaker 1996-2004. (b. 1949-).

2004- President of the General Council Nassimah Magnolia Dindar, Réunion (French Oversea's Territory)

As President of the General Council she is also Head of the Government. She was Vice-President of the Regional Council 2001-04 (b. 1960-).
2004- Chairperson of National Indigenous Council Dr. Sue Gordon, Australia

She is children's Magistrate and former ATSIC-Commissioner. The Australian government replaced the ATSIC against protests from the indigenous population and the most prominent community leaders refused to be named to the non-elected advisory body.

2004- President of the Parliament of the African Union Gertrude Ibengwe Mongolla (Tanzania)

Tanzanian Minister of State by the Prime Minister 1982-86, 1986-89 Minister of National Resources and Tourism, 1989-90 Minister without Portfolio by Premier Minister
Between 1990-93 Ambassador to India, 1993-95 Secretary General for United Nations-Women's Conference, 1996-2004 Special Representative of the Secretary General of the United Nations on Women’s Development.

2005- President the Senate Hazelyn Francis, Antigua and Barbuda

A retired educator, she was Senate Vice-President 2004-05.

  

2005- Speaker of the House of Representatives Margaret Wilson, New Zealand

President of Labour 1984-87 and Labour MP since 1999. Attorney General and Minister in charge of Treaty of Waitangi Negotiations 1999-2005,Associate Minister of Justice 1999-2004, Minister of Labour 1999-2004, Associate Minister of State Services 1999-2002, Minister responsible for the Law Commission 2001-2002, Minister for Courts 2002-2003, Associate Minister for Courts 2003-04, Minister of Commerce, Acting Minister for the Law Commission and Minister for Building Issues in 2004. (b. 1947-).

 

2005- Speaker of the Legislative Assembly Edna Moyle, Cayman Islands (British External Territory)

She has been Secretary to the Governor, Deputy Clerk of the Legislative Assembly and Member of the Assembly since 1992, 1996-2000 as Deputy Speaker and Minister of Community Development, Sports, Youth Affairs and Culture 2000-01.

2005- President of the Kuvendi i Shqipërisë Jozefina Topalli, Albania

She was Deputy President of the Assembly of Albania 1997-2005 and is also Vice-President of the Democratic Party. (b. 1963-).

2005- President of the Odelsting Berit Brørby, Norway

Vice-President of the Council 1994-97, its President in 1997 and Vice-President 1998-2006 and Deputy President in 2007, Deputy chairman of the Norwgian Labour Party parliamentary group 1996-1997 and Vice-President of the Storting 2001-05. (b. 1950-).

 

2005- Chairperson of the Staten Mervin Ras, Aruba (External Territory of the Netherlands)

Her official name is Melvin Glorinda Ras.

2005-09 Chairperson of the Sameting/Sámediggi Sylvia Simma in Sweden

Sametingsordfører she is head of the Assembly but not of the executive. (b. 1976-).

2005- Chairperson of the General Council of WTO Amina Chawahir Mohamed, Kenya

Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Kenya to the United Nations and other international organisations in Geneva, including the World Trade Organisation since 2000.

 

2006- President of the Senate Chief Gelane Zwane, Swaziland
The Deputy President of the Senate since 2003, she became bcting President of the Senate when the former President became Foreign Minister on 24 February and was elected to the post and later elected to the post. on 31. March. She was Acting Chief of koNtjingila in the Shiselweni region in 2004.

2006- President of the Indigenous Parliament of America Isabel Ortega (Bolivia)
2005-06 2. Vice-president of the Indigenous Parliament of America and 2005 2. Vice-president of the Cámera de Diputados in Bolivia. (1959-)

2006- Speaker of the Knesset Dalia Itzik, Israel
Former Deputy Mayor of Jerusalem in charge of Education, Labour Member of the Knesset 1992-2005, Minister of Environment 1999-2001, Minister of Trade and Industry 2001-02, Group Chairperson of Labour 2003-05 and Minister of Communication in 2005. She joined Kadima, a new party formed by Ariel Sharon in 2006. Acting State President January-June 2007. (b. 1952-).

2006- Lord Speaker of the House of Lords Baroness Hayman, The United Kingdom of Great Britain

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Environment, Transport and The Regions 1997-98, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State of Health 1998-99, Minister of State of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food 1999-2001 and Privy Councillor since 2001. Helen Hayman was created Baroness Hayman, of Darmunt Park in 1996. (b. 1949-).

2006-07 President of the Senate and of the Congress Dilian Francisca Toro, Columbia

Former Mayor and Health Administrator.

2006-07 President of the Congreso Mercedes Cabanillas Bustamente de Llanos De la Mata, Perú

She was Minister of Education 1987-89 and 1989-90, 1989 Candidate for the Mayorship of Lima, from 1992 Deputy Secretary and since 2000 Co-spokesperson in the Congreso of the Socialist Party. Ca. 1990-99 Senator, Presidential Candidate 1995 (Came in third) and from 2000 member of the Congreso and it's 2. Vice-President 2002-03. (b. 1947-)

2006- President of the Asamblea Constituyente Silvia Lazarte Flores, Bolivia
Indiginous Leader she will head the body drafting a new constitution for Bolivia.

2006- President of the Asamblea Nacional Cilia Flores, Venezuela

MP from 2000.

2006- President of the Nationalrat Barbara Prammer, Austria

As Vice-President of the National Assembly she assumed the Presidential duties together with the two other members of the Presidium, when the outgoing President died two days before his successor was to take office in July 2004. She is a former Federal Minister and leading member of the Social Democrats of Austria, SPÖ. (b. 1954-).

2006- Chairperson of the Tweede Kamer Gerdi Verbeet, The Netherlands

Social Democrat MP from 2001, she was Member of the Presidium 2005-06. (b. 1951-).
 

2006- President of the House of Ariki Ada Rongomatane Ariki, Cook Islands (Free Association with New Zealand)

Her full name is Rongomatane Ada Teaupurepure Tetupu Ariki and she is the Rongomatane Ariki of the Ngati Paruarangi Tribe in Atiu

 

 2006- Chairperson of the Mejlis Akja Nurberdiyeva, Turkmenistan

Also known as Akja Tajiyevna, Akdja, Akça and Nurberdyyeva. When the eccentric authoritarian President Saparmurat Niyazov the Chairman of the Mejlis should have become acting president in accordance with the constitution, but he was removed from office and instead a Vice-Premier became Interim Head of State and she took over the Chairmanship of the Parliament and in February the following year she was elected to the post on a permanent basis. She has been the Vice-Chair since 2003.

2006- Chairperson of the Inuit Circumpolar Council Patricia A. Cochran (Alaska)

In 2006 the Inuit Circumpolar Conference changed its name to Council.

2007- Speaker of the House of Represenatives Nancy Pelosi, United States of America

Nancy Patricia D'Alesandro Pelosi has been an MP since 1987, she was Whip of the Democratic Party 2001-02 before becomming Minority Leader in 2002. As Speaker of the House she is the Presiding Officer but also have great influence over the committee process, and the Head of the House Majority Party and in many ways functions as "Opposition Leader" when the President is from the opposite party. Mother of 4 daughters and 1 son. (b. 1940-).

2007- President of the Senate Dr Rosemarie Husbands Mathurin, St. Lucia

Independent Senator from 2007.

2007- Speaker of the House of Assembly Sarah Flood-Beaubrun, St. Lucia

1997-2001 Minister of Health, Human Service and Family Affairs, 1997-2004 Minister of Gender Relations, 2001-04 Minister of Home Affairs and in 2001 she gave birth to her first child. In January 2004 she was dismissed from the government because she protested against a decision to allow abortion under certain circumstances, she founded the party the Organization for National Empowerment. Resigned from parliament in 2006 and lot the subsequent by-election and then joined the opposition United Worker’s Party. Appointed Speaker in 2007. (b. 1969-)

2007- Speaker of the National Assembly Fatoumata Jahumpa Ceesay, The Gambia

Deputy Speaker of the ECOWAS Parliament 2003-06. She is daughter of the late Gambian leader I.M. Garba-Jahumpa and a half sister to the current Foreign Affairs Minister, Bala Garba Jahumpa. To take office 8 february.

2007- Chairperson of the Riigikogu Ene Ergma, Estonia

She is D.Sc. in physics and mathematics, Professor since 1988 and Vice-President of the Estonian Academy of Sciences 1999-2003. Parliament Chair 2003-07 and Vice-Chair 2006-07 and Presidential Candidate in 2006. As Parliament Chair she was also Deputy Head of State. (b. 1944-).

2007- Chairperson of Folktinget Ulla-Maj Wideroos in Finland

Group Secretary of Swedish People's Party 1995-99, Deputy Group Chairperson 1999 and Parliamentary Leader, Group Chairperson 1999-2003 and again from 2007. Second Minister of Finance and Minister of Nordic Cooperation 2003-07. The two other candidates for the post of Chair of the Assembly of the Finish speaking people in Finland were also women.

2007- President of the Senate Lynn Holowesko, Bahamas

Lawyer, Ambassador for the Environment 1995-2000, Senator 2000-2002 and from 2007. (b. in USA 1935-).

2007 President of the WHO Assembly Jane Halton (Australia)

Secretary of the Department of Health and the Ageing since 2002.

2007-08 President of the Senate Nancy Patricia Gutiérrez Castañeda, Colombia

1995-96 Secretary of Environment of Cundinamarca,  Secretary General of the Government 1996-97 and sometime Acting Governor, member of the House of Representatives from 1998. She was President of Cámera de Representantes 2000-01 (b. 1963-).

2007- President of the Baltic Assembly Erika Zommere (Latvia)

Member of the Presidium from 2005. (b. 1946-).

2007-08 President of the  Cámera de Diputados Ruth Zavaleta Salgado, Mexico

1997-98 Secretary of Social Development and 1998-2000 of Finance the Federal District (Mexico City), Member of the Chamber of Deputies for the Partido de la Revolución Democrática from 2000 and Vice-President of the Chamber 2006-07. (b. 1966-).

2007- President of the Andean Parliament Ivonne Juez de Abdel-Baki (Ecuador)
Ivonne Leyla Juez Abuchakra de Abdel-Baki is also known as Ivonne Juez Abuchakra de Abdel-Baki or Ivonne A-Baki, as she is normally known, was ambassador to USA 1999-2002, Presidential Candidate 2002 and Minister of External Commerce 2003-05.

2008- Chairperson of the Landsting Ruth Heilmann, Greenland (Danish External Territory)

1995-98 1. Vice-Chairperson and 2005-08 4. Vice-Chairperson of the Landsting, 1997-2001 Mayor of Maniitsoq, 2002-02 Minister of Culture, Education, Research and Church Affairs and 2003 Minister of Health and Family Affairs (b. 1945-).

2008- Speaker of the Legislature Judith Won Pat, Guam (United States External Territory)

The Democratic majority took control of the legislature, as the Republican minority refused to give up their leadership-positions, about one year before the new legislature takes office.

2008- Speaker of the National Assembly Dr. Fahmida Mirza, Pakistan

Also known as Fehmida, she is a medical doctor, and has been MP for Pakistan People's Party since 1997. (b. 1956-).

2008 Joint President of the Consiglio Grande e Generale Rosa Zafferani, San Marino (1.4-1.10)  

Director in the Department of Finance, Budget and Programs before she was elected to the Consiglio Grande e Generale in 1998. Captain Regent and Head of State and Parliament in 1999 and 2008, Secretary of State of Health, Social Security and Provision 2002-04, Secretary of State of Public Education, University and Cultural Institutions from 2004 and 2005 also in charge of Internal Affairs. (b. 1960 in USA).

2008- Speaker of the Legislative Chamber of the Oliy Majlis Diloram Gafurjanovna Tashmukhamedova, Uzbekistan

Her name is also transcribed as Dilorom Tashmukhamedova. She was First Secretary of the Political Council of Social and Democratic Party of Uzbekistan “Adolat” (“Justice”), Head of the Parliamentary Faction and Presidential Candidate in 2007 and recieved 2,9% of the vote.

Last update 05.05.08