Worldwide Guide to Women in Leadership

FEMALE GOVERNORS
FROM 2005

This is a list of female governors and similar leaders of both federal territories and unitarian states. This means that some of the governors listed are the actual leaders of the states, others are official representatives of the central power with no executive roles.


2005- Governor Chris O. Gregoire, Washington State
After a recount she was declared Governor-Elect by 129 votes over her Republican opponent and will be inagurated on 12 January. She was Attorney General 1993-2005. (b. 1949-).

2005-07 Acting Governor Ratu Atut Chosiyah, Banten (Indonesia)
2007- Governor
Became Acting Governor when Djoko Munandar was suspended. Elected to the post in 2006. She is a decendant of a Sultan of Banten (b. 1962-).

2005- Prefect Gyöngyike F. Böndi, Maramureş (Romania)
Also known as Gyongyike Bondi, she was 1 Secretary of the Parliamentary Group of the Hungarian Democratic Union in Romania 1998-2000 and MP until 2004. (b. 1962).

2005- Prefect Anuţa Handolescu, Vâlcea (Romania)
Former Managing Director of SC  Asirom SA. (b. 1958-).

2005- Governor Katrina Hanse, Hardap Region (Namibia)
Also referred to as Kardoes, she is former school principal, member of the the local authority council from 1997 and member of the association for local authorities of Namibia (ALAN).

2005- Governor Sophia Shaningwa, Khomas Region  (Namibia)
Former community leader, women's activist and civil servant.

2005-06 Intendent Ximena Rincón Gonzáles, Región Metropolitana de Santiago (Chile)
Until 2005 Superintent of Soical Security and

Third Vice-president of Democracia Cristiana from 2006.


2005- Commissioner Ann Meekitjuk Hanson, Nunavut (Canada)
TV Broadcaster in the Inuktitut language, former  community development worker, counsellor and Deputy Commissioner of the Government of Northwest Territories. (b. 1946-).

2005- Commissioner Geraldine Van Bibber, the Yukon (Canada)
Actively involved in the territory's tourism and travel industry for many years, helping create the Yukon First Nation Tourism Association in 1992. Former Member of the Yukon Human Rights Commission and Administrator (Deputy-Commissioner) 2001-05

2005- Governor Telmina Manuel Paixão Pinho Pereira, Maputo (Mozambique)
Vice-Minister of Education 2000-05.

2005- Governor Rosa Manuel da Silva, Maputo City (Mozambique)
The first governor of the City. She is a former civil servant in Mozambique and internationally.

2005- Governor Dr. Habiba Sorabi, Bamiyan (Afghanistan)
Pharmacist and Medical Teacher, in exile in Pakistan from 1996 , 2002-04 Minister of Women's Affairs. (b. 1958-).

Ca. 2005- Governor Ts. Tsogzolmaa, Sukhbaatar District (Mongolia)
Former civil servant in the municipal government of the capital Ulaan Baator

2005- Governor Thokozile Angela Mathuthu, Matabeleland North (Zimbabwe)
ZANU-PF Deputy Secretary for Transport and Social Welfare

2005-06 Governor Nina Harkava, Sumy Oblast (Ukraine)
Anoher trancription of her surname is Garkava. (b. 1951-).

2005-06 Governor Iryna Siniavska, Zhytomyr Oblast (Ukraine)
Her surname is also transribed as Synyavska. Before the appointment she was Deputy Governor for humanitarian affairs. (b. 1957-).

2005-07 Governor Nadezhda Deeva, Dipropetrovsk/ Dnepropetrovsk  Oblast (Ukraine)
Also known as Nadiia Mykolayivna Deyeva, she was Deputy Governor before her appointment. (b. 1951-)

2005-07 Governor Silvia Barrosos, Pastaza (Ecuador)
Appointed by the President.

2005-06 Governor Nancy Lucia Armijos, Sucumbíos (Ecuador)
Followed by Mireya González as governor.

2005-07 Governor Lourdes Tibán, Cotopaxi (Ecuador)
Indigenous leader. In 2003 she was Undersecretary of Rural Human Development. Secretary of the Council of Development of the Towns and Nationalities with the rank of Minister in 2005.

2005-07 Governor Marcela Costales, Chimborazo (Ecuador)
 

2005-07 Governor Gladys Marisela Pazmiño Salazar, Napo (Ecuador)
Vice-minister of Women's Affairs in 2003.

2005-07 Governor Grece Unda Romero, Galápagos (Ecuador)
The Galápagos archipelago, with a population of around 30,000, is a province of Ecuador, a country in northwestern South America, and the islands are all part of Ecuador's national park system.

2005- Governor Gloria Orobio Rodríguez, Amazonas (Columbia)
Leader of the provincial Liberal Party and involved in provincial politics.

2005 Acting Administrator Iva Kola, The National Capital District (Papua New Guinea)
Iva has held prominent positions at the National Capital District Commission (Port Moresby City). She has acted as the head of the NCDC on several occassions latest  February to June 2005.

2005-07 Voivode Ewa Draus, Podkarpacki  (Poland)
Sociologist.

2005- Zupan Marina Lovrić, the Sisak-Moslavina County  (Croatia)

2005- Prefect Carmela Floreno, Enna (Italy)
Civil servant

2005- Prefect Eleonora Maffei, Prato (Italy)
High ranking civil servant in the Ministry of Interior, with the rank of Vice-Prefect from 1996 and Prefect from 2001. (b. 1943-).
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2005-07 Prefect Francesca Adelaide Garufi, Matera
2007- Prefect  of Arezzo (Italy)

Rank of Vice-Prefetto from 1993 and Prefect and President of the Directorate of the Internal Control Service of the Ministry of Interior from 2001. (b. 1951-).

2006- Prefect Evaggelia Schoinaraki-Iliaki, Heracleion (Greece)
Other transcriptionis of her name is Evagelina, Evangelia Evaggelia Sxoinaraki or Euaggelia Sxoinaraki-Hliaki , she was MP 2000-06 and Dean of the Parliament in 2004-06. The area in Kreta she presides over is also known as Iraklio or Heraklion.

2005- Regional Governor Svetlana Veskova Velikova, Silistra, (Bulgaria)

2005- Regional Governor Rayna Yovtcheva, Haskovo (Bulgaria)

2005- Regional Governor Gergana Trifonova, Veliko  (Bulgaria)

2005- Regional Governor Maria Dimova, Russe (Bulgaria)

2005- Regional Governor Hristina Tcholakova, Sliven (Bulgaria)

2005- Regional Governor Surai Velieva, Lovetch (Bulgaria)

2005- Governor Veronique Nizigama, Bururi (Burundi)
A former MP and Deputy Secretary General of the National Assembly, she was kidnapped by rebels in 2003.

2005- Governor Marcelline Bararufise, Rutana (Burundi)
A former teacher she has been involved in the peace-process of the country for a number of years.

2005- Governor Régine Katabarumwe, Cankuzo (Burundi)
Former High School teacher.

2005- Governor Rénilde Ndayishimiye, Mwaro (Burundi)
Participated in the peace negotiations after the civil war.

2005-07 Prefect Svetlana Selaković, District of South Backa (Serbia)
The District is situated in the Province of Vojvodina. She is (b. 1957-)

2005-07 Prefect Marina Marković, District of Podunavlje  (Serbia)
The District is situated in Central Serbia.

2005- Préfète Evelyne Ratte of l'Aisne (France)
2007-
Regional Préfète of Limousin
Secretary General of the Ministry of Defence 2002-05. (b. 1937-)

2005-07 Civil Governor Maria Teresa Mourão de Almeida, Setúbal (Portugal)
Teresa Almeida is former Socialist Party Secretary of the District of Setúbal. Appointed to a leading position in the Municipal administration of Lisboa in 2007

2005- Civil Governor Maria do Carmo Pires Almeida Borges, Guarda (Portugal)
Maria do Carmo Borges is former President of the Municipal Council of Guarda.

2005-08 Civil Governor  Maria Adelaide Torradinhas Rocha, Lisboa (Portugal)
Maria Adelaide Rocha is former spokesperson of the Administrative Council of the Cultural Foundation of Belém.

2005- Civil Governor Maria Isabel Solnado Porto Oneto, Porto (Portugal)
Isabel Oneto is a Magistrate and former Member of the Municipal Chamber of Porto for the Socialist Party.


2005- Civil Governor Fernanda de Sousa Gonçalves Carvalho Ramos, Évora (Portugal)
Normally known as Fernanda Ramos

2005-  Lord-Lieutenant Dr. Monica Main, Sutherland (United Kingdom of Great Britain)
General practitioner and a senior partner in the combined Brora and Helmsdale Medical Practice. (b. 1952-).

2005-  Lord-Lieutenant Hon. Susan Cunliffe-Lister, The East Riding of Yorkshire (United Kingdom of Great Britain)
Director of the Burton Agnes Hall Preservation Trust and Farming Company, a trustee of Burton Constable Hall and Kiplin Hall, a member of the Executive of the Country Land and Business Association and chairs the Yorkshire branch, member of the Parish Council, Director of Swinton Park Hotel and Cookery School and has in the past been a school and college governor. She was High Sheriff for the East Riding 2004-05. (b. 1945-).

2005-  Lord-Lieutenant Marjory McLachlan, Stirling and Falkirk (United Kingdom of Great Britain)
Deputy  Lord-Lieutenant 2001-05 and involved in charities for decades. (b. 1942-).

2005- Sýslumaður Kristín Ósk Völundardóttir, Hólmavík (Iceland)
"Prefect" and Chief of Police.

2005- Governor Isabelina Tenorio, The Paez Reservation (Columbia)
Head of the indiginas area in Mosoco in the Province of Tierradentro

2005- Governor María Nelly Fiscué, Toez Reservation (Columbia)
The government appointed 6 female and one male head of the indiginas areas.

2005- Governor Gloria Atillo, The Togaima Reservation (Columbia)
Head of an indiginas area

2005- Governor Lusinda Aquite, Turminá Reservation (Columbia)
Head of an  indiginas area

2005- Governor Rosario Salazar, The Inzá Reservation (Columbia)
Head of an indiginas area

2005- Governor Imelda Vitopía, Coetando Reservation  (Columbia)
Head of an indiginas area

2005- Governor Rosario Guerra Chaparro, Tónachii (Mexico)
One of the leaders of the 4 ethnic groups of the Tarahumara Mountain range.

2006- Governor Gladys Elizabeth Bandiera Pittí, Province of Panama, Panama
Gladys Bandiera is a former civil servant of the Ministry of Interior. (b. 1976-).

2006- Governor Sarah Palin, Alaska (USA)
Former Mayor of Wasilla City. (b. 1965-).

2006-07 Voivode Helena Pietraszkiewicz, Łódzki  (Poland)
Former councillor and chairperson of the Lublin City Council. (1952-)

2006-06 Intendent Patricia Clara Pérez Zamorano, Región I de Tarapaca (Chile)
Patricia Pérez is Supreme Court Lawyer and civil servant. (b. 1972-).

2006- Intendent Marcela Ximena Hernando Pérez, Región II de Antofagasta (Chile)
Former civil servant.

2006-07 Intendent Julieta Florentina Cruz Figueroa, Región III de Atacama (Chile)
Julieta Cruz is a former civil servant on local and federal level. (b. 1960-).

2006- Intendent María Soledad Tohá Veloso, Región VIII de Bio Bio (Chile)
Professor and Municipal Councillor of Chillán. (b. 1965-).

2006- Intendent Viviana Betancourt Gallegos, Región XI de Aisén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo  (Chile)
Former Regional Councillor.

2006- Intendent Eugenia Mancilla, Región XII de Magallanes y de la Antártica Chilena (Chile)
Engineer and working in the private sector. (b. 1964-).

2006- Governor Victoria Ngiratkakl-Kanai, Airai State (Palau)
Also known as Vicky Kanai, she was President of the State Legislature 2002-06.

2006- Governor Akiko C. Bedor Sugiyama, Ngardmau State (Palau)
A former congresswoman Akiko Sugiyama was married to the former Senator Peter L. Sugiyama, who died in 2007.

2006-07 Governor Mireya González Dávila, Sucumbíos (Ecuador)
Followed Nancy Lucia Armijos on the post.

2006-07 Governor Maria de Lourdes Abadia, Distrito Federal (Brazil)
2001-06 Vice-Governor. She lost her bid for reelection and will leave office on 1. January 2007.

2006-07 Governor Mireya González Dávila, Sucumbíos (Ecuador)
Followed Nancy Lucia Armijos on the post.

2006- Governor Sandra Alejandrina Cuevas de Hernández, Cortés (Honduras)
Followed Ilsa Díaz Zelaya on the post.

2006- Governor Pénéloppe Kantarama, Province de l'Ouest (Rwanda)
Also known as Penpencond Vice-President of the National Assembly 2003-06.

2006- Zupan Mira Buconić, the Dubrovnik-Neretva county (Croatia)

Deputy župan 2005-2006.

2006- Lieutenant Governor Mayann E. Francis, Nova Scotia (Canada)
Director & CEO of the Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission from 1999, Ombudsman for Nova Scotia 2000-03.

2006- Lieutenant-Governor Barbara Oliver Hagerman, Prince Edward Island (Canada)
Musical teacher, vocal performer, choir leader and conductor, volunteer worker. (b. 1943-).

2006- Governor Vera Ulyanchenko, Kiev oblast (Ukraine)
Also known as Vira Ivanivna, she is a former Presidential Councillor. (b. 1958)

2006- Governor Yukiko Kada, Shiga (Japan)
Professor in Environmental affairs. (b. 1950-).

2006- Fylkesmann Kari Nordheim-Larsen, Telemark (Norway)
Deputy Mayor of the County of Telemark 1984-90, Secretary for Regional Affairs of Arbeiderpartiet 1990-92 and Minister of Development Aid 1992-97. (b. 1948-).

2006- Acting Governor Ludmila Riveros de Sánchez, Ñeembucú (Paraguay)
Former highranking civil servant and Member of Parliament.

2006 Acting Voivode Marzenna Drab, Kujawsko-Pomorski  (Poland)
Appointed Vice-Voivode earlier in 2006 and became Acting Governor after the resignation of her predecessor. MP from 2007.

2006- Governor Neranjala Pushpa Kumari Balasooriya, Southern Province (Sri Lanka)
Normally known as Kumari Balasooriya, her surname is also transcribed as Balasuriya. She is married to former Governor of North Central Province Jagath Balasooriya (or Balasuriya), and they held office at the same time for a few weeks in 2006. (b. 1949).

Ca. 2006- Governor Doris Puchana, The Awa Reservation (Colombia)
Head of an indiginas area.

2006- Governor Elsa de León, Samaná (Domenican Republic)

2006- Governor Fouzia Imanssar, District of Aïn Chock (Morocco)
Another version of her name is Fawziya Amansar, and the the name of the district is also trancribed as Ain al-Shaq, wich is situtated in the governorate of Casablanca.

2006- Prefect Chantal Philip, Meuse (France)
Former Sous -Préfète of Commercy

2006-  Lord-Lieutenant Jean Douglas Tulloch, Area of Dumfries  (United Kingdom of Great Britain)    
The lieutenantcy is situated in Scotland.

2006-  Lord-Lieutenant Marion Teresa Brewis, The Area of Wigtown (United Kingdom of Great Britain)    
Known as Terry Brevis, she is the Queen's Representative in the Scottish County.

2006-  Lord-Lieutenant Valerie Lane-Fox Pitt-Rivers, Dorset (United Kingdom of Great Britain)    
Worked for the National Health Service and charitable and arts organisations in Dorset since 1970. Deputy Lieutenant for Dorset 1995-2006. (b. 1939-).

2006-  Lord-Lieutenant Dame Lorna Elizabeth Fox Muirhead, Merseyside (United Kingdom of Great Britain)    
Normally known as Dame Lorna Muirhead she worked as a midwife and teacher for many years, President of the Royal College of Midwives 1997-2004 and Deputy Lieutenant for Merseyside 2003-06. (b. 1943-).

2006 Prefect Delfina Raimondo, Gorizia (Italy)
2006- Prefect of Belluno
Civil Servant and member of various expert committees of the Ministry of Interior, Vice-Prefect of Como 1996-2001, Vice-Prefct of Venezia 2001-05. (b. 1950).

2006- Narcisa Livia Brassesco, Biella (Italy)
Former Vice-Prefect of the Province.

2006- Maria Elena Stasi, Caserta (Italy)
High-ranking civil servant.

2006-07 Governor Dame Virginia Etiaba, Anambra State (Nigeria)
Also known as Dame Virgy, she took office as Deputy Governor in March and became Governor when her predecessor was impeached, but she immediately transferred her powers to Peter Obi, when the Appeal Court voided the impeachment. (b. 1942-).

2007- Governor Ana Júlia Carepa, Pará (Brazil)
City Councillor of  Belém do Pará from 1992, Vice-Mayor 1996-2000 and Federal Senator since 2002 (b. 1957-).

2007- Governor Yeda Rorato Crusius, Rio Grande do Sul (Brazil)
Minister of Planning, Organization and Coordination in 1993 and since Member of the Federal Parliament. President Partido da Social Democracia Brasileira (PSDB) of the State 2005-06. (b. 1944-)

2007- Governor María Diocelina Pazmiño García, Bolívar (Ecuador)  
Former candidate to the National Assembly.

2007- Governor Elisa Margarita Monar Vargas, Orellana (Ecuador)
Apointed by the President.

2007- Governor Betty Montoya Moreno, Laredo (Peru)
Former mayor.

2007- Governor Chabela Rivas Villafuerte, Capital District of Abancay (Peru)
In Departament Apurimac.

2007- Governor Geraldine Ecleo Villaroman, Dinagat Islands(The Philippines)
The first governor of the newely created province. Her mother Glenda Ecleo is member of the House of of Representatives and her father a mayor.

2007- Governor Floydelia Diasen, Kalinga (The Philippines)
Elected to the post after her husband was murdered.

2007 Voivode Anna Szyszka, Warmińsko-Mazurski (Poland) 
Vice-Voivode 2006-07 and Acting in the position from January to February. (b. 1969-).

2007- Intendent Adriana del Piano Puelma, Región Metropolitana de Santiago (Chile)
Minister of Natural Assets 1994-99, eputy Leader of the Election Campaign of President Lagos in 1999, Minister Women’s Affairs 2000-03, Subsecretary of Regional Development, 2003-2005, Minister of Interior Affairs 2005. (b. 1947-)

2007- Intendent Antonella Sciaraffia Estrada, Región I de Tarapaca (Chile)
Christian Democrat MP 1997-2001.

2007- Intendent Viviana Ireland Cortés, Región III de Atacama (Chile)

Former Municipal Secretary of
Atacama and Regional Secretary of the Ministry of Economy

2007- Commissaris van de Koningin Karla Peijs, Zeeland (Netherlands)
Member of the European Parliament for CDA 1989-2003, and prior to that Member of the Provincial States of Utrecht. Minister of Traffic and Water Management 2003-07. (b. 1944-).

2007- Governor Rosalba Venancia Belmonto de Penayo, Alto Paraguay (Paraguay)
Apparently she will be in office until August 2008 in an acting capacity.

2007- Governor Sandra Rubiano Leyton, Magdalena (Columbia)
Former Rector of Universidad del Magdalena.

2007- Governor Clara Inés Collazos Martínez, Cesar  (Columbia)
Career as administrator before she became chief executive of the province.

2007- Governor Ivonne Ortega Pacheco, Yucatán (Mexico)
Former member of the Chamber of Deputies and Secretary of the Permanent Commission of the Mexican Congress 2005-06.

2007- Governor Maria Fabiana Ríos, Tierra del Fuego (Argentina)
Member of the Chamber of Deputies until her election.

2007- Lord-Lieutenant Carol Kinghorn, Kincardineshire (United Kingdom)
A physiotherapist she is invlved in various charitable works. (b. 1946-).

2007- Lord-Lieutenant The Countess of Verulam, Hertfordshire  (United Kingdom)
Dione Angela Grimston née Smith is an artist and involved in the National Trust and other organisations. High Sheriff of Hertfordshire in 2002-03. Married to Sir John Duncan Grimston, 7th Earl of Verulam, and mother of 4 children. (b. 1954-).

  2007- Lord-Lieutenant Mary Prior, Hertfordshire (United Kingdom)
Deputy Lieutenant since 1996. Chairperson of a number of charities and public board. (b. 1942-)

2007- Civil Governor Isilda Maria Prazeres dos Santos Varges Gomes, Faro (Portugal)

2007- Civil Governor Eurídice Maria de Sousa Pereira, Setúbal (Portugal)
Vice-President of the Commission for Coordination and Development of the Region of Lisboa and Vale do Tejo 2005-07. She was candidate for the post of Mayor of Moita in 2005.

2007- Governor Marie Josée Laloy, Walloon Brabant (Belgium)
A francophone socialist. (b. 1950-).

2007- Zupan Sonja Borovčak,the Krapina-Zagorje County (Croatia)
Former local politician. (b. 1947-)

2007- Governor Maria Rosa Vilma Tuazon Santos, Batangas (The Philippines)
Vilma Santos-Recto is a former actor and Mayor of Lipa City. (b. 1953-)

2007- Governor Corazon T. Nuñez-Malanyaon, Davao Oriental (The Philippines)
A former Member of Congress, she won over her cousin, Governor Maria Elena T. Palma Gil. (b. 1949-)

2007- Governor Sally Ante Lee, Sorsogon (The Philippines)
Wife of former Governor Raul R. Lee and Mayor of Sorsogon City since 2000.

2007- Governor Elisa Olga Tingcungco Kho, Masbate (The Philippines)
Wife of former governor Tony Kho.

2007- Governor Jum Jainuddin-Akbar, Basilan (The Philippines)
Jum Akbar's husband, Wahab Akbar, had been Governor 1998-2007 and was elected to the House of Represenatives. His second wife, Cherry Santos-Akbar, was elected Mayor of Isabela City and the third wife, Nur-In Abbas-Akbar, run as candidate for Mayor of Lamitan City.

2007- Governor Lida Nanyan, Shirak Marz (Armenia)
Head of the the regional State Tax Service until her appointment as Marzpet. (b. 1948-).

2007-   Prefect Béatrice Abollivier, Alpes-de-Haute-Provence (France)
Former high ranking civil servant and ministerial political advisor

2007-  Prefect Fabienne Buccio, Mayenne (France)
Former de sous-préfète de Bayeux and presidential advisor.

  2007-Prefect Francesca Rita Maria