Valerie Ann Amos, Baroness Amos of Brondesbury was born 13 March 1954 in Guyana and studied at the Universities of Warwick, Birmingham and East Anglia. She was made an Honorary Professor at Thames Valley University in 1995 in recognition of her work on equality and social justice. She holds the honorary degrees of Doctor of Laws from the University of Warwick in 2000 and the University of Leicester in 2006.
She served as Leader of the House of Lords and Lord President of the Council in the Blair government. She was formerly Secretary of State for International Development.
When Tony Blair resigned, she left the cabinet. She was made a member of the important Committee on Commonwealth Membership, which presented its report on potential changes in membership criteria for the Commonwealth of Nations at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2007 in Kampala, Uganda. One of the changes apparenlty seeks to overcome a difficulty which bea
came apparent in the 1999 referendum in Australia.
On 4 July 2009 it was announced that Baroness Amos had been appointed British High Commissioner to Australia in succession to Helen Liddell. The Baroness will take up the position in October 2009.
A special Welcome Luncheon for is to be hosted by the Australia-Britain Society (NSW Branch), in conjunction with The English-Speaking Union (NSW Branch), The Royal Commonwealth Society (NSW Branch) and The Royal Over-Seas League.
Guest of Honour: Her Excellency The Right Honourable Baroness (Valerie) Amos of Brondesbury, the newly arrived British High Commissioner.
Venue: Strangers’ Dining Room, Parliament House, Macquarie Street, Sydney
Time: Wednesday 18 November 2009……Noon for 12.30 pm luncheon
Cost: $70.00 Members, $75 Non-members for 2-course luncheon and drinks. There will be a musical interlude.
Bookings may be made by cheque to the English Speaking Union ( NSW Branch) to ESU PO Box A2156 Sydney South NSW 1235. Please advise of any dietary requirements. To confirm bookings or other enquiries phone (02) 9286 3111. Dress: Lounge suit. RSVP: Wed 11 November 2009.