British High Commissioner to discuss global challenges at UQ

The British High Commissioner to Australia, who was a UK Minister in Tony Blair`s Cabinet, will discuss major world issues at The University of Queensland this month.

The Rt Hon Helen Liddell will examine Challenges to the Global Agenda: response from the G8 and EU at a free public seminar on Tuesday, September 13 from 2.15pm to 3.15pm.

The Director of the Australian Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, Professor Kevin Clements, will host the former Secretary of State for Scotland`s seminar in the Senate Room in the Brian Wilson Chancellery.

Professor Clements said Mrs Liddell would talk frankly and freely about major issues on the global agenda after the G8 summit at Gleneagles in July, such as responding to terrorist threats and African development challenges.

“Her work as Secretary of State for Scotland equips her well for talking about the representation of identity interests in political autonomy arrangements,” he said.

The Director of the University`s International Education Directorate, Andrew Everett, will also brief Ms Liddell on the academic and research links operating between UQ and universities in the UK.

Mrs Liddell is an Economist, broadcaster and business woman. She was elected MP for Monklands East in 1994. Between 1995 and 1997, Mrs Liddell was Opposition Spokeswoman on Scotland.

In the Labour government, she became the first Economic Secretary to the Treasury, then Minister for Education at the Scottish Office, followed by Minister of Transport and Minister at the Department of Trade and Industry. Mrs Liddell was appointed Secretary of State for Scotland in 2001 until devolution.

RSVP: Melinda Midgley (telephone 07 3365 8820, email m.midgley@uq.edu.au).

Media: For more information, contact Chris Saxby at UQ Communications (telephone 07 3365 2479, email c.saxby@uq.edu.au).