Patrons

Her Excellency the Honourable Dr Jeannette Young AC PSM,
Governor of Queensland

Dr Jeannette Young and her husband, Professor Graeme Nimmo are proud to serve all Queenslanders.

The Governor was born in Sydney in 1963, eldest daughter of Dr David Young and Mrs Lilly Young. After graduating from Medicine at Sydney University in 1986, she commenced her medical career at Westmead Hospital. During that time, she married, had a daughter, Rebecca, and transitioned to Medical Management, completing a Master of Business Administration at Macquarie University.

After her marriage ended, the Governor – with Rebecca – moved to Queensland in 1994 to become Director of Medical Services at the Rockhampton Hospital. In 1999, she relocated to Brisbane to take up the role of Executive Director of Medical Services at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, and served on various workforce committees, including as Chair of AMWAC (Australian Medical Workforce Advisory Committee).

During this time, the Governor met her second husband, Professor Graeme Nimmo. In March 2000, they were married, and in June 2001 welcomed a daughter, Jane.

In August 2005, the Governor was appointed to the role of Chief Health Officer for Queensland, with responsibility for leading the State’s preventative health and public health agendas, including response to public health emergencies. In January 2020, when the COVID-19 virus outbreak was declared a pandemic, the Governor became the State Health Incident Controller.

During her medical career, Dr Young had specialist qualifications as a Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Medical Administrators and as a Fellow by Distinction of the Faculty of Public Health of the Royal College of Physicians of the United Kingdom. She was also appointed Fellow of numerous other eminent education and research institutions, has received honorary doctorates from two Queensland Universities, and has received an Australia Day Achievement Medallion, as well as a Public Service Medal.

Her Excellency was sworn-in as the 27th Governor of Queensland on 1 November 2021.

Professor Graeme Nimmo RFD

A proud fourth-generation Queenslander, Professor Nimmo was born in Brisbane, completed his schooling at Ashgrove State School and the Anglican Church Grammar School, and studied Medicine at the University of Queensland.

He recently retired after a distinguished medical career spanning more than four decades, including 19 years as State Director of Microbiology for Pathology Queensland. He currently holds a professorial position in medicine at Griffith University.

For 17 years, Professor Nimmo served in the Australian Army Active Reserve, reaching the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, with a further 17 years on the Standby Reserve, and he was awarded the Reserve Force Decoration.

Professor Nimmo and Dr Jeannette Young were married in March 2000.

They have two children, Rebecca and Jane, and one grandchild, Calvin.