Leonie Kramer

Dame Leonie Judith Kramer, AC, DBE (born 1 October 1924) is an Australian academic, educator and professor.

Education

Kramer was educated at the Presbyterian Ladies' College, Melbourne, the University of Melbourne, where she gained a Bachelor of Arts in 1945, and Oxford University, where she gained a Doctor of Philosophy in 1953. During her postgraduate years at Oxford she tutored at St Hugh's College.

Career

Kramer was appointed Lecturer in English in 1958, then Senior Lecture and finally Associate Professor in English at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). She remained at UNSW until 1968, when she was appointed Professor of Australian Literature at the University of Sydney, the first female Professor of English in Australia. She was Visiting Professor at Harvard University's Chair of Australian Literature Studies (1981-82). She is an Emeritus Professor of Australian Literature at the University of Sydney.

A major focus of her critical writing has been the works of Henry Handel Richardson. She also edited the Oxford History of Australian Literature (1981).

Dame Leonie Kramer has served on numerous public bodies during her long career. These include appointment to the Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1982-83), having served as a member of the ABC Board since 1977, the Secondary Schools Board (1976-82), the Council of the National Library (1975-81), NAATI (1977-81) and the Universities Council (1977-86).

Other appointments include serving as a Senior Fellow of the Institute of Public Affairs (1988-96), Commissioner of the NSW Electricity Commission (1988-95) and Chairman of the Board of Directors of NIDA (1987-92). She has also served on the boards of large corporations including Western Mining Corporation and ANZ Banking Group.

During her time at the ABC Kramer came to be known as Servalan after the autocratic character in the BBC science fiction series Blake's 7.

In 1986 she received the Inaugural Britannica Award for the ‘dissemination of learning for the benefit of mankind’. Other awards include an honorary DLitt from the University of Tasmania, and honorary LLDs from both the University of Melbourne and the Australian National University.

She was appointed on Officer (OBE) of the Order of the British Empire in 1976. In 1983, she was made a Dame Commander (DBE) of the order. In 1990 she was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia, the highest civilian award in the Australian honours system.

Dame Leonie Kramer was Deputy Chancellor of the University of Sydney from 1989-91 and Chancellor from 1991-2001. At the request of the Parliament and a hostile University Senate, the Governor of New South Wales empowered the Senate to dismiss the Chancellor of Sydney University in 2001. Dame Leonie retired moments before a controversial Senate meeting was to take place to dismiss her.

As of 2011, Dame Leonie Kramer is the current patron for United World Colleges in Australia; an educational movement that aims to make education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.

External links

• Kramer, Leonie Judith - Australian Women Biographical entry at Australian Women's Archives Project
• University of Sydney "Chancellors" Gallery