Governor-General appoints Ms Michelle Bachelet AC an honorary Companion of the Order of Australia

Ms Michelle Bachelet AC, United Nations Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, was appointed an honorary Companion in the General Division of the Order of Australia during a ceremony at Government House in Canberra.

Ms Bachelet received the honorary AC for her eminent service to developing Australia-Chile bilateral relations, and for outstanding global leadership in promoting gender equality and the empowerment of women.

She was the first woman to be elected Head of State in Latin America, serving as Chile’s President between 2006 and 2010.

As the first Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of UN Women, Ms Bachelet is committed to ensuring that the lives of women throughout the world are improved, especially in developing countries.