Kim Campbell

The Right Honourable Avril Phaedra Douglas "Kim" Campbell, PC , LL.B (born March 10, 1947, Port Alberni, British Columbia) was the nineteenth Prime Minister of Canada from June 25 to November 4, 1993. She remains North America's only female head of a national government to date. She was also the second woman in history to sit at the table of the Group of Seven (now G8) leaders, the eight most industrialized countries in the world, after British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.

Post-political career

Campbell returned to lecturing in political science for a few years, this time at Harvard. Then, in 1996, the Liberal government that had defeated Campbell appointed her Consul General to Los Angeles, a post she remained in until 2000.

Related Topics:
Harvard - Consul General - Los Angeles - 2000

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In 1997, Campbell collaborated with common-law husband Hershey Felder on the production of a musical, Noah's Ark in Los Angeles. In 2002, she lectured at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University. She is also Chair of the Council of Women World Leaders, a network organised by the Kennedy School.

Related Topics:
1997 - Hershey Felder - Kennedy School of Government - Harvard University - Council of Women World Leaders

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In 2004, she was included in the list of 50 most important political leaders in history in the Almanac of World History compiled by the National Geographic Society. She was cited for her status as the only woman leader of a North American country to date, but controversy ensued among academics in Canada over the merit of this honour.

Related Topics:
2004 - Almanac of World History - National Geographic Society

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She is also a member of the Club of Madrid, an independent organization whose main purpose and priority is to contribute to the strengthening of democracy in the world. Its membership is by invitation only and consists of former Heads of State and Government. The current President of the Club of Madrid is Fernando Cardoso, the former President of Brazil. On January 1st, 2004, Ms. Campbell assumed the role of Secretary General of the organization's secretariat in Madrid.

Related Topics:
Club of Madrid - Fernando Cardoso

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She continues as a Lecturer of Public Policy at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University to this day, in addition to her duties at the Club of Madrid. She also is the director of several publicly traded companies in high technology and biotechnology.

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On November 30, 2004, Campbell's official portrait for the parliamentary Prime Minister's gallery was unveiled. The painting was created by Victoria artist David Goatley. Kim Campbell said she was “deeply honoured” to be the only woman to have her picture in the prime ministers' corridor, stating “I really look forward to the day when there are many other female faces.” The painting shows a pensive Ms. Campbell sitting on a chair with richly coloured capes and robes in the background, symbolizing her time as a cabinet minister and as an academic. The unveiling took place amidst protests against U.S. President George W. Bush visiting Canada http://www.cbc.ca/story/canada/national/2004/11/30/campbell041130.html.

Related Topics:
U.S. President - George W. Bush

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