Last night, NSW Premier Chris Minns announced Professor Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO (MBBS '56) has passed away.

On behalf of the University of Sydney community, Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Mark Scott, paid tribute to the contribution Professor Bashir made over her long career – including during her service as Chancellor of the University. 

“A proud Sydney graduate and strong supporter of the University throughout her life, Marie was much admired for her dedication to teaching and research, particularly in the social, health and medical sectors. 

“Marie was a truly remarkable public servant, leading in all her many roles with compassion and a deep belief in equality and equity for all. 

“We send our condolences to Marie’s family and many friends and former colleagues who had the pleasure of knowing and working with her. We are flying our flags at half-mast today, in honour of her extraordinary legacy.”

Professor Honourable Dame Marie Bashir AD CVO

Professor Bashir gained her bachelor degrees in medicine and surgery in 1956 from the University of Sydney. She taught at the University of Sydney and UNSW, and worked increasingly with children's services, psychiatry and mental health services, and Indigenous health programs. 

Professor Bashir was appointed the first female Governor of NSW in 2001, retiring from the position in 2014 – the same year she was named Dame (AD) in the General Division of the Order of Australia in the 2014 Queen's Birthday Honours.

She served as the University of Sydney’s 17th Chancellor, from 1 June 2007 to 15 December 2012.

She was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2001, and at the time of her appointment as Governor of NSW, she was Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Sydney (a post she took up in 1993); Area Director of Mental Health Services Central Sydney (from 1994); and Senior Consultant to the Aboriginal Medical Service, Redfern (from 1996) and to the Aboriginal Medical Service, Kempsey.

Professor Bashir's widespread involvements and interests included juvenile justice, research on adolescent depression, health issues in developing countries, education for health professionals and telemedicine and new technologies for health service delivery.

Along with many professional medical association roles, she was also a member of Amnesty International, the National Trust, the NSW Camellia Research Society and the Tandanya National Aboriginal Cultural Centre, as well as a patron of the Sydney Symphony and Opera Australia.

Professor Bashir was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia in 1988 for her services to child and adolescent health and subsequently made a Companion of the Order in 2001. She was later invested by Her Majesty The Queen, with the insignia of a Commander of the Royal Victorian Order (CVO) in 2006. 

An honorary degree of Doctor of Medicine was conferred upon Her Excellency Professor Bashir by the University of Sydney on 11 October 2002, at the ceremony to mark the sesquicentenary of the inauguration of the University of Sydney. 

Professor Bashir was married to Sir Nicholas Shehadie AC OBE and together had three children and six grandchildren.