Margaret Fitzherbert

{{Short description|Australian politician (born 1969)}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2016}}

{{Use Australian English|date=September 2016}}

{{Infobox officeholder

|name = Margaret Fitzherbert

|honorific-suffix =

|image =

|birthname =

|birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1969|11|11}}

|birth_place =

|office = Member of the Victorian Legislative Council for Southern Metropolitan Region

|term_start = 29 November 2014

|term_end = 24 November 2018

|party = Liberal Party

}}

Margaret Fitzherbert (born 11 November 1969) is an Australian politician. She was a Liberal member of the Victorian Legislative Council, representing Southern Metropolitan Region from 2014 to 2018.{{cite web|url=http://www.abc.net.au/news/vic-election-2014/results/legislative-council/smet/|title=Southern Metropolitan Region|last=Green|first=Antony|authorlink=Antony Green|publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation}}

She completed a BA (Hons) at Monash University. Later, she attained a Grad Dip in Labour Relations Law from the University of Melbourne and a Master of Arts (Communications) from RMIT University, where she won the Fairfax Business Media Prize.{{Cite web|url=http://www.margaretfitzherbert.com.au/about-margaret-fitzherbert/|title=Margaret Fitzherbert » About Margaret Fitzherbert|website=www.margaretfitzherbert.com.au|access-date=2016-07-27}} Before entering parliament, she held various positions in business, most recently director of the Royal Women's Hospital (2012–14) and chair of the board (2013–14).{{cite web | url=http://www.parliament.vic.gov.au/members/details/1769-ms-margaret-fitzherbert | title=Margaret Fitzherbert | publisher=Parliament of Victoria | accessdate=21 May 2015}}

Fitzherbert has worked as an industrial advocate, representing employers, and was a ministerial adviser to Judi Moylan as Minister for Women, and David Kemp as Minister for Education, Training and Youth Affairs. She also worked in senior communications roles for various employers, including ANZ and the National Australia Bank.{{Cite web|url=http://www.margaretfitzherbert.com.au/about-margaret-fitzherbert/|title=Margaret Fitzherbert » About Margaret Fitzherbert|website=www.margaretfitzherbert.com.au|access-date=2016-07-27}} She has been a member of the Victorian working party for the Australian Dictionary of Biography since 2008.

Following her election, Fitzherbert was appointed Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Women's Health, and Rural and Regional Health.{{Cite web|url=http://matthewguy.com.au/shadow-cabinet/|title=Matthew Guy MP » Shadow Cabinet|website=matthewguy.com.au|access-date=2016-07-27}} She was defeated at the 2018 state election.{{cite web |title=Summary of Legislative Council Result |url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/elections/vic-election-2018/results/legislative-council/?nw=0 |website=Victoria Votes |publisher=Australian Broadcasting Corporation |access-date=2021-04-02}}

Fitzherbert has written extensively on women and politics. Her first book, Liberal Women, was shortlisted for a NSW Premier's History Award in 2004, and was followed by So Many Firsts in 2009.{{Cite web|url=http://www.federationpress.com.au/bookstore/author.asp?id=549|title=Federation Press - Author: Margaret Fitzherbert|website=www.federationpress.com.au|access-date=2016-07-27}} She was one of the first to speak out publicly about the practice of Liberal preselectors asking women about their childcare arrangements.{{Cite web|last1=Fitzherbert |first1=Margaret |date=April 2013|url=http://www.aph.gov.au/~/~/link.aspx?_id=240F755AE81F4EE18C62C028129D82E6&_z=z|title=Liberal Women in Parliament: What Do the Numbers Tell Us and Where to|publisher=Parliament of Australia|access-date=2016-07-27}}