When Julia Gillard lost a crucial leadership vote and resigned as prime minister — and from politics — in late June 2013, many thought the feisty leader would retreat from the public eye. Indeed, appearances in the media from this once very public figure came few and far between.
But Gillard seems ready to be back not only in the spotlight but to her “passion.” Last month, Australia’s first female prime minister and former education minister assumed a new post as chair of the Global Partnership for Education board of directors.
GPE, which works with 66 developing countries, aims to raise $3.5 billion in pledges for its 2015-2018 replenishment campaign and launch a new funding model that, according to Gillard, will “reward change as it happens.” But more than just finding funds for education, GPE helps all partners at the country level — developing country governments, donor governments, international organizations, civil society and nongovernmental organizations, and the private sector — work together to ensure that education aid is better coordinated and more effective, based on countries' own education strategies.