Rising Fil-Aussie tennis sensation p20 She is the 45th Premier of New South Wales and leader of the NSW Liberal Party . Mike Baird ’ s stepping down last month surprised many and out from those confusing days , Gladys Berejiklian stepped in with the promise to do good at the tough job of leading the state . She ran for the premiership without contest after another contender ruled out running for the position . “ I believe I am the best person for the job now , that ’ s why I am putting my hand up , if I didn ’ t believe that was the case , I wouldn ’ t put my hand up ,” she was quoted as saying in a 9news . com report a few days after Mr . Baird stepped down . Before becoming premier , Berejiklian was the Treasurer of NSW and Minister for Industrial Relations in the second Baird government , and Minister for Transport and the Minister for the Hunter in the first Baird government . She was also the Deputy Leader of the New South Wales Liberal Party between 2014 and 2017 . She has been a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly since 2003 , representing the seat of Willoughby . The new premier comes from a migrant family . Born in Sydney in 1970 , she is the eldest of three daughters born to Armenian immigrant parents , Krikor and Arsha . Berejiklian spoke only Armenian until she was five years old , when she began learning English . She is actively involved in the Armenian-Australian community , serving a term on the Armenian National Committee of Australia . Berejiklian attended North Ryde High School . She has a Bachelor of Arts and a graduate diploma in international studies from the University of Sydney and a Masters in Commerce from the University of New South Wales . PREMIER GLADYS BEREJIKLIAN ‘ I believe I am the best person for the job …’ FEBRUARY 2017 | Volume 7 Number 5 | www . kalatas . com . au | editorial @ kalatas . com . au | facebook . com / angkalatas | She is the 45th Premier of New South Wales and leader of the NSW Liberal Party . Mike Baird ’ s stepping down last month surprised many and out from those confusing days , Gladys Berejiklian stepped in with the promise to do good at the tough job of leading the state . She h ran for the premiership without contest af a ter another contender ruled ou o t running for the position . “ I believe I am the best person for the job now , that ’ s why I am putting my hand up , p if I di didn ’ t belie ieve ve that wa w s the ca case se , I wo woul uldn dn ’ t ’ t put ut my hand up , p ,” sh she wa was qu quot ot oted ed as sa sayi ying ng in a 9n 9new ew ews . s co co com re re repo po port rt rt a few ew day ays af afte ter Mr Mr Mr . Ba Ba Bair ir ird st st st step ep ep eppe pe ped do do down wn . Be Be Be Befo fo fo fo fo fo f re re re re bec ec ecom om omin ing pr prem emie ie ier , r , r , r , Be Be Be Bere re re reji ji ji jikl kl kl klia ia ia ia ian wa wa wa was th th the Tr Tr T ea ea easu su sure re re rer of of of of of o NS NS NS NS NSW an an an and Mi Mi Mi Mi M ni ni ni n st st ster er er for or or or Ind nd ndus us us ustr tr tr tria ia ia ial Re Re Re Re Re Re Rela la la la l ti ti ti ti tion on on on o s in in in in the he he h sec ec econ on ond Ba Ba Ba Bair ir ir ird go go go go g ve ve ve ve v rn rn rnme me me me m nt nt nt nt , an an an a d Mi Mi M ni ni nist st st s er er er for or or Tr Tr Tr T an an ansp sp sp spor ort an an and th th th the Mi Mini ni nist st ster er er for or or th th th t e Hu Hunt nter e in th the fi fi f rs rst Ba Bair ird go go gove vern rnme ment nt . Sh Sh S e wa was al a so the he De De D pu pu p ty ty ty ty Lea ea eade de d r of of the he New ew Sou outh th Wa Wa Wa W les Li Libe bera ral Pa Pa P rt rty be be betw tween 20 2014 1 an and 2017 17 . Sh She ha ha has be been en a mem embe be b r of of the he New ew ew Sou outh th Wal al ales es Le L gi gisl slat ativ ive As Asse semb mbly ly sin ince ce 20 2003 03 , repr pres esen enti ting ng the he sea eat of o Willough g by . The ne new pr prem emie ier come m s fr from o a migran ant fa fami mily ly . Bor orn in i Syd ydne ney in 1970 , 0 , she he is th the el elde dest st of th thre ree daug ughter ers bo born rn to Ar Arme meni nian an im immi migr gran an ant pa pare rent nt nts , s Kri ri r ko kor an an and Ar Arsh sha . a . a Be Bere re reji ji j kl klia ian sp spok oke on only ly Ar Ar Arme meni nian an an unt ntil il she he he was as a fiv ive ye year ar a s ol old , d , d whe hen sh she be bega gan le lear arni ni n ng ng En Engl glis ish . h . Sh She is is is act c iv ivel ely in invo volv lved ed in in the he Arm rmen enia ia iannn Au Aust st st s ra rali li lian an co comm mmun unit ity , y , servi vi v ng ng a ter erm on on the he Ar Arme meni ni nian an Nat atio io iona na nal Co Comm mm m it itte tee of of Au Aust stra rali lia . a . Be Be Bere reji jikl klia ian at at a te tend nd nded ed e Nor orth Ry Ry Ryde de de Hig igh Sc Scho h ol o . Sh She ha ha has a Ba Ba B ch ch ch c el elor or of Ar Ar A ts ts ts and nd a gra radu du duat ate di di di dipl pl plom om o a in in int nter erna na nati ti t on on onal al stu tu tudi dies es fr fr fr from om om om the he Uni nive ve v rs rsit ity of of of Syd yd yd ydne ne ney an an a d a Ma Ma Ma M st ster ers in in Com omme merc rc rc rce fr fr fr f om om om the he he Un Un Un Univ iv iv i er ersi si si s ty ty t of Ne Ne New So So So So Sout ut ut ut uth Wa Wa Wa Wale le les . s . s . FEBRUARY 2017 | Volume 7 Number 5 | www . kalatas . com . au | editorial @ kalatas . com . au | facebook . com / angkalatas | SPORT FEATURE