Juliana O'Connor-Connolly is a Caymanian politician and the current Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.

Early life and education

Born and raised on Cayman Brac, she first pursued a career in teaching but later received a law degree from the University of Liverpool and was a practicing attorney before entering politics.

Career

O'Connor-Connolly was the first female Premier of the Cayman Islands. Before becoming Premier, she was the Territory's Deputy Premier serving from November 2009 until December 2012. In 1997 Mrs. O'Connor-Connolly became Cayman's first woman minister when she was chosen to fill a vacancy on Executive Council as the Minister of Community Affairs, Sports, Women, Youth and Culture. O'Connor-Connolly had previously served as Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from November 2001 to October 2003. From October 2003 to April 2005 she served as Minister for Planning, Communications, District Administration and Information Technology.

O'Connor-Connolly was elected Deputy Premier during the Cayman Islands general election in 2009, and in addition to assuming the post of Deputy Premier, she served as Minister of District Administration, Works, Lands and Agriculture. In 2012 O'Connor-Connolly assumed the post of Premier of the Cayman Islands she also currently serves as Minister of Finance, District Administration, Works, Lands and Agriculture.

Mrs. O'Connor-Connolly has been elected to the Legislative Assembly since 1996; she is the first woman to represent the Sister Islands. In November 2001 she was a founding member of the United Democratic Party. Born and raised on Cayman Brac, she first pursued a career in teaching but later received a law degree from the University of Liverpool and was a practicing attorney before entering politics.

Personal life

She is the mother of Kamaal Connolly and Kimberly Walton, her foster child.