On Thursday 11 April 2013, at Government House, Canberra, the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, presided at a meeting of the Federal Executive Council.

Afterwards, in Mudgee, the Administrator officially opened the new Mudgee Town Hall and Library.

Later, at St Matthew’s Catholic School, the Administrator invested Mrs Mary Lovett AM with the insignia of the Member of the Order of Australia.

The Governor-General joined the Administrator of the UN Development Programme, Ms Helen Clark, for a working lunch during a visit to New York.

In San Francisco, the Governor-General met Californian business representatives during an event hosted by the Consul-General, Mr Nigel Warren.

On Wednesday 10 April 2013, at Parramatta High School, the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, Professor Marie Bashir AC CVO, attended the ANZAC Centenary Year Service.

Later, at the University of Sydney, the Administrator attended a Golden Graduates, Alumni and Friends Lunch in the Great Hall.

Then, at PricewaterhouseCoopers, Darling Park, the Administrator, on behalf of the Australian Women Donors’ Network, launched the publication ‘Genderwise Philanthropy - Strengthening Society by Investing in Women and Girls.’

In New York, the Governor-General hosted prominent women leaders for a roundtable discussion on issues that affect women globally.

The Governor-General, as Patron of UN Women Australia, met the Assistant Secretary-General and Deputy-Executive Director for Policy and Programme of UN Women, Mr John Hendra, during a visit to the UN Women headquarters in New York

At the United Nations Population Fund headquarters in New York, the Governor-General met the Executive Director, Dr Babatunde Osotimehin, and the Deputy-Executive Director, Ms Kate Gilmore.

The meeting focused on discussing the work of Australia and UNFPA in pursuing positive outcomes for achieving gender equality, the promotion of education and family planning, and the provision of reproductive health programs in the Pacific.

The Governor-General was welcomed to the United Nations by the Secretary-General, Mr Ban Ki-moon, during a visit to New York.

Australian and American scientists joined the Governor-General and Mr Ellis Rubinstein, President and CEO of the New York Academy of Science, for a roundtable meeting at the Academy to discuss how to capture the benefits of scientific research.

On Tuesday 9 April 2013, at the Harvard Club, New York, the United States of America, the Governor-General Ms Quentin Bryce AC CVO and Mr Michael Bryce AM AE, as guests of the Consul-General, Mr Phillip Scanlan AM, attended a morning tea for the Australian community.