Geoff Gallop is the former premier of Western Australia and the head of the Graduate School of Government at the University of Sydney. Before entering state politics, Gallop worked as a tutor and lecturer at both Murdoch University and the University of Western Australia, and was a City Councilor at Fremantle from 1983 to 1986.

He was elected to the Western Australian Legislative Assembly for the seat of Victoria Park in 1986. At the State election held on the 10 February 2001, Gallop led the Labor Party to victory, becoming Premier and Minister for Public Sector Management, Federal Affairs, Science, Citizenship and Multicultural Interests. Gallop went on to win a second term at the February 2005 state election.

He was made a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2008.