Victoria's first woman governor will use 18 years of Family Court experience to put a spotlight on social issues.
Linda Dessau will take over as Governor of Victoria from July 1.
She was a Family Court judge from 1995 to 2013 and has been an AFL Commissioner since 2008.
"With my background in the courts it's the community roles that resonate with me very particularly," Ms Dessau told reporters on Wednesday.
"Having spent all that time with people really at the coal face of the sorts of issues and problems our community faces, I know firsthand how important it is for all of us to feel a sense of belonging."
Premier Daniel Andrews said it was an honour to ask Ms Dessau to be Victorian governor.
"We are sadly the last jurisdiction to have a female appointed to this vice-regal role," Mr Andrews said.
Ms Dessau was delighted to get the call.
"I absolutely leapt at it because it just gives me such a wonderful capacity to work with the community," she said.
Ms Dessau said she would have to step down from the AFL Commission, along with some of her other roles, when she takes over from Governor Alex Chernov.
Before her time with the Family Court, Ms Dessau served as a magistrate in the Children's Court and the Melbourne Magistrates Court.
She was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in 2010 for her service to the judiciary.
Ms Dessau has been appointed governor for a five-year term.
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