Giz Watson was elected to the Legislative Council for the North Metropolitan Region in 1997 and re-elected in 2001 and 2005.

Giz was educated in England and Australia. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from Murdoch University in 1981.

In 1984 Giz successfully completed a Trade Certificate in carpentry and joinery at the City & Guilds of London. In 1992 she became one of only three women registered builders in Western Australia. Giz ran her own building business for 12 years. Prior to being elected to the State Parliament, she was employed as the WA Co-ordinator of the Marine & Coastal Community Network.

Giz’s interest in ecology, peace and social justice led to her involvement in numerous community groups working on coastal and marine issues, urban bushland, community housing and opposition to the arms trade.

She is renowned as an energetic and passionate activist. In the UK, Giz trained nonviolent direct action groups for peace camps. These peace camps were instrumental in the removal of US nuclear missiles from the UK.

Click here to read Giz's Inaugural speech made on 10 June 1997.

Giz takes a very active role in Parliament. She currently serves as Chair of the Standing Committee on Estimates and Financial Operations. 

Previous roles in Committees included:

• Deputy Chair - Standing Committee on Legislation
   
• Co-opted Member - Standing Committee on Procedure and Privileges (Council)
   
• Member - Select Committee into the Police Raid on the Sunday Times
   
• Member - Select Committee into the Appropriateness of Powers and Penalties for Breaches of Parliamentary Privilege and Contempts of Parliament
   

Outside Parliament Giz is a member of the following groups and organisations:

• Anti-Nuclear Alliance of Western Australia
• Australian Conservation Foundation
• Australian Marine Conservation Society
• Cambridge Coastcare
• Conservation Council of WA
• Environment Defender's Office of WA
• Environmental Weeds Action Network WA
• Friends of Bold Park Bushland
• Friends of Shenton Park Bushland
• Friends of Underwood Avenue Bushland
• South Cottesloe Coastcare
• Urban Bushland Council
• Western Australian Council of Social Services