Born on April 10 1955, Judy Edwards grew up in the West Australian wheatbelt town of Beverley.

On completing her schooling, Dr Edwards studied at the University of Western Australia and graduated in Medicine and Surgery. She later completed a Masters Degree in Public Health.

Between 1984 and 1990, Dr Edwards was employed in General Practice at a Mt Lawley surgery. During this time, she also worked part-time for the Aboriginal Medical Service and for the Sexual Assault Referral Centre.

In 1987, Dr Edwards was elected as National President of the Doctors' Reform Society - a position she held for three years.

Dr Edwards also served as a member of the Social Security Appeals Tribunal from 1986-1990.

Dr Edwards was elected to the Legislative Assembly as the Member for Maylands after a by-election in 1990.

In her early parliamentary career, Dr Edwards served as Deputy Chairman of Committees before working on various Select Committees.

Her strong involvement in community activities continued, joining the Board of Management for the WA Royal Institute for the Blind.

Dr Edward's keen interest in environmental issues also saw her become the inaugural Chairperson of the Bayswater integrated Catchment Management Group - Perth's first urban catchment group - from 1991 until 1994.

A driving force behind the Maylands Inter-agency Group, Dr Edwards served as the group's chair from 1992-'94. Later in 1996, when her electorate came to include a large area of Dianella, she also worked to establish the Dianella Inter-agency Group.

Her continuing Labor Party activities saw Dr Edwards become Vice President for the Western Australian State Branch in 1993.

The same year, Dr Edwards was appointed to the Shadow Ministry for Housing; Youth; Sport and Recreation. Dr Edwards stepped down from the position in February 1994 following the birth of her first child.

Later, in October 1994, Dr Edwards became Shadow Minister for the Environment. Water Resources and Heritage were added to her portfolio not long after.

Dr Edwards was sworn in as both Minister for the Environment, and Heritage in the Gallop Labor Government, February 2001.

Achievements of Dr Edwards and the Gallop Labor Government include the ban on logging in old growth forests and the establishment of 30 new national parks, protection of Ningaloo reef and more of the coastline by the extension and creation of new marine parks, the clean up of the iconic Swan River and the allocation of a $15m funding boost for its future protection, a tougher environmental watchdog with new laws and resources to catch and punish offenders and stopping the federal government from dumping nuclear waste in Western Australia.