 Ms Firth was the Chief Executive Officer of the Public Education Foundation in Australia and is a former politician.Firth served as a member of the New South Wales Legislative Assembly representing the electorate of Balmain for the Labor Party from 2007 to 2011.During this period, she served as Minister for Women, Minister for Science and Medical Research, and Minister Assisting the Minister for Health (Cancer) from 2007 to 2008, Minister for Climate Change and the Environment in 2008, and as the Minister for Education and Training from 2009 to 2011.