Miriam Dell

Background

Dell was born in 1924, the daughter of Ruby Miriam Crawford and Gerald Matthews.

Education

She studied science at the University of Auckland, and at age 22 in 1946, she married Richard Dell.

Career

She became National President of the Council in 1970. She was elected to the Board of Officers of the International Council of Women (ICW) in 1976 and was International President 1979-1986, Honorary President 1986-1988 and was coordinator of the ICW Development Project Program until her retirement. Dell was or remains associated with the following organisations: Wellington Airport Independent Review Panel National Museum Council Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa Project Development Board National Council of Women Pan Pacific and South East Asia Women"s Association New Zealand Federation of University Women The Commonwealth Foundation International Council of Women 1993 Suffrage Centennial Year Trust Environment and Conservation Organisations of New Zealand (Ecology) New Zealand Conservation Authority Wellington Conservation Board.

Achievements

• In the 1975 New Year, Dell was appointed as Commander of the Order of the British Empire for public services. In the 1980 New Year, Dell was promoted to the rank of Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire. On 6 February 1993, Dell was the 22nd appointee to the Order of New Zealand, New Zealand"s highest civil honour.

Membership

Dell was a founding member of the Hutt Valley Branch of the National Council of Women (NCW). In 1974, she became chairperson of the Committee on Women and was coordinator for International Women"s Year, attending as a member of the New Zealand Government delegation at all three of the United Nations Conferences for the Decade of Women.