Jennifer Hible

Jennifer Hible is a Viranthorian politician of the Unionist Party who has served as Federal Minister for Foreign Affairs since 2011. Hible was a close aide of opposition leader Margaret Holden, serving as her Chief Political Advisor from 1999-2002 until she, herself, was elected to the Federal Assembly in 2003. Hible subsequently served as Deputy Federal Minister for Justice and Federal Minister for Justice in the Second Holden Cabinet before being promoted to her current position in 2011.

Early Life
Hible was born in Henford Cross, the daughter of an architect. She studied Geography at Queen Margaret University in Cape Coronation before completing her doctorate at the University of Elkmire. Holden worked as a geologist, particularly in the sphere of earthquake and tsunami prevention methods. During her career, Hible worked in close collaboration with many international geographical organisations; she spent five years advising the government of Igathus following the New Year Earthquake of 1982.

Federal Minister of Justice
Hible quickly rose through the party ranks and was known as a competent political negotiator between the Unionist and FLA coalition partners. In 2005 she was appointed chairwoman of the Assembly Justice Committee. Her efforts in maintaining coalition unity were rewarded following the 2007 federal election when she was made Deputy Federal Minister of Justice. Within less than six months, she was succeeded to Federal Justice Minister after her predecessor, William Francis, retired from both the cabinet and Federal Assembly.

Hible’s tenure at the Justice Ministry was highlighted by new laws which prevented employers from dismissing workers based on age; the new laws proved highly controversial and were opposed by the Social Democratic Party (SDP). Despite this, Hible remained one of the most popular members of the Federal Government until the subsequent election.

Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs
The 2011 Federal Election produced the first single-party majority government in the history of Viranthor. There were suggestions that Hible would replace the aging David White at the Ministry of Finance but her lack of economic experience was considered the deciding factor in preventing her appointment. Hible subsequently became Federal Minister of Foreign Affairs when the incumbent, Kieran Lambart, announced he was taking a ‘backseat role in government’ following the death of his wife from cancer.

Since 2011, Hible has travelled extensively across the globe and has so far visited over seventy countries. Her period in office has seen increased cooperation with many nations, particularly those in the southern regions. Her success at the Foreign Ministry means she is expected to succeed Margaret Holden as leader of the Unionist Party in the near future although she has consistently denied this.