Julia Gillard has become Australia's first female Prime Minister after Kevin Rudd stepped down as Labor Party leader.

Australia's Prime Minister Kevin Rudd and Deputy Prime Minister Julia Gillard attend the Labor Party conference at Darling Harbour in Sydney in thisJuly 30, 2009. Gillard became Australia's first female prime minister on June 24, 2010 after Rudd stepped down before a leadership ballot.[Xinhua]

Born in Wales on 29 September, 1961, Ms Gillard migrated to Australia with her parents when she was four in 1966.

She was a lawyer before taking up politics.

After studying law, she became a partner in a law firm which dealt with class actions and personal injury cases.

First elected to parliament in 1998, Ms Gillard is considered on the left of the party.

She, together with Rudd, formed an alliance in 2006.