His Excellency Dato' Seri DiRaja Tajol Rosli Ghazali, the Chief Minister of Perak, is the son of the late Tan Sri Ghazali, a former Chief Minister of Perak. His Excellency is the first Malaysian graduate from the University of Melbourne to be appointed the status of Chief Minister of a state in Malaysia.

After completing his secondary education at Geelong Grammar School, he continued his tertiary education at the University of Melbourne in 1964. He enrolled in the Faculty of Economics and Commerce and graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in 1967. He was a resident of International House during his student days.

His political career began after a few years in the private sector when he was elected a member of the State Legislative Assembly and a Member of Parliament the following year. Since then he has held various portfolios in the Government namely as Parliamentary Secretary of Rural Development in 1983, as Deputy Minister National and Rural Development in 1986, as Deputy Minister of Energy, Telecommunications and Post in 1990, as Deputy Minister of Housing and Local Government in 1995, as Deputy Minister of Home Affairs Department in 1997 and as Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in January 1999 and in his present post as Chief Minister of Perak Darul Ridzuan from December 1999.

His Excellency Dato' Seri DiRaja Tajol Rosli Ghazali has played an active role in Malaysian politics for more than 24 years. Besides holding numerous positions at state and federal levels and within the United Malay National Organisation (UMNO), including being an elected member of the UMNO Supreme Council, he is also the Perak State UMNO Liaison Chief.

In recognition of his extensive contribution, he was conferred the title Ahli Mahkota Perak (AMP) in 1979, the Darjah Paduka Mahkota Perak (DPMP) which carries the title of Dato' in 1986, the Seri Paduka Mahkota Perak (SPMP) which carries the title of Dato' Seri in 1999 and the Seri Paduka Sultan Azlan (SPSA) which carries the title of Dato' Seri DiRaja in year 2000.

Not only has His Excellency contributed significantly to public administration in Perak and Malaysia for more than 24 years, he has also played a very active role in the development and activities of youth, within Malaysia and the Association of South East Asian Nations [ASEAN] region. He was the President of the Malaysian Youth Council and the Secretary General of the ASEAN Youth Working Committee from 1982 to 1986. From 1986 to 1988 he was the Secretary General of the Asian Youth Council and from 1988 to 1999 he was President of the Asian Youth Council. He received the "National Youth Award for Outstanding Leadership" in 2001 for his invaluable contribution and effort in the development of youth in Malaysia and ASEAN countries. He has actively supported his alma mater, the University of Melbourne in developing its international programmes in Malaysia and has also provided leadership in building links with its Malaysian alumni.

His Excellency is a man of vision and commitment to the development of education. He has encouraged the expansion of existing and the building of new universities in Perak. He has actively promoted the development of the State of Perak as a Centre of Higher Learning. The new University of Petronas which can accommodate 20,000 students is being built in Tronoh. Another new University, University Tunku Abdul Rahman which can take in 40,000 students will be built in Kampar. Both these new universities will also help stimulate the state economy by providing greater employment opportunities for the local population. These developments are an integral part of His Excellency's efforts to encourage diversification of opportunity in Perak.

During his tenure as Chief Minister of Perak, His Excellency has proved himself a visionary leader who has worked determinedly to develop and improve his State not only administratively and economically but also socially, especially in the field of education. He has demonstrated vision and commitment to the improvement of education, he has sought to ensure that the education offered is international in outlook and he has guided the development of programs that extend access to these education opportunities by disadvantaged youth in Malaysia and the ASEAN region.