As Prime Minister of Australia , Julia Gillard succeeded Persad-Bissessar as the second female Chair at the 2011 CHOGM . Julia Gillard was in-turn succeeded by Kevin Rudd after resigning as Prime Minister of Australia on 27 June 2013 . Rudd went on to lose the Australian federal election in September 2013 , and was subsequently succeeded by the new prime minister Tony Abbott . Abbott remained in the position until Commonwealth leaders met for the 23rd time on 15 November 2013 , where he was succeeded by the President of Sri Lanka Mahinda Rajapaksa , who was succeeded by Maithripala Sirisena in 2015
23rd
Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2013
Commonwealth Chair-in-Office