WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Jenny Shipley, a leading light in New Zealand's conservative National Party, was on Tuesday poised to become the country's first female prime minister. In a slickly executed coup, the 45- -year-old minister forced Prime Minister Jim Bolger to make the surpise announcement of his retirement and end his seven-year reign in anti-climax. After a one-hour meeting on Tuesday, the National Party, which governs with support from the nationalist New Zealand First Party, selected Shipley unopposed as its new leader. From a farming background, Shipley belongs to National's right and is considered to the right of Bolger. But she also has a reputation as a pragmatist. Imposing, and with the broad shoulders of a swimmer, Shipley's rapid rise into the political frontline started when she leapfrogged to the National Party frontbench just two years after entering politics in 1987. Appointed Social Welfare Minister after National swept to power in 1990, the former school teacher led the dismantling of much of what was left of New Zealand's welfare state. The policy was unpopular and, along with her mentor, the right-wing former finance minister Ruth Richardson -- one of the coun- try's most vilified figures -- Shipley saw protesters opposed to the welfare cuts burning her effigy in the streets. After the 1993 election, when Richardson was dumped, Shipley survived and moved on to the more challenging health portfolio where she had limited success selling reforms to the public. After October's election, Bolger moved her out of health in an effort to smooth his new coalition government's relationship with its junior coalition partner New Zealand First, which wanted more spent on health and welfare. As minister for state enterprises, Shipley attempted to push on with privatisation, against the spirit and even the text of National's coalition agreement with NZ First. A staunch conservative, Shipley is not afraid to tackle controversial, contemporary issues such as sex education for teenagers and cheap accessible contraception. Born Jennifer Mary Shipley on February 4, 1952, one of four daughters of a Presbytarian minister and his wife, she spent most of her childhood in Blenheim -- a small South Island town. Her father, a skilled speaker, was a strong and significant influence, instilling in the tomboy Shipley confidence and the values of leadership. She is a highly articulate presenter, with a deex, mello voice she rate{ an assmt, thouoh few call her an intellectual. She is married with two children.

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