Pauline Marcus Griffin was born in Sydney on 21 December 1925. She completed a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Sydney in 1946 and a Diploma of Social Studies in 1947. She was a social worker with the Local Board of Health, City of Adelaide 1947-1949, and with the Commonwealth Department of Immigration 1949-1951. Griffin became personnel manager for Bradmill Industries Ltd 1953-1973 and for Ethnor Pty Ltd 1973-1975. She was appointed to Commissioner of the Australian Conciliation and Arbitration Commission and the Industrial Relations Commission 1975-1990. During this period she was a member of the Commonwealth Committee of Inquiry into Education and Training 1976-1979, Chair of the National Committee on Discrimination in Employment and Occupation 1982-1986, and was appointed to the Australian National University Council in 1978. Her involvement with the ANU included her appointment as the University Pro-Chancellor in 1991 until her retirement from this position and from Council on 13 November 1998. She was chair of the National Committee on Discrimination in Employment and Education and a member of the 4th National Women’s Consultative Council in the 1990s. Griffin was a member of numerous University committees including the Higher Degrees Committee 1990-c.1993; Governing Body of Fenner Hall 1992-1998; Deputy Chair, Appeals Committee 1993–c. 1995; Chair, Appeals Committee 1996–1998; Chair, Public Affairs Committee 1996–1999; Building and Grounds Committee 1999–2000; Chair, Foundation for the Visual Arts 2003–2005.