Julia Gillard predicts it will take 200 years before men and women have equal work and opportunities unless the pace of change speeds up.

The former Australian prime minister is diving back into the gender issue that dogged her leadership with a new role in London.

She has been named the inaugural chair of the new Global Institute for Women's Leadership at King's College.

Ms Gillard, who was prime minister from 2010 to 2013, said she was frustrated female leaders like Britain's Theresa May and New Zealand's Jacinda Ardern were still facing pressure from critics because of their gender.

"From time to time you look at it and shake your head in wonderment that we can still be going through these cycles," she said.

"But I know enough about the research around the world to not be surprised.

"My predominant emotion is one of frustration — 'aren't we there yet, aren't we better than this already'?

A BBC presenter was forced to apologise after commenting on the British Prime Minister's makeup after her poor election result last year.

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And New Zealand Prime Minister Ms Ardern's age and pregnancy have dominated coverage of her first months in office.

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Ms Gillard famously tore into then opposition leader Tony Abbott in a 2012 speech in parliament when she accused him of being sexist and misogynistic.

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Ms Gillard said the new role was personal and the challenge to create change in the way women were treated comes from "deep within".

"I feel like I lived it," she said, while acknowledging that gender did not explain everything about her prime ministership.

"But there was this thread of gender and post getting out I've been able to be more analytical about that thread.

"I lived it but now I can stand back and analyse it and that gives me a good perspective on I how I can create and make change."

The issue of gender equality has taken centre stage over the past six months starting with the Harvey Weinstein scandal and the #MeToo campaign.

The idea of creating the institute was first floated almost two years ago.

"But we are launching in an environment that is highly sensitised around gender questions, so it is a good time," she said.

The former prime minister expects to spend four weeks every six months in London and will continue her roles in Australia including as chair of mental health charity Beyond Blue.