Wendy McCarthy AO - Principal

Wendy McCarthy is an experienced company director and currently chairs headspace-Australia's National Youth Mental Health Foundation, Circus Oz, McGrath Estate Agents and Pacific Friends of the Global Fund. In addition she is a Director of Goodstart Childcare. In 2009 after 13 years of service to Plan International, she retired from her most recent role as Global Vice Chair. She has held many significant leadership roles in leading national bodies including eight years as deputy Chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Wendy began her career as a secondary school teacher and is passionate about the power of education. For four decades she has been a teacher, mentor, educator and change agent in Australian public life. In 2005 she completed a decade as Chancellor of the University of Canberra She is the author of seven books.

In 1989 she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for outstanding contributions to community affairs, women's affairs and the Bicentennial celebrations. In 2003 she was awarded a Centenary of Federation medal for business leadership and in 2005 she was nominated by the Sydney Morning Herald as one of Australia's Top 100 Public Intellectuals. In 2011 she was featured in the IWD publication The Power of One which profiled 100 women who have shaped Australia.