Women of Influence Evening - Celebrating International Women's Day

Rachael McLennan (née Ross, Class of ’94)

Rachael McLennan is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of People for Purpose, encompassing People for Purpose and Govern for Purpose — Australia’s leading provider of leadership and governance talent for the for-purpose sector. She began her career in the commercial sector before intentionally moving into the for-purpose sector 25 years ago.

Since founding the Group in 2012, Rachael has worked with thousands of Australian charities and boards to strengthen governance, support board and CEO succession, and build leadership capability. She currently serves on the Board of the Menzies Foundation for Leadership and the Advisory Councils of Raise Foundation and Hand Heart Pocket, Queensland’s largest philanthropic fund.

Outside of work, Rachael is a mother of three, a role that has sharpened her skills in negotiation, prioritisation and perspective more than any boardroom ever could. She holds a business degree and will complete her Master of Social Impact later this year.

Clare Payne (Class of ’93)

Clare Payne is recognised globally as a leader in ethics and trust. She began her career as a lawyer and went on to manage the integrity office of Macquarie Bank before founding The Banking and Finance Oath, a Hippocratic-style oath for Australia’s finance sector. Prior to the global financial crisis, her paper Ethics or Bust received the inaugural Ethics & Trust in Finance Prize from the Observatoire de la Finance in Geneva.

Clare writes for a range of publications including Harper’s Bazaar and The Australian Financial Review and is the author of two books, A Matter of Trust and One . She has been named a World Economic Forum Young Global Leader and one of Australia’s 100 Women of Influence. An accomplished athlete, Clare has swum solo around Manhattan, a distance of 46 kilometres.

She holds degrees in Communications and Laws, is a Vincent Fairfax Fellow for Ethics in Leadership, and is currently the Ethics, Trust and Transparency Leader for EY Oceania, as well as an Honorary Fellow of The University of Melbourne.

Dr Virginia Small (Class of ’77)

Dr Virginia Small is an experienced academic in the School of Policing Studies in Goulburn, New South Wales, where she educates NSW Police Force students in criminal law, evidence law, and operational policies and protocols.

She is the author of Holding the Blue Line in Australia: Challenges of Media Framing to the NSW Police Force , an influential examination of how mainstream media, social media, political actors and public discourse shape perceptions of policing. Her research explores how these narratives influence public and political responses and, in turn, impact police operations and community safety.

Virginia’s earlier book, Strangling Aunty: Perilous Times for the ABC , drew on extensive interviews and original research to analyse the challenges facing Australia’s public broadcaster in an era of social media disruption. She brings more than 18 years of experience at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation as a broadcaster and journalist, alongside deep academic expertise. Virginia holds a PhD in Communications and two master’s degrees, offering a distinctive blend of corporate, media and scholarly insight.

The Women of Influence Evening is an opportunity for students, families, alumnae and friends of Loreto to come together, celebrate the achievements of women in our community, and reflect on the enduring impact of a Loreto education.

Click here to RSVP.

We look forward to welcoming you for an evening of conversation, connection and inspiration.