Wendy McCarthy AO started her career as a secondary school teacher. Ms McCarthy moved out of the classroom into public life in 1968 and had since worked for change across the business, government and not-for-profit sectors in education, family planning, human rights, public health, overseas aid and development, conservation, heritage, and media. Ms McCarthy held many significant leadership roles in key national and international bodies including eight years as deputy chair of the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, ten years as chancellor of the University of Canberra, and 12 years as chair of Plan Australia with three years as global deputy chair for Plan International. She has just retired after 15 years as chair of McGrath Estate Agents and seven years as chair of the Pacific Friends of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. Ms McCarthy currently chairs headspace - the National Youth Mental Health Foundation and Circus Oz, and is non-executive director of Goodstart Early Learning. She is a Patron of the Sydney Women's Fund and Ambassador for 1 Million Women. Ms McCarthy was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia for outstanding contributions to community affairs, women's affairs and the Bicentennial celebrations, and received a Centenary of Federation Medal for business leadership. She was also awarded an Honorary Doctorate from the University of South Australia.
