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Wendy McCarthy

Wendy McCarthy began her career as a secondary school teacher and remains passionate about the power of education. For 40 years she has been a teacher, educator and change agent in Australian public life. In 2005 she was nominated by the Sydney Morning Herald as one of Australia's Top 100 Public Intellectuals.

She has held executive and non-executive director roles in many private and public institutions including the Australian Federation of Family Planning Associations; the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC); the Australian Bicentennial Authority; the National Better Health Program; the National Trust; Star City; the Australian Heritage Commission; and Symphony Australia.

Her corporate advisory practice McCarthy Management specialises in providing mentors to major corporations and the public sector and assisting these organisations with issues around diversity, leadership and work life balance.

Her advocacy and leadership have been recognised nationally and 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 1996 she was awarded an Honorary Doctorate the University of South Australia and in 2003 she was awarded a Centenary of Federation medal for business leadership.

She has been married to Gordon for 43 years and they have three adult children and three grandchildren.