JULY 2018
22
GENAZZANO FCJ COLLEGE
Sally Ann Howe (O’Callaghan, 1980) What year did you commence at Genazzano and how did you feel about attending the same school that your mother went to? I commenced in Prep at Grange Hill in 1968 and knew it was where Mum had attended school and boarded from the age of six! Can you take us through your career progression after you graduated from Genazzano in 1980? Following Year 12, I deferred an Arts/Law degree and chose to take up an offer at St Vincent’s Hospital in 1981 to commence Nursing. I graduated from St. Vincent’s in 1984 then worked at Cabrini in the mid-80s as a graduate nurse before travelling and working overseas for 18 months. On return to Australia I undertook a Post Graduate course in Peri-Operative Nursing back at St Vincent’s, staying there for three years before accepting a role back at Cabrini Health in 1990. This was a new strategy in Australian private healthcare and I remained in that role for six years, learning the business and commercial aspects of a privately operated Not For Profit faith-based health service, whilst commencing governance and other industry leadership roles and initiatives. I remained at Cabrini and moved into a more strategic role across the organisation as Director of Integrated Care, responsible for leading and developing ambulatory services, a first in private health in Victoria. Now as Director of Business & Service Development, I oversee strategic and collaborative leadership with a broad range of stakeholder interests, commercialising strategic ambulatory and community partnerships in the context of a privately funded NFP healthcare business. I have completed post graduate qualifications in health, governance and business management with broad NFP and cross sectorial experience. I currently hold Non-Executive Director roles and am a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. What has been your major life and career achievement so far? My life achievement thus far, shared jointly with my husband Nick, has been the honour of raising two very thoughtful and accomplished daughters, Georgie and Ellie. After graduating from secondary school in Melbourne, both travelled to the U.S. on Rowing Scholarships to study a four year Undergraduate Degree – Georgie at Princeton University and Ellie at the University of California Berkeley. My career highlights revolve around having had the opportunity to diversify my executive skills, whilst at the same time contributing at a governance level to meaningful stewardship and the importance of ethical decision making and leading culture.
Sally Ann Howe (O’Callaghan, 1980).
We have many outstanding teachers at Genazzano, can you recall a particular teacher that you were grateful for during your time at Genazzano? I had many great teachers, however Ann McGee was my Year 12 English and Literature teacher – she was so inspiring. Why do you think it’s important to stay connected to Genazzano and what advice would you give to other Alumnae looking to stay connected or reconnect with the College? Use all the College marketing and distribution channels available to you and stay in touch, such as the Genazzano platform for Alumnae called GenUnite. Why do you think girls’ education is important and why are you grateful that you attended an all girls’ school?
Girls’ education is, and always has been, important.
It is pleasing to see that school curriculums and the broader education agenda now actively promote ethical, passionate and ambitious women of action who can pave the way and pioneer for future female leaders in and out of the classroom.