New horizons
IN THE SECOND HALF of last year, the College Council embarked on a refresh of the College’s strategy, responding to recent shifts in the tertiary and residential college landscapes. The resulting strategy, a summary of which can be found on the College website, reaffirms our core values of community and connection, and sets some new goals for the years ahead. As we move into the College’s next phase, Council will consider options for sensitive growth of the Women’s community, and ways to enhance the amenity and aesthetics of our campus. Deepening engagement with our alumnae and the broader community, and enhancing our philanthropic programs, will continue to be important, and we hope to launch a new program in the near future, connecting students and alumnae though our global network.
This issue of the Magazine features alumna Emily Edmonds on the cover. Emily held the starring role in Opera Australia’s Sydney season of Massenet's Cinderella, performed in the Opera House from January to March this year. Emily was joined by fellow alumnae musicians Anna Albert and Beverly Kwan, both of whom performed in the orchestra for the show. A spotlight on other alumnae in the arts includes an interview
with author Sophie Clark, whose young-adult debut novel Cruel is the Light recently hit the bestseller list in the UK. We also give a sneak preview of College’s new maker space, currently under construction in the Vere Hole Resource Centre. Named in memory of alumna Mary Andersen, the new design studio will cater to students undertaking architecture, visual arts, textiles and design, giving them a dedicated space to express their creativity.
College was pleased to catch up with former Council members and Senior Students Mary Walker OAM and Jane Diplock AO, whose friendship has remained steadfast over a number of decades while they have pursued stellar international careers. Current student Sophie Fletcher and her mentor Elisabeth Tondl are another pair featured, whose connection has literally gone nuclear. There is a short feature story on our Alumnae in the Academy, profiling three former students who are tackling the big topics of the day through their academic research in law, medicine and classics. With additional articles on current students and alumnae, we hope this issue of the Magazine will resonate with all generations of readers.
DR TIFFANY D o NN ellY PRIN c IPA
THE WOMEN ’ S COLLEGE
The Women’s College Magazine is published annually to report on the activities of the College. Our students study across a range of degrees and our alumnae cover many fields of professional endeavour. The Magazine exists to tell the stories of this proud and unique women’s institution.
The Women’s College 15 Carillon Avenue
The University of Sydney NSW 2006 Australia www.thewomenscollege.edu.au
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Registrar +61 2 9517 5018 Alumnae & Philanthropy +61 2 9517 5032
Postal PO Box 743 Broadway NSW 2007 Australia
@TheWomensCollege
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ISSN 2204-1028
Design Katie Sorrenson
Cover Emily Edmonds photographed by Victoria Cadisch
Additional photography
Victoria Cadisch, Daniel Cohen, Guy Davies, Flinders Foundation, David Hannah and Monash Business School, Rhiannon Hopley, Marinco Kojdanovski, Women's College Archives, staff, students and alumnae.
We acknowledge the Gadigal People of the Eora Nation as the traditional custodians of the land on which The Women's College stands.
WOMEN IN FOCUS
AWARDS & R eco GNITI o N Celebrating recent alumnae achievements and awards 6 em I lY e D mo NDS
In the starring role of Opera Australia's latest production Cinderella 8
TH e STRING S ec TI o N
Beverly Kwan and Anna Albert in the orchestra pit for Cinderella 13
S o PHI e cl ARK
Debut novel Cruel is the Light hits the bestseller’s list. 16
PHoeBe BRITTeN Advocating for change 14
WOMEN IN THE WORLD
WOMEN GIVING BACK
Coming together
Highlighting recent alumnae events including Wisteria Lunch and the Bathurst and Central West Reunion.
ALL IMAGES L-R
TOP: Alumnae reunion at Abercrombie House in Bathurst, NSW; Hana Yusoff performing at the Katrina Dawson Foundation Concert; Isabel Freudenstein, Lily Helene and Annabel Whitehouse at Mentoring Formal Dinner.
MIDDLE: 1980s reunion in the Sibyl Centre; Ruth Barry and Elizabeth Hume OAM; Wisteria Lunch guest speaker Jennifer Giles.
BOTTOM: Angela Frith, Sarah DacresManning and Annie Fenwicke at the Alumnae Awards; Ann Begg, Lara Meers and Philippa Childs at lunch in Bathurst; 1960s reunion with Pamela Hayes, Hilary Steel, Anne Roxburgh and Kerrie Barnett.
IN FOCUS
1.
This environment where everyone is cheering you on has been incredibly formative. You can never underestimate the value of having people in your corner.
Celebrating the achievements of our alumnae in the arts, business, and public life.
Awards & recognition
HeATHeR RIDoUT Ao [LAUGHLIN: 1972-74] was awarded Doctor of Business (honoris causa) by the University of Sydney in recognition of her contributions to industry, government and the Australian economy and society. A distinguished alumna with a decades-long career in business and public affairs, Heather is currently Australia’s Consul-General in New York.
KAREN NES [2013-15] was selected as one of the 40 Under 40 Future Leaders 2024 by Private Equity International.
Karen is Associate Portfolio Manager, Private Equity at Aware Super, UK.
LISA KENNEDY [2009-11] won a National Contemporary Art Prize – People’s Choice Award 2024 for her graphite drawing of a wedge-tailed eagle, “Feeling A Little Ruffled.” A veterinarian and artist, Lisa has recently released her first picture book, There is Time (Little Steps Publishing).
LAURA BELL [2004-06] was nominated for her musical work on Netflix film Happy Ending, and Gusto Entertainment's Goodbye Stranger, as well as Rising Star for Music Supervision at the 2024 Global Music + Sound Awards.
NIcolA DABBoUSSY [2021-22], a Criminal Defence Lawyer and 2021-22 alumna, was recognised as a 2024 Doyle’s Guide Rising Star for criminal law. She practises at MacDougall & Hydes Lawyers in Sydney.
LULU CARTER [2014-16], Senior Account Director at public relations firm FieldHouse Associates, was recently named Young Communicator of the Year at the UK’s national Public Relations and Communications Association Awards.
KYANA CHAN [2018-20] was part of a winning team pitching beauty booking app, Bella, at the 2024 Genesis competition, a University of Sydney Business School initiative which supports promising startups through mentoring from experts and an award of $30,000.
LEYLA MEHARG [2022] received an Erasmus Mundus scholarship to pursue a Masters in Global Forestry, hosted across four European universities with specialisations in forest ecology: Copenhagen in Denmark, Padua in Italy, Montpellier in France and French Guiana in South America.
GeoRGIA PRITcHARD [2014-16] won B&T’s 30 Under 30 award for strategy. A rising star in media and marketing, Georgia is Planning Director at advertising startup Howatson + Company.
THE KING’S BIRTHDAY HONOURS 2024 COMPANION IN THE ORDER OF AUSTRALIA (AC)
PR o F e SS o R KAR e N c ANF ell AC [1987-89]
For eminent service to medicine as an epidemiologist, particularly through cancer research, to tertiary education, and as a mentor and leader.
MEDAL (AM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION
eme RITUS PR o F e SS o R THEA CHARLOTTE BROWN AM [1958-61]
For significant service to social welfare, particularly through family violence and child protection research.
MEDAL (OAM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION
PR o F e SS o R ASHA cl AR e BOWEN OAM [1998-99] For service to medicine in the field of clinical diseases.
AUSTRALIA DAY HONOURS 2025
MEDAL (OAM) IN THE GENERAL DIVISION
m RS c ATH e RIN e JANE PALETHORPE [LESSLIE: 1963-65] For service to music administration.
The 2025 Opera Australia production of Cinderella was designed to appeal to a broad audience. First performed at The Metropolitan Opera in New York, the abridged, Englishlanguage version played to packed houses in Sydney. “It was a raucously joyful production,” says Women’s College alumna, Emily Edmonds, who starred in the title role. “There’s a freshness and a joy to Australian audiences – we have a real openheartedness about what we come and see.” Not only was the production a first for Australian opera lovers, it was also Emily’s first time performing for Opera Australia and first time singing on stage in front of her 3-year-old daughter, Indyana.
Cinderella story
W o RDS BY JU l I e lee
PH oTo GRAPHY BY VI c To RIA c ADIS c H & RHIANN o N H o P le Y
EMILY EDMONDS has faced her share of personal and professional challenges in recent years. “The pandemic was really hard for artists, and my international life was necessarily curtailed,” she says. “I also had a baby, so I was in those deep throws of postpartum and struggling with that redefinition of self.”
Luckily for her though, a careerdefining opportunity was just around the corner: the title role in Opera Australia’s production of Massenet’s Cinderella (Cendrillon). “This was a really significant role,” Emily says. “Finding out that I got it was pretty miraculous.”
Fittingly, Emily was sitting in a theatre when she learnt she’d landed her first role with Opera Australia. “I was turning my phone off before the show started when I got the email,” Emily says. “I turned to my partner and said, ‘My God, I got it!’. Then I had to sit quietly for three hours and watch a play. It was very strange.”
Emily, who calls herself a ‘theatre kid at heart’, was inspired to become an opera singer first by her grandmother and then by a supportive music teacher. “My family is super sporty but my grandmother is very musical and she always fostered that in me,” Emily says. “I also had a singing teacher in high school who had an inkling that this was the kind of voice that I would have.”
From there, Emily, a mezzo-soprano, developed a love of classical music and was on her way to becoming a professional opera singer. “Most of my work has been overseas. I moved to Berlin first and then London,” she says. In 2015, Emily was selected as a Young Artist with the Royal Opera House’s Jette Parker Young Artist Programme in London.
“It’s a prestigious contract that people apply for around the world,” Emily says. “I remember stepping onto the stage for the first time and feeling elation and joy and slight terror that I was walking out to perform in an opera at the Royal Opera House.”
‘I remember stepping onto the stage for the first time and feeling elation and joy and slight terror that I was walking out to perform in an opera at the Royal Opera House’
During her career, Emily has strived to master those emotions and channel them into her performances. “There’s definitely a rush of energy but I wouldn’t call it nerves. I bring practices on board to corral it into something that supports me,” she says. “Over the last decade, I’ve worked really hard to cultivate a presence in the moment, otherwise the moment can pass you by.”
Emily in the title role of Opera Australia’s production of Massenet’s Cinderella (Cendrillon).
Emily has performed globally in such productions as Denis & Katya with Opera Philadelphia; Così fan tutte for Classical Opera Company, London; and Sea Pictures with the Sydney Symphony. More recently, she has performed in Katya Kabanova at the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden and in Le nozze di Figaro with State Opera South Australia. It might be a surprise then that, for someone so dedicated to her craft, Emily’s greatest enjoyment comes not from performing but from the work done behind the scenes. “I love the process. I love rehearsing. For me, being in a room with a team and asking interesting questions, diving into the work, and exploring expression, interpretation and meaning, that really lights me up,” she says. “That kind of teamwork aspect is probably my favourite thing.”
It was that same kind of supportive environment that Emily also found – and loved – at College. “We had this band of Conservatorium students, and we all lived on the same floor. It was really nice to feel like you had community,” she says. Emily attended The Women’s College in the third and fourth years of her degree on a music scholarship. “That meant I could afford to go there – it was really profound to be able to live closer to uni and focus on my studies in that way.”
With a career that has taken her around the world, coming home to perform in Cinderella in Sydney has been a full-circle moment for Emily. “If someone had said to me five years ago –when we were desperately trying to have a child and there was the pandemic and it all felt like it was in ruins – your daughter is going to come and watch you be Cinderella at the Sydney Opera House, that would have just blown my mind,” Emily says. “There are projects that for other artistic reasons have meant so much to me but I think that Cinderella has been profound.”
‘We had this band of Conservatorium students, and we all lived on the same floor. It was really nice to feel like you had community’
And how did she feel having her daughter, Indyana, in the audience? “It was just pure elation and joy – the day that she and my partner came was right up there for me with the day of her birth,” Emily says. “I also went into her daycare to sing for the children because they knew I was doing Cinderella. It was genuinely one of the peaks of my career to be singing for three-year-olds.”
The Women’s College was well represented when the curtain went up on Opera Australia’s Cinderella. While Emily Edmonds was performing onstage, alumnae Beverly Kwan and Anna Albert were making music in the orchestra pit.
The string section
THE OPENING NIGHT of Opera Australia’s Cinderella was special for alumnae Beverly Kwan [2022] and Anna Albert [1997-99]. “It was New Year’s Eve,” Beverly says. “Performing in the Sydney Opera House on such a special night was very exciting and a little nerve-wracking.”
Anna agrees. “I always love opening night of any production. There’s nervous energy around and there’s always a great audience,” she says. “I’d never played Cinderella before – in fact, I’d never even heard the music. It’s always refreshing to play something that’s unknown to most of the orchestra.”
Anna started playing violin at the age of five. “I always enjoyed playing but it wasn’t until much later that I decided it was what I wanted to do,” she says. As well as playing violin in the Opera Australia Orchestra, Anna is the Co-artistic Director of the Sydney Art Quartet. “The intimacy of a string quartet is so magical and being the only person playing your particular role is something I really enjoy. On the other hand, there’s nothing quite like the experience of playing in a full orchestra and being a part of the incredible soundscapes that it can produce.”
Beverly also started playing the violin young but unlike Anna, she’s just setting out on her career. “Cinderella was my first performance playing in an orchestra for a complete opera work,” she says. “Learning music is an emotional rollercoaster. I’ve wanted to quit so many times but here I am, still playing the violin after thirteen years because ultimately I love it.”
Both women agree that being at The Women’s College helped foster their fledgling musical careers. “It was a really supportive environment,” Anna says. Beverly adds: “I’ve spent more time in the Sibyl practice rooms than my own room – having access to such great facilities definitely motivated me to practice more and achieve my goals.”
‘There’s nothing quite like the experience of playing in a full orchestra and being a part of the incredible soundscapes that it can produce’
— Anna Albert
W o RDS BY JU l I e lee
PH oTo GRAPHY
BY m ARIN co
Ko JDAN o VSKI
Current student Phoebe Britten is building the future she wants to live in with a not-for-profit business designed to make university accessible for all.
The change maker
OR MOST PEOPLE
, the first day of law school is about finding the right lecture hall and meeting new people. On Phoebe Britten’s first day, she set about democratising education.
“In our first lecture, we had a former High Court Justice come and speak. He asked everyone to raise their hand if they went to a public school. In this room of 400 people only about 12 hands went up,” Phoebe says. “That shook me to my core. The people who get to go to places like Women’s and who get to participate in these high level degrees go on to be the future leaders of the world. The fact that the campus is not representative of the true diversity of what Australia looks like is a huge issue.”
From that day, Phoebe started thinking about how to solve this challenge and a year later she founded Inspire Tomorrow Education. “We’re a youth-led not-for-profit organisation that provides free online tutoring, as well as scholarship-writing support to kids experiencing disadvantage in NSW and Queensland,” she says. “We’re also in the process of building Australia’s first-ever AI-powered scholarship database.”
Inspire Tomorrow Education has already helped 65 students on their journey to university but according to Phoebe it hasn’t all been smooth sailing. “I think people underestimate how difficult it is to be a young person trying to set up a not-for-profit. I was 19 at the time,” Phoebe says. “It was very hard to get funding and to build a team. I didn’t have a lot of connections and I wanted to start a nationwide organisation.”
When it comes to achieving her goals though, Phoebe admits she is “tenacious”. “I think we all owe it to each other to figure out ways to give back to communities who don’t have as much as us,” she says.
As well as being CEO of Inspire Tomorrow Education and doing a double degree in Arts/ Law, majoring in political economy, Phoebe also represents young people in the Asia-Pacific region at the World Trade Organisation and sits on the Global Youth Committee. This committee is part of the Global Institute of Women’s Leadership, helmed by Julia Gillard. “I spend a lot of time
‘I think we all owe it to each other to figure out ways to give back to communities who don’t have as much as us’
reading reports and giving advice about how we can work with government to make sure the policies we enact are truly reflective of the needs of people in our generation,” Phoebe says.
In part, Phoebe thinks she has the Women’s College to thank for what she has been able to achieve to date. “I would not be able to get the most out of my degree or be able to do all of the work I do if I didn’t have that home away from home,” she says. “Getting to basically grow up in your early 20s around other exceptional young women and have this environment where everyone is cheering you on has been incredibly formative. You can never underestimate the value of having people in your corner.”
Alumna Sophie Clark’s Young Adult romantasy novel Cruel is the Light hits the bestseller’s list.
Sophie's spellbinding debut
Tell us a bit about your experience writing your debut novel?
Sophie Clark: Cruel was inspired by some of my greatest loves. First, and most importantly, Rome. This book is a love letter to the city and to the empire that was. My love for Rome and its history is embodied by my main character Selene, who has a fierce desire to protect Rome and her people. It was really a delight to immerse myself in the fantasy version of one of my favourite cities on earth.
When did you decide to be a writer?
S: When I was a kid, I used to read a lot. A book a day for a while. That didn’t really slow down until I started at Sydney University and had way too much class reading to do. To me, authors seemed like a different species; it really didn’t occur to me to try to do this myself until much, much later. I happened to pick up Red Rising by Pierce Brown and loved it so much I immediately read the whole trilogy. It made me want to try writing, even if it would just be an adventure for me and nobody else. I was working at the Department of the Senate at the time, and really loved the escapism.
What’s it been like meeting your fan base?
S: I was lucky to be in London for my debut hitting the shelves. Cruel was selected to be Fairyloot’s January Book and I had a couple of events with them, and the energy in the room was just amazing. Many of them had already read the book and asked really insightful questions. My readers also brought me gifts, like friendship bracelets with my characters names and a book by an author they knew I loved. When I got back to Australia I had my Sydney launch event where I got to meet my Aussie readers for the first time and it was special in a whole other way.
What’s your advice to budding writers?
S: My best advice for budding writers is to read, read, read. Read widely and a lot! It might feel counter-intuitive to spend your days reading other people’s words, but it really will feed the same fire you need to write. Then, when you’re ready to write your own words, just know that you are your own champion first—try to have confidence in yourself.
Was College part of the journey?
S: While I was in my final year at Women’s I had the amazing experience of being paired up with an editor from Scholastic here in Australia who was at College a few years ahead of me. At the time I was curious about publishing as a possible career path. As it turned out, I went to the University of Melbourne to do my Master of International Relations, but that first glimpse into the intriguing world of publishing probably cracked open the door for me.
Sophie Clark with her debut bestseller
IN THE WORLD
2.
The opportunity to be alongside women learning in lots of different disciplines, and having that rich space and time to exchange ideas, was transformational for me.
To build a better future, we need to ask those hard-to-answer questions – the whys and, even more importantly, the what-ifs. Meet The Women’s College alumnae who have taken on that challenge.
W o RDS BY JU l I e lee
WOMEN IN RESEARCH
NYA ARTHURS, Estelle Wallingford and Eleanor Cowan each attended The Women’s College at different times, but they all share the same experience of the community they found there. “When you start as an undergrad everything feels open-ended, so it was inspiring to talk to postgrad students and see what they were doing with their research,” Anya says. “ I remember thinking ‘I want to know this much about something one day’.”
The women – who moved into varied areas of academia and research –all agree that the framework they found at the College helped them on their journey. “The supportive element goes beyond pastoral care,” Estelle says. “It extends into your development as a professional individual. Having alumnae come and talk about their experiences – and things like the senior college debates – fosters intellectual curiosity. If you want to be an academic you have to be curious – Women’s definitely supports that ethos.”
Eleanor agrees: “The opportunity to be alongside women learning in lots of different disciplines, and having that rich space and time to exchange ideas, was transformational for me.”
After leaving The Women’s College, Anya, Estelle and Eleanor have forged strong careers in research, asking questions and solving problems that, in some cases, haven’t even been thought of yet.
“ IT’S REALLY EXCITING THAT I HAVE A JOB WHERE I’M LITERALLY PAID TO THINK OF WHAT WOULD BE COOL TO KNOW THAT NO ONE ELSE KNOWS YET.”
- DR ANYA ARTHURS, MOLECULAR BIOLOGIST
DR ESTELLE WALLINGFORD [2015-17]
LECTURER AND LEGAL ACADEMIC
MONASH BUSINESS SCHOOL, MONASH UNIVERSITY
Estelle Wallingford works in the in-between space where futuristic tech – like AI – stops being theoretical and is fully operational. Her research focuses on the legal implications associated with deployed emerging technologies.
“There are two sides to how we deal with artificial intelligence legally. There’s the regulatory side, which is really important, but in my view – to a certain extent – the horse has already bolted. AI is out there, we’re using it, it’s causing problems.
I focus on the liability side and what happens when things go wrong. We had the industrial revolution and the law took a while to respond to that but we ended up getting new standards for workplace conduct and protection rights for employees.
The difference with AI is that you’ve got the potential for an AI system to be an independent actor of itself. Agentic AI is expected to go boom later this year and suddenly we’ll have AI systems capable of not only responding to instructions but also devising their own instructions and executing their own actions.
That necessitates some careful thinking around how we respond to it legally because it’s changing so quickly. We need to be more proactive and plan ahead – it’s important we at least leave scope for breathing room.
There are a lot of benefits to AI and you take the good and the bad. I hope my research enables us to use AI in an appropriate way. We don’t want to clip its wings on the good front, but we do want to have scope so that if it goes rogue, we’ve got a framework to address that legally."
DR ELEANOR COWAN
[CHAMBERS: 1996-2001]
LECTURER IN ROMAN HISTORY
THE UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY
Eleanor Cowan is a historian of the ancient Roman world. Her research collaborations focus on three areas: communities that experienced and then recovered from conflict; criminal and civil law in the ancient world; and domestic abuse in ancient Rome.
“Public interest in ancient Rome tends to be around imperialism, the army and gladiators. Part of what we want to do in this work is to think about ancient Rome in a different way. Our current project is to see how we can start to rewrite ancient Rome through a lens that looks at the experience of gendered violence – particularly the experience of domestic abuse. There’s an extraordinary amount of evidence either directly for domestic abuse or for the attempts to avoid it or regulate it.
The questions we ask of the ancient past tell us a lot about who we are now. They also shine a light on what our discipline has looked like historically and where its focus has been. We’ve had to be quite bold in our approach and move to a place where we’re more confident to ask and answer these questions, but also better equipped in our classrooms to have these conversations [about domestic violence].
Ancient Rome is an exciting field to research – there’s a perception that people have been writing and thinking about this material for hundreds of years and all the questions have been asked, but that’s definitely not the case. The domestic violence project reminded me that this field and this material is still foundational to so much of what we do and there’s still work to be done.”
DR ANYA ARTHURS
[GORE: 2011-13]
FUTURE MAKING FELLOW THE UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
Anya Arthurs is a molecular biologist who studies placenta and the coding of genes to determine what went right – or wrong – in pregnancies. Her end goal is to eliminate stillbirth.
“I’m looking into genes that never quite get turned on. Why did they not get turned on? And why did that contribute to a pregnancy complication?
Every pregnancy that’s low risk means there’s less time in NICU or less time with a mother on high risk support, which means that it’s better for the economy, as well as the mums. My specific work though is looking at preventing stillbirth. I want to find a way to use a blood test to detect who is at risk of having a stillbirth before it actually happens. About a third of stillbirths occur with no warning.
In the future, there's long-term research with nanoparticles that we could be putting into therapeutics, to release directly at the placenta, keeping it functioning and the baby healthy. In the short term, I have a patent for the use of a particular type of molecule to detect stillbirth risk in maternal blood. We’re getting more data together and then hopefully we’ll be able to start working with some industry partners.
I really love working on the placenta. It’s completely unique. It’s also really exciting that I have a job where I’m literally paid to think of what would be cool to know that no one else knows yet.”
From Tamworth to Dubbo, and Canberra to Coffs Harbour, our student ambassadors are travelling the state to promote the benefits of Women’s College to prospective students.
SOFT DIPLOMACY
ACH YEAR, College recruits over one hundred student ambassadors to help broaden the reach to school students who may not know about Women’s College. It has proven to be a successful strategy in helping to increase student diversity in the College intake. This year, the student ambassador program is led by second-year convenors, Victoria Chua and Aisha Bissett, who undertake the task of recruiting and training ambassadors, and delegating promotional activities, including countless tours of College and visits to tertiary Expos around the state. “I want to ensure that prospective students and their families feel welcomed, informed, and excited about the possibility of joining the Women’s community. Creating a warm, authentic first impression of College is something I want to prioritise throughout the year,” says Victoria.
The advantages of having current College students talk to prospective applicants are many, not least of which is the chance to hear about College life from someone who is experiencing its benefits right now, and who was in the applicant’s shoes only a short time ago. “The key message I want prospective students to take away is that Women’s College is not just a place to live,” says Victoria, “it’s a community that genuinely wants to see you succeed and feel at home. From the moment you arrive, you’re surrounded by a network of inspiring, supportive women who will uplift you, challenge you, and celebrate your wins. Whether it’s through academic support, leadership opportunities, or the friendships you form, Women’s helps you grow into the best version of yourself. It’s a place where you’re truly encouraged to thrive, both within and beyond your university life.”
If you’d like to speak to a student ambassador, or arrange a school visit, please contact the Registrar, Anne-Maree McCarthy registrar@thewomenscollege.edu.au
Clockwise from the top, Maya Barnett at Open Day; Ready and waiting to meet prospective students and families; Saachi Arora and Noha Kamel at the Western Sydney Careers Expo; Victoria Chua and Aisha Bissett; Connecting with students participating in the University of Sydney’s Gadalung Program.
DIFFERENT SCHOOLS ARE REPRESENTED IN THE 2025 FIRST-YEAR COHORT
2025 FIRST-YEAR COHORT BREAKDOWN
16% INTERNATIONAL
RURAL AND REGIONAL
50% OF STUDENTS RECEIVED AN ANNUAL AVERAGE MARK (AAM) OF 75 OR HIGHER 43%
OF RESIDENTS IN 2025 ARE SUPPORTED BY A SCHOLARSHIP
THE TWO OF US
In the 1970s, Jane Diplock and Mary Walker were shaping policy as Senior Students. Now, the longtime friends are setting the agenda on a global scale.
Women’s College 1976 portrait. 3rd row centre. Second Year Representative Mary Walker, Principal Leonie Star, Vice-Principal Jill Wilson and Senior Student Jane Diplock.
JANE DIPLOCK AO
[1968-69; 1975-77]
International Company Director and Board Member
Mary and I immediately clicked. I was the only person from my school coming to College so it was a little daunting but Mary was a welcome beacon, and we really bonded. We have the same general set of values but I think there’s enough of a difference to make us interesting to each other. Our life experiences have also run along parallel tracks, which is helpful – our conversations pick up when we see each other.
After College, I went into the New South Wales public service and I headed up a number of government departments before I was approached by Westpac to join their investment banking. That’s where I started on the second limb of my career, which was finance.
Now I’m really involved in sustainability and AI with Persefoni, the carbon management and measurement company based in the US, and with the global reporting initiative, the World Benchmarking Alliance. It’s fascinating and challenging too at the moment with the geopolitical situation.
MARY WALKER OAM
[GHANTOUS: 1975-78]
Barrister, 9 Wentworth Chambers
Jane had been at the College for a couple of years before I got there and she seemed to know a lot more than I did. She was very sophisticated and I was this country bumpkin. We got to know each other in the dining room, and we took to each other.
While I was studying, I worked in the legal department at Consolidated Press, then I worked at [law firm] Henry Davis York before I became an associate to a judge, and then went to the Bar.
Serendipity knocked on my door in 1990 when I was in hospital having my first child. I received a phone call from my professor of criminology saying there’s a group coming from the US teaching Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) and I think you’d like it. Six weeks later, the Law Society announced a new program where matters from the Supreme Court were referred to mediation.
JULIE LEE
BY
Although we were in different streams, Mary has been a helpful sounding board. We’ve both understood the challenges of working with different cultures and being enriched by them, but there are also some misunderstandings that arise. Her experiences have been helpful – it’s been a two-way street and there’s always been a feeling of support.
The Women’s College gave us a safe space to explore the sort of things we’d like to do. Mary followed me as Senior Student and that was a ‘first go’ at leadership. It required diplomacy and that was a great learning experience.
Our relationship has been a lifetime of friendship and communication and even though I live in New Zealand and Mary is in Sydney, we try to have holidays in each other’s places. I’ve watched her children grow and mature into brilliant adults and it’s been such a joy. If I had not gone to The Women’s College none of these lovely relationships would have developed.
When serendipity knocks, don’t neglect to open the door and have a look, because I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now if I hadn’t. ADR has given me the opportunity to be creative in the law.
Jane delved into the international scene before I did – I had two children and I was focused domestically until the kids became older. Then I started to explore opportunities with the International Bar Association and appearing before the UN. Recently I’ve been working with the Judicial Council of Mongolia.
The Women’s College helped me to understand everything from corporate structures and corporate governance through to mentoring and working in teams. It’s a microcosm of very intelligent, wonderful women.
Over the years, Jane and I spent quite a bit of time apart. Before there were mobile phones, everything was slow mail. But when we’d catch up, it was like no time had passed whatsoever. We have a really lovely relationship.
WORDS
Mentor Elisabeth Tondl and mentee Sophie Fletcher are vocal supporters of the College’s longstanding professional mentoring program.
SCIENCE OF MENTORSHIP
ELISABETH WORKS as a Research Scientist: Contaminant Geochemist in the Environment Research and Technology Group at the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (ANSTO), where her current project assesses risks to the environment of leaving decommissioned subsea oil and gas pipelines in place. After completing her undergraduate and postgraduate science degrees whilst at College, Elisabeth attributes her early career success to a strong foundation of supportive networks, especially “the many wise official and unofficial mentors” she acquired, at College and elsewhere.
In 2024, Elisabeth agreed to mentor current student Sophie Fletcher, a connection now in its second year. Sophie cites Elisabeth’s mentoring as the catalyst for her current Chemistry Honours project at ANSTO. Her meetings with Elisabeth “demystified the process of finding an interesting project and highlighted the benefits of a full year in developing my research skills and fostering my love of science,” says Sophie. A tour of ANSTO with Elisabeth was the decider.
Sophie’s Honours project centres on developing materials to store spent nuclear waste safely and sustainably. Having a shared sense of purpose with strong role models has helped enormously with getting her to this point, Sophie notes. “Many STEM students may initially feel apprehensive or intimidated by male-dominated STEM classes. Belonging to a community of intelligent and supportive women in STEM at College quells these feelings of doubt or isolation that come along with gender disparity in STEM courses.”
As Sophie’s mentor, Elisabeth says she will continue to be a “tireless cheerleader” for Sophie’s future career, as well as actively supporting the next generation of Women’s scholars in their research endeavours.
me NTo R
DR el ISAB e TH To ND l [2011-20] Contaminant Geochemist at ANTSO
me NT ee
S o PHI e F le Tc H e R [2022-CURRENT] STEM student
Elizabeth showing Sophie around the lab at the Australian Institute of Nuclear Science and Engineering (ANTSO)
GIVING BACK
3.
The new strategy reinvigorates the College’s core approach, which views access to education as a pathway to a more equitable future.
In late 2024, the Women’s College Council released its refreshed College strategy, defining its key focus and goals for the next five years.
Wise Council
ITH AN EMPHASIS on connection and community, the new strategy reinvigorates the College’s core approach, which views access to education as a pathway to a more equitable future. Diversity remains a vital component in creating a supportive and inclusive College community that provides opportunities for women to be confident scholars, leaders and contributors to society throughout their lives.
With a new set of goals to work towards, including building the College’s philanthropic culture, developing our assets and infrastructure and creating global connections for students and alumnae, Council has welcomed new members to continue the work and to bring a fresh perspective. A new Chair and Deputy Chair have also been appointed.
Rowena Newman was elected new Chair of Council in early 2025. Rowena takes the reins after the retirement of former Chair Samantha Gavel, who had served the maximum twelve year term on Council. Fiona Beatty is the new Deputy Chair, following the retirement of Honor McFadyen. Three new elected Councillors have joined the committee this year: Kristin Auld, Christa Lenard and Bridget Sweeney.
While the new strategy identifies new directions for Council to explore, in many ways, the College’s restated purpose says it all: to inspire, connect and empower women.
Clockwise from top left, Rob Brown, Kristin Auld, Annie Fenwicke, Sue Weston, Renae Ryan, Christa Lenard, Fiona Beatty, Rowena Newman, Louise Carroll and Bridget Sweeney.
COUNCIL MEMBERS
2025-26
CHAIR
ROWENA NEWMAN [1992-95]
BSc (Hons I)
HONORARY TREASURER
PETER WILSON
BCom (Hons) LLB
COUNCILLORS
KRISTIN AULD [1993-95]
BSc (Hons) BNurs
LOUISE CARROLL [2009-11, 2013]
BCom CEMS
ANNIE FENWICKE
[CLISSOLD: 1984-86]
BA LLB (Hons) MEd
GAICD
DEPUTY CHAIR
FIONA BEATTY
[O'DONNELL: 1997-2000]
BA/LLB LLM
FELICITY LEHANE [1998-2001]
BA LLB LLM
CHRISTA LENARD [1997-2000]
BA (Hons) LLB (Hons)
MARY STEWART [1989-92]
MBBS MPH MForensMed
Newly elected Chair Rowena Newman with Deputy Chair Fiona Beatty.
FR om TH e c HAIR
I came to Women’s College from Mudgee High School in 1992 and stayed until 1995. It is difficult to describe the transformational impact of those four years. Suffice to say that I left with lifelong friends, a burning desire to make the world a better place, and the confidence to try.
Having been part of Council for three years, it is a joy to see the College is thriving. Applications and academic results are at an all-time high and the sporting and cultural programs are going well. I’m looking forward to helping steward Women’s into the future.
I feel privileged to have been elected to the position of Chair of Council and I am excited about working with the Council and management.
— Rowena Newman, 2025 Chair
BRIDGET SWEENEY [2007-09]
BApp Sc MHealth Sc
SUE WESTON PSM [1980-82]
BSc GradDip Accounting GAICD FCPA CA
EX-OFFICIO MEMBERS
ROBERT BROWN
BA LLB
Advisor to the Building & Development Committee
TIFFANY DONNELLY
BA (Hons) MA MCW PhD Principal of The Women’s College
RENAE RYAN AM
BSc (Hons) PhD GAICD Senate Representative
ANGELA FRITH [1984-87]
BCom/BA CA
President, Women’s College Alumnae
MAHIDI RANASINGHE
Senior Student 2025
Three friends living in Maples navigate their doctoral journey together.
Friends and doctorates
COLLEGE HAS a small, tight-knit group of postgraduate students, three of whom are in the midst of demanding PhD programs. Monika Popovski, Prisca Akpabio and Noha Kamel say they are glad to have the support of College and each other during the solo process of research and writing. “It’s lovely to be part of a small community and also to have a chance to mingle in the larger intercollegiate postgrad community” says Noha. “There’s definitely a big sister element to being ‘older’ students amongst the energy and excitement of the undergrads at Women’s,” Monika adds, “and it’s great to be able to support and encourage them.”
Originally from Sydney, Monika enrolled in her PhD in Education at Melbourne University, before returning to Sydney to write her thesis three years ago. Her topic on global citizenship draws on research related to residential colleges, so being at Women’s has been helpful contextually. She plans to retain her research pursuits regardless of where her career takes her. Prisca and Noha both moved internationally to undertake their PhDs in Sydney, both in the Faculty of Pharmacy. Noha relocated from Egypt to study drug outcomes for outpatients with kidney failure, while Prisca, who is from Nigeria, is exploring an AI model for future drug discovery. Both have their sights set on academic careers.
All three women acknowledge that College has changed the way they approach their futures. Monika says her time at Women’s has broadened her outlook, and helped her build confidence personally and professionally. Prisca agrees. “Looking at the other Women’s girls, a lot of them are super motivated and passionate about what they do,” she says. “When I see confident women who are going out to fulfil their dreams, it empowers me to want to do that for myself.”
Both Prisca and Noha have found the greater freedoms for women in Australia inspiring. Noha had to fight for the opportunity to travel alone to pursue her PhD in Sydney.
An assistant lecturer in Egypt before she came to Australia, Noha’s doctoral qualification will enable her to apply for promotion when she returns. Prisca’s experience was similar. “Growing up, it was emphasised that as women we had to try harder than the boys to make something of ourselves. We had to get a university education in order to be respected in society. I think a college that is for women where we can feel safe, foster relationships and build each other up is very important for society. We don’t have to always race against the boys – we can do our own thing too.”
PhD students and close friends Prisca Akpabio, Noha Kamel and Monika Popovski.
THEN & NOW
WITH A PLAYLIST stacked with 1980s hits, the stage was set for an evening of nostalgic fun. Over a hundred alumnae from the ‘80s gathered in the Sibyl Centre at College on 20 September 2024 for a multi-year reunion, appropriately themed Back to the ‘80s. Attendees embraced the retro styling, complete with big hair, shoulder pads and even a few College Formal outfits, still hiding in wardrobes after forty years. The on-repeat backing track of all-time favourite songs was the perfect complement to a photo loop of shots from College albums and scrapbooks, recalling sporting events, social occasions, theatrical moments and all the fun of College life. As well as catching up with old friends and reliving College days, guests staged a fashion parade dominated by sequins and taffeta, as well as a special appearance from Madonna!
Sharing the memories and tunes from our nostalgic 1980s reunion last spring.
THE NIGHTS PLAYLIST
1. A-ha – Take on Me
2. Bananarama – Venus
3. Black Box – Ride on Time
4. Blondie – Call Me
5. Bonnie Tyler – Total Eclipse of the Heart
6. Bryan Adams – Summer of ‘69
7. Cyndi Lauper – Girls Just Want to Have Fun
8. Dave Dobbyn – Slice of Heaven (ft. Herbs)
9. David Bowie – Let’s Dance
10. Duran Duran – Hungry Like the Wolf
11. Eurythmics – Sisters Are Doin’ It for Themselves
12. George Michael – Faith
13. INXS – Never Tear Us Apart
14. Kim Wilde – You Keep Me Hangin’ On
15. Madonna – Like a Prayer
16. Prince – Rasberry Beret
17. Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up
18. Run-DMC – Walk This Way (ft. Aerosmith)
19. Soft Cell – Tainted Love
20. Survivor – Eye of the Tiger
21. Talking Heads – Burning Down the House
22. The B-52’s – Love Shack
23. The Choirboys – Run to Paradise
24. The Church – The Unguarded Moment
25. The Communards –Don’t Leave Me This Way (with Sarah Jane Morris)
26. The Proclaimers –I’m Gonna Be (500 Miles)
27. Tina Turner – What’s Love Got to Do with It
28. Toto – Africa
29. Simple Minds – Don’t You (Forget About Me)
30. Wham! – Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go
31. Whitney Houston – I Wanna Dance with Somebody (Who Loves Me)
32. Yazoo – Only You
College is repurposing a former computer room in the Vere Hole Resource Centre, giving the space a new life as a design studio.
Studio design
N THE SECOND half of this year, a new creative space for students will open in the Vere Hole Resource Centre in the Reid wing, adjacent to the College library. Named in memory of Women’s College alumna Mary Andersen, the design studio will give architecture and design, fine arts and fashion students a dedicated room to bring their creations to life. The space has been made possible by a generous donation from the Andersen Family Bequest.
Professional Designer Isabella Harris [2018-21], who is currently undertaking her Architect’s registration, drew on her own experience of being an architecture student at College when designing the fit-out for the new space. Having struggled to find space to build her architectural models in her College room, she would often work late at University or sometimes drive home to Mudgee at weekends to complete them on the kitchen table.
“The Maker Space provides a flexible working environment for design students, encouraging collaboration and multidisciplinary engagement, within the College grounds,” says Isabella. “Design spaces are not just rooms; they are catalysts for creativity, collaboration and critical thinking, giving the students at the Women’s College the freedom to realise their ideas in a familiar and safe environment. Such spaces empower students to think spatially, design ethically and create with intention; it is where discipline meets discovery.”
The new space includes adjustable-height desks for sketching, storage for materials, a large central table and wet area. Timber and cork used throughout soften and provide warmth to the space. Cork-lined walls will absorb sound and give ample opportunity for hanging works in progress.
Realised
IN MEMORY OF MARY ANDERSEN
[MITCHELMORE: 1962-64]
Mary was born in Inverell and attended PLC Pymble. She entered Women’s College in 1962 to study a Bachelor of Arts, having won a Commonwealth Scholarship to attend university. She later undertook a Diploma of Librarianship at UNSW. Alongside a variety of teaching and librarian roles in Sydney, Hobart, Wollongong and Papua New Guinea, Mary had a lifelong
interest in ceramics. She was an avid potter, having initially studied an Associate Diploma in Art (ceramics) in the late 1960s.
Dedicating the College’s new design studio to Mary acknowledges her twin loves and career interests as a librarian and potter. One of Mary’s ceramic creations will find a home in the studio, displayed on the newly designed shelves.
The Women’s College acknowledges the generous ongoing support of gifts and contributions received from our community of donors, 1 January to 31 December 2024.
Raising support
Anonymous donors
Antoniette Albert
Isabella Alexander
Pacita Alexander
Alliance OPCP Catering
Victoria Baker
Mary Barton AO
Fiona Beatty
Jeanette Beaumont
Amanda Bell AM
Lucinda Beutler
Christine Biggs OAM
Kerrie Bigsworth
Lucinda Blair
Jenna Boschen
Vicki Brooke
Diana Brookes
Rob Brown
Quentin Bryce AD CVO
Peter Bull
Margaret Burgess AO
Megan Collins
Elizabeth Constable AM
John Copland AO
Rowena Danziger AM
Jennifer Davidson
Rachel Dear
Maria Diaz
Jenifer Diekman
Gillian Eagles
Fardin Eghtedari
Estate of the late
Rachel Grahame
Tim Fairfax AC
Janet Flint
Denise Fung
Olma Gan
Lucinda Garling
Carolyn Gavel
Paul Gavel
Jennifer Giles
Lauren Gough
Carolyn Greenwich
Rebecca Griffin
Jennifer Harrison
Jennifer Hawkins
Hannah Heading
Lindy Henderson
Margaret Henderson
Melissa Heris
Jacqueline Hicks
Suzanne Howarth
Edwina Hunter
Robyn Hurley
Anna Joyce
Katharine & Thyne Reid
Scholarship
Sally Keir
Alisha King
Lisa-Ann Koe
Justine Lai
Anne Le Couteur
Felicity Lehane
Sharon Leow
Jocelyn Lloyd
Maple-Brown Family
Foundation Limited
Brian & Eleanor McCourt
Bride McDermott
Mary McGuirk
Eliza McKendry
Millicent McKendry
Norma McMurray
Scott & Claire Milson
Helen Mitchell
Marjorie (Ann) Moffatt
Barbara Moloney
Helen Murray
Cherry O’Donnell
Robyn Overall
Elizabeth Katherine Palmer
Jane Parker
Janet Elizabeth Phippard
Eleanor Putnam
Hugh Ralston AM
Suzanne Reid
Jade Richardson
Elizabeth Roan
Chloe Roe
Catherine Rothery
Priscilla Roussel
Melanie Rundle
Peter Scudds
Lorna Siah
Sandra Sippe
Melissa Slattery & Michael Slattery AM
Natalie Smith
Scarlett Southey
Jane Spring AM
Leone Steele OAM
Catherine Stewart
Julie Sutton OAM
Sandra Taylor
Cara Taylor
The Andersen Family
Bequest - the Equity Trustees
Charitable Foundation
The Barton Foundation
The Katrina Dawson
Foundation
The University of Sydney
Elizabeth Thompson
Elisabeth Tondl
Skye Topic
Women’s College
Alumnae Association
Women’s College
Students’ Club
Ramila Varendran
Sandra Vignes
Philippa Walsh
Sarah Webster
Penelope Williams
Alice Wilson
Felicity Wilson
Xia Lian Wilson
Gay Windeyer
Josh & Grace Wong
Jonathan Wright
Matthew Wright
Nick Wright
Phaik Yoke Choong Yao
Yim Family Foundation
Senior Student Mahidi Ranasinghe may not have had the most direct path to Women’s, but now she’s deeply committed to upholding its values of courage, inclusion, authenticity and sisterhood.
Shared values
MAHIDI RANASINGHE almost didn’t make it to The Women’s College. Born in Sri Lanka, her family had no plans to raise Mahidi and her brother in Australia. “My dad is a doctor – he was invited to do a two year program in Dubbo, so we moved to Australia,” Mahidi says. “After that was up, we weren’t meant to stay but I think my parents realised the possibilities were better here.”
That was Mahidi’s first obstacle overcome. After Dubbo, the family moved to the Central Coast of NSW and gained permanent residency and then citizenship. “ The opportunities for me have been immeasurable,” Mahidi says. “I don’t think I would’ve been able to do law if I’d been in Sri Lanka.”
Obstacle two was Mahidi’s parents themselves. “They really wanted me to do medicine, so there was some conflict there,” she says. “They had this attitude that medicine is the only path of success, and law for them was a foreign concept.”
While she applied for entry to medicine, Mahidi also put law at Sydney University as a preference. When Mahidi was accepted to Sydney law, she made a deal with her parents. “ I told them I’d change to medicine after my first year, but I didn’t,” she says. “They’ve come around. Now they’re happy with where I’m at.”
Obstacle three was one of logistics. By the time Mahidi had finally worked through what she was going to study, there were no places left at The Women’s College. “I applied for Women’s very late – it was way after I got my offer and the spots were all taken when I did my interview,” Mahidi says. “I was told if a spot opened up they’d call me…and a spot did open up.”
Not only has Mahidi excelled at The Women’s College but this year she stepped into the Senior Student role – a position she takes very seriously. “I guess it’s like an older sister kind of position. It’s somebody that people come to for help,” she says.
Setting the tone and upholding the values of The Women’s College is also important to Mahidi and the House Committee. “We try to set the example of the culture and the environment that we want Women’s to be,” Mahidi says. “ For me, the strongest value is about sisterhood, and that sense of community and support. I say this phrase a lot: ‘No Wizzie is left behind’. It’s the idea of uplifting each other – we grow together and we celebrate everybody else’s achievements.”
As for the future, Mahidi is considering a career in human rights law, where she can explore her love of the profession, as well as continue to help others. “There’s a merit in being able to provide value to someone else’s life,” she says.
Alumnae Committee Notes
AST YEAR MARKED a significant year for the Alumnae Committee as we set out to reinvigorate how we engaged and supported our community. Over 500 alumnae attended events, which was outstanding.
Commencing the year with the annual Alumnae Awards, we welcomed a full house to our dining hall. Jane MacMaster [199093] was awarded the Alumna Award for her outstanding career in defence, consulting and engineering, while the Young Alumna Award went to Danielle Lotzof [2011-14] for founding READucate, a charity tackling literacy issues in the Philippines and South Africa. Jessica Walker [2009-12] was honoured with the Community Achievement Award for her humanitarian work with the United Nations.
With a renewed focus on supporting alumnae entering the workforce, the 2024 Sibyl Leadership Grant was awarded to three exceptional recipients. Following on from the successful Alumnae Mentoring Program, we held our first Industry Networking Forum for Finance and Economics, generously hosted by EY.
To complement our ever popular Wisteria Lunch and Katrina Dawson Foundation Concert events we trialled three new events with great success:
- WIZZIe FIZZ
A social drinks event targeted at recent graduates
- BATHURST & ceNTRAl WeST ReUNIoN
Hosted at the beautiful Abercrombie House
- ‘BACK TO THE 80S’ REUNION
Attended by over 120 alumnae with ~30-40% re-connecting with College for the first time. We look forward to welcoming many of you back to College this year.
ANG el A FRITH
ALUMNAE COMMITTEE 2025-26
PReSIDeNT
Angela Frith [1984-87]
VICE-PRESIDENT
Jennifer Giles [1979-84]
TReASUReR
Lara Meers [2012-15]
SecReTARY
Victoria Harper [MORGAN: 1981-84]
commITTee memBeRS
Ella Bailey [2009-10]
Lucinda Beutler [GOWLLAND: 1975-76]
Hannah Heading [2020-22]
Jade Richardson [2021-23]
Georgina Schmidt [2021-23]
Amelia Sweeney [2012-15]
UPCOMING EVENTS
loNDoN ReUNIoN
Thursday, 26 June
AlUmNAe INDUSTRY FoRUm: lAW
Thursday, 14 August
WISTeRIA lUNcH Saturday, 27 September
KATRINA DAWSoN FOUNDATION CONCERT
Saturday , 6 December
UPDATE YOUR DETAILS TO RECEIVE NOTIFICATIONS FOR FUTURE EVENTS community@ thewomenscollege.edu.au