Business

Sallyanne Atkinson AO FAIM, FAICD, FAPI is a Business Leader and Former Politician.

Sallyanne began an arts degree at The University of Queensland, before becoming a journalist on the Brisbane Telegraph from 1960 to 1962, the Sydney Telegraph from 1962 to 1963, and The Courier-Mail from 1963 to 1964. She completed her Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in History and Political Science, in 1967. She was Lord Mayor of Brisbane from 1985 to 1991 and to date has been the only woman to have held this position.

Sallyanne was the College Council President from 2009 to 2020. In honour of Sallyanne’s leadership and service, in 2021 the College renamed ‘Old Wing’ – the building where she resided at The Women’s College in 1960 – to the Sallyanne Atkinson Building. 

• B. Arts (1967), The University of Queensland
• Doctor of the University honoris causa (2007), The University of Queensland

• AO in recognition of service to the community and local government (1993)
• Centenary Medal for distinguished service to local government and to business (2001)
• UQ Alumnus of the Year (2014)
• Queensland Greats Award (2014)

Bobbie Brazil AO is a business leader and philanthropist. She is a former solicitor who assisted local, state and federal governments in multiple capacities. She served as Deputy Chancellor of the University of Southern Queensland prior to being appointed Chancellor and serving eight years in this position, one of few women in Australia who have held this office.

• M. Business (1998), The University of Queensland
• B. Laws (1987), The University of Queensland
• B. Arts (1966), The University of Queensland

• AO for distinguished service to tertiary education governance, to agricultural, environmental and resource management organisations, and to women in rural and regional areas. (2017)
• Centenary Medal for distinguished service to education as Deputy-Chancellor of the University of Southern Queensland. (2001)

Katherine (Kate) Eccles OAM is a Business Leader and Environmentalist. She is President of The Mosman Parks & Bushland Association. For many years, Kate has been active in bush regeneration work on the headlands of Sydney Harbour, in particular, the Mosman peninsula.

• B. Arts, The University of Queensland

OAM for service to conservation and the environment. (2021)

The Honourable Anna Bligh AC resided at The Women’s College in 1978, during her first year of studying a Bachelor of Arts degree at The University of Queensland (UQ).

Before entering politics, Anna worked for various community organisations. She was then first elected to the State Parliament in 1995. In July 2005, Anna was promoted to Deputy Premier, and was subsequently promoted to Queensland Premier in 2007. In office from 2007 to 2012, Anna served as the 37th Premier of Queensland. After retiring from politics, Anna was appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Banking Association, a role she held from 2017 to 2025.

• B. Arts (1981), The University of Queensland
• Doctor of Laws honoris causa (2010), The University of Queensland

• AC for eminent service to the Parliament of Queensland, particularly as Premier, to infrastructure development and education reform, as an advocate for the role of women in public life, and to the not-for-profit sector. (2017)
• UQ Vice-Chancellor’s Alumni Excellence Award (2023)

Peta is Chair of The Board Of Directors at Wide Bay Hospital and Health Service, Director at Gladstone Ports Corporation, and a Non-Executive Director at LifeFlight.

• Cert. Business Administration, Queensland University of Technology (2000)
• M. Science, Griffith University
• B. Arts, The University of Queensland (1992)

OAM for service to community health, and to business. (2024)

Sally Loane AM is a Chair, Non-Executive Director, business leader and former journalist and broadcaster.

A Chair of Destination NSW and Ignition Advice, Sally also sits on the board of Chubb Insurance Australia and the Garvan Medical Research Foundation. She is a member of the Advisory Board of consulting firm Orizontas and a mentor with McCarthy Mentoring.

Sally’s passion is women’s financial independence and economic security, and to this end has utilised her experience in financial services policy development, mentoring women (Minerva Network; Super Stars of STEM) and has advised government via corporate advisory boards on domestic violence prevention and fostering women’s economic independence.

She has had a long history of service to the community and charity sectors, currently as a Trustee of the ANZAC Memorial Building in NSW, Governor of the Cerebral Palsy Research Foundation, Ambassador for Business Events Sydney and a member of Chief Executive Women. 

• Bachelor of Arts, The University of Queensland

AM for significant service to business in board and governance roles, to charitable organisations, and to broadcasting. (2025)