Explore the history of the College below
Community Leader
In recognition of service to the community. (1980)
Joan Heatley OAM is a Community Leader and founding member of the Burdekin Community Association. She served as a member of the Burdekin Community Association Management Committee for 45 years.
Community & Healthcare Leader
Barbara Page-Hanify OAM was the first woman in Australia to complete a Bachelor of Applied Science (Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy) at The University of Queensland.
OAM for service to people with intellectual disability. (2024)
Librarian, Administrator and Amateur Ornithologist
Dr Margaret Cameron AM was an Australian librarian, administrator and amateur ornithologist. She had a distinguished career as a librarian in Queensland, New York, South Australia, New South Wales and Victoria. In 1986, she was appointed to the position of Pro Vice-Chancellor of Deakin University, a tenure she held for three years.
AM in recognition of service to library services, education and to ornithology. (1990)
Business Leader and Former Politician
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.
Joan Scott OAM is a Community Leader.
OAM for service to the community, and to local government. (2014)
Ildikó Wetherell OAM was a Community Leader.
Community Leader and Author
Judith Anderson OAM has qualifications to post-graduate level from The University of Queensland and the University of New England in arts, journalism and educational administration.
Her career included higher education and arts management, international marketing, journalism, and teaching at secondary, tertiary and community levels. For 13 years until her retirement from full-time work in late 2010, she was the General Manager of Queensland Ballet.
Since retiring, she has been employed in a wide range of writing and editing roles, notably for 15 years at Government House where she also acts as a volunteer tour guide. In 2021, she published her first book, Earning a Crust – a century of the baking trade in Warwick (1860s–1960s).
Judith’s other voluntary roles include serving as a Director and Honorary Secretary of Camerata – Queensland’s Chamber Orchestra for eight years until 2020, and as a member of Zonta International since 1983, being elected successively to a range of positions to international level.
Judith was awarded a Fellowship of The Women's College in March 2026.
OAM for service to the Queensland Ballet through administrative roles, and to women. (2012)
Deirdre Hargreaves OAM is a Community Leader.
OAM for service to the community of Ormiston. (2017)
Adjunct Professor Jill Wilmoth AM is a Community Leader.
AM for significant service to the community, and to the not-for-profit sector. (2013)
Neurologist and Priest
The Reverend Dr Cecilie Marion Lander AM is a neurologist who has worked in private practice and at the Royal Brisbane Women’s Hospital for over 40 years. Cecilie was ordained Priest in 1996 in the Diocese of Brisbane. She has served in parishes across Brisbane.
Transformative Justice Consultant
Margaret Thorsborne OAM is a consultant for public and private sector businesses and organisations for workplace relationships and the management of high-level conflict & inappropriate behaviour. She is committed to improving the way people relate to each other in schools, workplaces and other community groups by providing processes that allow often deeply negative feelings to be gradually transformed into cooperation.
Veterinarian
Dr Mary Atkinson OAM is a veterinarian.
OAM for service to veterinary science, particularly through the Moruya Veterinary Hospital. (2008)
Social Worker
Desley Hargreaves PSM holds extensive experience in public service – as a social work practitioner and senior executive in both social work and administrative leadership positions in Centrelink and Department of Human Services. She has been a non-executive director of The Salvation Army Board since 2018 and has chaired the Quality and Safety Committee of the Board since August 2020.
PSM for outstanding public service in major disaster and crisis management, and through support for the victims of the bombings which occurred in Bali on 12 October 2002 and for their families. (2003)
Elizabeth Scarce AM is a Community Leader. She is a Patron of AnglicareSA. She is a former Women’s Royal Australian Navy officer.
AM for significant service to the community of South Australia through a range of roles. (2021)
Chairman and Non-Executive Director
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.
AM for significant service to business in board and governance roles, to charitable organisations, and to broadcasting. (2025)
Business and Community Leader
Paula-Ann Nagel AM was the first female reporter on ABC's current affairs program This Day Tonight in 1967. She worked in a number of roles at the ABC for 21 years, in particular producing education and arts programs. Following her career at the ABC, Paula was involved with more than 15 Boards and Committees, including with the University of South Australia.
