On this International Women’s Day, we were joined by 4 inspiring alumnae, Kate Eastman AM SC (Class of 1984), Sarah Martin (nee Kinchington, Class of 1982), Heather Marano (Class of 2003) and Leana Scott (Class of 2018) for an evening of inspiration as we shared in the stories of our Loreto Normanhurst alumnae.

Kate, a Senior Counsel, and barrister, reflected on the opportunities given to her at Loreto Normanhurst while assisting the Royal Commission into Violence, Abuse, Neglect and Exploitation of People with Disability. Kate's driving force is social justice, and she believes that it should be woven into every part of our lives. Kate has a strong passion for justice and believes that “social justice comes from the way we interact and relate to our fellow human beings”. As women, she believes that “we need to have a strong voice, we are entitled to be heard, we should be heard, and we need to talk about the interests of women”.

Sarah, a peri-operative nurse at North Shore Specialist Day Hospital and a mental health advocate, has amazing and fond memories from her time at Loreto Normanhurst. Sarah's daughter suffered from a mental health episode while overseas in Turkey, which led her to talk more about mental health and the importance of discussing it. She believes that “there is no shame in mental ill health” and encourages people to talk about it openly. Sarah discussed that learning more about mental health is a way we can integrate justice into our lives, that “knowledge is power” and that by increasing our understanding of mental health, we can help reduce stigma and improve outcomes for those affected.

Heather, the Founder and Director of award-winning consultancy Green Door Co., credited her time at Loreto Normanhurst for shaping her future and career. She believes that “life is nothing but unpredictable, but that is also what makes it wonderful”. Entrepreneurship was something that always interested her, and Heather credits Loreto for setting her up with the building blocks, one by one, to get her to where she is today. She discussed the supportive environment created for her at Loreto and how it encouraged her to be passionate about all things. Heather's Loreto education taught her to be ambitious and gave her a strong sense of independence. Although she faced many challenges along the way, her education provided her “with the skills, knowledge, and confidence to tackle them”. She believes her time at Loreto Normanhurst instilled in her the importance of more than just academics and that it taught her a commitment to creating a social impact in the world.

Our youngest panellist, Leana, a proud Kamilaroi woman and Criminology and Criminal Justice graduate, consulting on First Nations issues at the NSW Office of the Children’s Guardian shared her education journey and her passion for advocating for Indigenous youth to access education. She fondly remembered her time at Loreto Normanhurst where she participated in multiple opportunities and created long-lasting friendships. Although Leana encountered challenges while studying at university and deciding on her future career path, she continues to be driven towards roles that focus on justice and helping others. Leana is passionate about studying law in the future, “using it as a vehicle to right wrongs and achieve justice for those who may be impacted harshly by the law”. She credits all her success and achievements thus far to her parents and her Loreto education and values that helped shape her “ability to navigate through her journey and stay true to herself during difficult decisions”. Leana continues to be passionate about social justice and creating a fair and equitable world which stemmed from her time at Loreto Normanhurst.

With a panel discussion and questions facilitated by Head of Professional Growth, Mr Marco Scali, our Women of Influence shared with us inspirational and insightful stories about their careers and life since leaving school.

We express our gratitude to the four panellists who delivered enlightening and motivating lectures. It is evident that these women embody the values instilled in them by their Loreto Normanhurst education, embracing a lifelong pursuit of knowledge and welcoming diverse perspectives as they pursue their passions. Their stories vividly illustrated the graduate attributes we strive for at Loreto Normanhurst: women of faith, service, voice, creativity, grit, and independent thinking.

If you missed the 'Women of Influence' 2023 Evening, the recording information is below.

Link: https://vimeo.com/806557488

Password: LNHWomen23