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Gillian’s association with Ruyton began when her daughter Cecelia was enrolled in the Junior School and continued through to her VCE year in 2006. She believes that Ruyton provided her with an exceptional education and friendship group, and consequently she is a strong advocate of the benefits of single sex schools. Gillian’s two sons were Camberwell Grammar students, so it was a strategy that worked well for her family.

Gillian’s career was primarily spent in publishing, after initially training and working as a Junior School and Special Education teacher in the public and private sector in Australia, the USA and Thailand. In 1989 she co- founded and was a Director of the national ‘Child’ group of magazines, with Melbourne’s Child being the local city edition.

Currently Gillian has several roles in the philanthropic sector, which she says is her third exciting ‘career’. Gillian is the Co-Founder of Melbourne Women’s Fund, a philanthropic giving circle and sub fund of the Lord Mayor’s Charitable Foundation. She is Chair of the Royal Botanic Gardens Victoria Foundation and also works part time in a Grants Admin role for the Jack Brockhoff Foundation.

Gillian is a graduate of Sydney University (B.Ed.), University of London (Grad Dip Teaching of ESN Children) and Swinburne University (Master in Social Investment and Philanthropy). She is also a member of AICD and Philanthropy Australia.