October 11-13, 2024
Loreto Toorak
Melbourne, Victoria
Welcome from Angela O’Dwyer Principal, Loreto Toorak
As Principal, and on behalf of the Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak community, I am delighted to welcome you all to our School for Loreto Federation 2024. In this our School’s Centenary Year, as we look with gratitude to our past and hope for our future, this gathering of Australia wide, Loreto alumnae is particularly special.
The 2024 Federation theme of Environmental Justice reflects a core element of our shared Loreto educational values and philosophy. Concern for ‘justice, peace and integrity of creation’ is central to all we do as Mary Ward people and to our role as educators. It reflects the call of Pope Francis in Laudato Si, to ‘care for our common home’ which is taken up in each of the directional points on the Mary Ward Schools’ Compass.
As you meet in the grounds of our beautiful school, you will may notice recent student initiatives, underpinning our support for greater ecological awareness; the new bottle recycling bin (with funds received going to Mary Ward International Australia); the Rathfarnham Garden, with its busy worm farm; rooftop bee hives for harvesting our own honey; cafeteria waste recycled as pellets for garden fertilising; and new strategies to reduce waste and increase our installation of solar energy. Small steps, but ones we know will contribute to the care of our common home.
Sincere thanks to the Loreto Toorak Federation Planning Committee for preparing such an engaging program, which promises to challenge and enliven each one of us. We celebrate the wisdom of Mother Gonzaga Barry, who wrote to her students ‘leave after you something upon which others may build, and so rise higher still.” We hope the provocations, learnings and conversations of this weekend will do much to perpetuate her message.
Welcome from Rosannah Healy Chair, Loreto Federation
On behalf of the Federation Planning Committee, we warmly invite all past pupils and friends of Loreto to join us for Loreto Federation 2024 at Loreto Toorak in Melbourne. For our first Federation in nearly 6 years, we have chosen a topical theme of “Environmental Justice: People, Places and Our Shared Future”. Inspired by Laudato Si and the commitment of Loreto Sisters around the world to environmental justice, it is a theme which invites us all to explore the important link between social justice and the environment. This includes the disproportionate effects of climate change on developing nations and the actions we can take as individuals and communities to ensure a more sustainable future for all. We hope you will join us for a weekend of inspiring speakers, thoughtful discussions and meeting old and new Loreto friends.
Program
Friday 11 October
Time
18.30 Registration Opens
19.00 Acknowledgement of Country
19.30 Cocktail Party and Official Welcome Loreto Toorak
21.00 Event concludes
Saturday 12 October
Entertainment
Time Event Location Description
9.00 Registration Opens
9.30 Welcome to Country
Conference Opens
9.4510.45 Session1
Setting the scene: environment, justice and the opportunity for change
10.4511.15 Morning Tea
11.1512.15 Session 2
Climate impacts on the ground: perspectives from Mary Ward International Australia and Loreto Sisters
Angela O’Dwyer Principal, Loreto Toorak
Sr Mary Wright IBVM Province Leader
Rosannah Healy Federation Chair
Panel session with moderator
Kirsty Robertson CEO, Caritas
Liz Courtney Documentary film marker
Catering by Devour It
Hannah George Executive Officer, Mary Ward International Australia
Prue Gilbert Moderator
12.1513.30 Lunch and Delegates meeting Catering by Devour It
Event Location Description
Fireside chat with speaker
Dr Monique Ryan followed by Q&A
Interviewer Sarah Rey 14.1515.15 Session 4
Reimagining Australia: building more sustainable communities
Panel session with moderator
Dr Clare Anderson
Global Director Sustainability Performance at Worley, chair of Net Zero at University of Sydney
Simone Carson Co founder of SecondBite
Francesca Torcasio Barberis
Past Youth Representative to IBVM – United Nations Moderator
Panel session with moderator
Time Event Location Description 13.30
14.15
Session 3
Personal leadership
Afternoon tea
16.00
17.15
screening:
director
18.15 Depart
Conference Dinner 19.00 Federation Dinner
Entertainment
finish
Time Event Location Description 9.00
9.30 Coffee and catch up 9.30
15.1515.45
Catering by Devour It
-
Film
“Antarctica, The Giant Awakens” and Q&A with
Liz Courtney
for
Kooyong Tennis Club
22.30 Event
Sunday 13 October
-
10.30 Reflections on the conference: What can I do?
10.30
11.00 AGM Minutes
Resolution Constitution changes
11.0011.30 Morning tea Catering by Devour It 11.3012.30 Mass Chapel of Chirst the King Father Richard Leonard SJ 12.30
12.45 Address
12.45
13.00 Wrap up 13.00 Finish
Louise Shepherd
-
of last Federation
(if any)
-
by Sr Mary Wright IBVM Future directions of the IBVM
-
Speakers
Dr Clare Anderson Group
Director
of Sustainability Performance for Worley
Clare is the Group Director of Sustainability Performance for Worley globally and is passionate about the decarbonization of the energy, chemical and resources industries. Clare is responsible for Worley’s internal sustainability program of work, embedding sustainability in the way Worley operates the business and delivers services to customers.
Clare is the current chair of the Industry Board for the Net Zero Initiative at the University of Sydney, is on the advisory panel for Net Zero Australia and is a member of the Expert Advisory Group for the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi).
Clare is a past pupil of Loreto Toorak.
Simone Carson
Co-founder of SecondBite, national food rescue and redistribution charity
Simone is Co-founder and Deputy Chair of SecondBite which she established with her husband Ian in 2005. It was during her years as an ICU Nurse, that Simone saw firsthand the struggle many families experienced to access fresh food, and she developed a deeper understanding of the link between healthy food and good physical and mental health. Her time at ICU also showed her that community can care for their own. Governments cannot solve all problems; it takes partnerships between individuals organisations and communities.
Simone and Ian share a lifelong commitment to End Waste and End Hunger. SecondBite exists because more than 5 million Australians are severely food insecure, which means that they often skip meals, have limited or uncertain access to quality nutritious food. Each year 7.6 billion kg of food is wasted in Australia, much of that food is edible. In 2024 Australia went backwards from one in five Australians experiencing food insecurity to one in three.
From 1 July 2024 an impactful merger of FareShare with SecondBite will commence, creating one organisation that will tackle food security and food waste through both prepared meals and fresh produce.
Simone is a past pupil of Loreto Toorak.
Liz Courtney Documentary Film Maker
Liz has written and directed over 55 documentaries and recently launched The Climate Library in London with the Science Photographic Library to encourage the creation of more messages on climate change, education, and awareness.
In 2015, Liz was awarded 100 Women of Influence for her role bringing youth together across the world for “Youth4Planet”, and in 2016 she was inducted into the Australian Business Women’s Hall of Fame. In 2018, Liz delivered her first TEDx talk on “lateral thinking for Climate Solutions”, and now sits on the boards for Women for Change, The National Foundation for Australian Women and Youth4Planet. In 2019, she cofounded The Sustainable Sports Program – a platform for youth engagement at a grassroots level to engage in sustainable solutions in their communities.
Liz has established Unboxed Media Group, producing and directing notable projects and working with leading scientists around the globe.
In 2019, Liz became The Artist in Residence for The Earth Observatory of Singapore at Nanyang Technological University. During her tenure, Liz has written and directed many award-winning programmes. All documentaries look at the impacts of a changing climate system on Geo Hazards and Ocean Dynamics in Asia and the research work being undertaken by the Earth Observatory of Singapore to help identify adaptive solutions to benefit future generations in the region.
Liz is a past pupil of Loreto Toorak.
Hannah George Chief Executive, Mary Ward International
Hannah has two decades of experience leading successful non-profit programs both domestically and internationally, with a focus on gender equity and women’s rights. She joined Mary Ward International Australia (MWIA) in 2020 after over ten years in leadership roles at Amnesty International Australia, primarily heading its international and women’s rights campaigns.
Hannah has extensive hands-on experience in international development and human rights, having lived and worked in the US, Southeast Asia and the Pacific, where she witnessed firsthand the impacts of climate change. She currently resides on the land of the Boon Wurrung people. As a passionate advocate for social justice and equity, both in Australia and overseas, Hannah considers climate change to be one of the greatest human rights challenges of our time.
Kirsty Robertson CEO, Caritas Australia
Kirsty has lived, worked and travelled in over 50 countries, including in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, working with the development arm of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, and at Machermo, a health post in the Gokyo Valley in Nepal, looking into the protection of the rights of porters for the International Porters Protection Agency.
Kirsty started her career in aid and development at Caritas Australia, then went on to work at other NGOs and as a Development Consultant before returning to Caritas Australia in September, 2019 to become Caritas’ first female CEO. Caritas Australia is a Member of Caritas Internationalis, the second largest humanitarian agency in the world; and in May 2023, Kirsty was elected as the Vice President of the International Confederation.
Throughout her career, Kirsty has been dedicated to tackling big issues like poverty, injustice and inequality to build a better tomorrow. She is especially dedicated to improving outcomes for women and girls around the world, and believes that we all have a responsibility to provide support and compassion so that all women can reach their full potential.
Kirsty has a Graduate Certificate in Catholic Culture and Leadership from Australian Catholic University; a Master of Arts in Cultural Anthropology from Macquarie University; and a Bachelor of Economics and Social Sciences at the University of Sydney.
Kirsty is a past pupil of Loreto Normanhurst.
Dr Monique Ryan MP Federal member for Kooyong
Dr Monique Ryan was elected to the federal seat of Kooyong in May 2022; the first woman and the first Independent to hold the seat. She was formerly Director of the Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne Neurology Department, and a Professor of Medicine at Melbourne and Monash Universities. Dr Ryan is committed to action on climate change, integrity and transparency in government, evidence-based healthcare, and gender equity.
Monique is a past pupil of Loreto Toorak.
Louise Shepherd Clinical psychologist and climate advocate
Louise Shepherd is a clinical psychologist with 25 years’ experience with individuals and groups in a variety of settings. She set up a private practice in 2001 and in 2012 she started The Sydney ACT Centre which she ran until 2023. Since 2014 she has also worked part time as an executive coach and has worked extensively as a facilitator in that capacity.
In 2023, following a break from clinical practice Louise decided to pivot in a new direction, focusing on behavioural change work for the planet. In 2023 she worked part time for an independent federal MP leading a project to decarbonize an urban electorate and is now writing a book on imperfect climate action without the shame and blame using her clinical knowledge and personal experiences.
Louise is a past pupil of Loreto Normanhust.
Sr Mary Wright IBVM
Sister Mary Wright ibvm was elected as the Leader of the Province of Australia and South East Asia in November 2023.
Sr Mary has a doctorate in canon law from St. Paul University, Ottawa, Canada and is well known both nationally and internationally as an educator, leader, canon lawyer and board member. She has extensive leadership experience within the Loreto network as past Principal of Loreto College Ballarat and Loreto Kirribilli and as Province Leader and Institute Leader of the Loreto Sisters. She has practised Church law in Australia and in Rome at the Vatican Congregation for Institutes of Consecrated Life and Societies of Apostolic Life.
Sr Mary is a past pupil of Loreto Toorak.
