A life of service wins plaudits for Old Collegian

Old Collegians Dixie Marshall (1980) and Donna Shepherd AM (1980).

The life story of one of PLC Perth’s most selfless graduates was heard by guests at the inaugural Conversations at PLC, held at the Lighthouse in March.

Donna Shepherd AM (1980) shared her journey from a teenage student hoping to study medicine, to her calling to devote her life to service and appointment as Chair of World Vision International.

Fellow 1980 graduate and communications expert Dixie Marshall kept the audience entertained as she led Ms Shepherd through her life’s work. “I was the sporty one, you were the clever one, how did we ever become friends?” Ms Marshall asked her former classmate to kick off the event. After she had ruled out medicine as a career, Ms Shepherd embarked on a film making career yet even then her commitment to others less fortunate was evident. Her films were focussed on social justice issues and she soon felt a calling to do more.

Her ‘sign’ that it was indeed her time to act arrived when she unexpectedly won a car in a competition and it was proceeds from the sale of her win that took her to the United States where she studied international development. From here she leap-frogged into roles devoted to improving the lives of others, in particular children in third world countries.

Ms Shepherd recounted travelling to Tunisia where she walked miles with women to help them to get clean water so they could provide it to their children. She explained not only was the water needed to drink, but also to ensure the children were bathed and wore clean clothes to avoid infection and illness, which kept them away from school. In 2013 she received an unexpected call from World Vision Australia Chief Executive Officer Tim Costello asking her to join the board of World Vision Australia and less than two years later she joined the agency’s international board before being appointed its chair in 2016.

In Perth, Ms Shepherd is Managing Director of Creating Communities Australia, a consultancy dedicated to using the power of community to drive positive economic, environmental and social outcomes. She works in the role with her husband, Allan Tranter, who founded the business.

Last year, Ms Shepherd was honoured when she was made a Member of the Order of Australia for her significant service to children through international humanitarian aid organisations.

Conversations at PLC will be held each term, featuring thought-provoking and inspirational speakers.