Governance and Finance

2022 commenced with uncertainty but quickly blossomed into a year of great achievements for the Ruyton community. Embracing the return to onsite learning and co-curricular activities, our students found joy in being together, inspiring participation and collaboration across the student body. Making an impressive contribution to the life of our school, our Year 12 students led with distinction and applied themselves to their studies with focus and determination. We once again celebrate our VCE Class for their outstanding VCE results. With a median ATAR of 92.6, a median study score of 36 and two perfect study scores of 50, 56% of our students achieved results in the top ten per cent of the country. This 2022 cohort of remarkable young women will be remembered for ensuring the spirit of Ruyton lives on in our student body through their purposeful leadership.

The Board is delighted that many years of planning have now come to fruition with the commencement of the Dream Now project. The largest building project in Ruyton’s history, Dream Now will provide world class educational facilities through a Performing Arts Centre and Library precinct. This precinct will strengthen Ruyton’s commitment and capacity to deliver an outstanding all-round education and support our girls to become confident and engaged women.

Prior to the commencement of construction, our community farewelled Royce Theatre. For more than 50 years Royce had been our constant; the place where we have gathered as a community for assemblies, celebrations, for joyous events and occasions of mourning. The memories created and shared within its walls brought an emotional response from many. Royce held the heart and soul of our school and I have no doubt the new precinct will too.

The development and publication of our new strategic plan, Fearless Pursuit, launched in November 2022. Proudly one of the oldest girls’ schools in Victoria, our primary focus remains ensuring that a Ruyton education is relevant and engaging to best prepare our girls for their futures. Our size and structure strengthen our unwavering focus on each individual student in our care.

At Ruyton, learning is personal. We recognise that the future is inherently unknown as it is in the making and with this knowledge, we have devised a five-year strategic plan with a ten-year horizon.

Fearless Pursuit launches a series of pathways as we explore the possible, plausible and probable futures in our context and culture. Through the realisation of this plan, we will ensure that Ruyton is future fit by remaining open-minded, agile and with the needs of our girls at the centre of all that we do. Supporting the vision of Fearless Pursuit are our staff, students, families and alumnae who make our school an outstanding community that seeks excellence and ensures inclusivity.

In the middle of last year, the Board appointed two new members to fill vacancies and we were delighted to welcome Caroline Bennett and David Bidmead to the team. Caroline brings experience in actuarial and financial services, consulting mergers and acquisitions, risk and capital management and insurance to the Board and is a member of the Finance Committee. David has global experience in insurance brokerage, risk advisory management and corporate governance skills and is a member of the Governance Committee. Caroline and David’s skills and expertise have enhanced the diverse range of knowledge and proficiency on the Ruyton Board and further strengthened the governance of our school.

In closing, I thank all our Ruyton students who travelled through 2022 with care for each other, dedication to their studies, and engagement in the life of our school. As a community we thank each one of our staff for their dedication and commitment to our school, and for the support and guidance they provide for each of our students. Sincere thanks must also be given to our parents, alumnae and volunteers whose investment in our school and each other ensures connection remains central to the Ruyton culture.

The Board of Directors also thank and acknowledge Linda Douglas and her Executive Team for leading another successful year in Ruyton’s history and in the way in which we are sure Hilda Daniell envisaged. Ruyton has had another strong financial year and as we look forward to the challenges of the future, we are well placed to receive them. Thank you.

Virginia McLaughlan President, The Ruyton Board

The Ruyton Board 2022

Virginia McLaughlan President

Kylie Taylor Deputy President

Bruce Bayley Chair of Finance and Audit

Chris Chapman Chair of Project Control Group

Peter Nelson Chair of The Ruyton Foundation

Cameron Price Chair of Governance

Linda Douglas Principal

Tim Rowler Company Secretary

Caroline Bennet Member

David Bidmead Member

Fiona Griffiths (1987) Member

Melanie Higgins (1992) Member

Craig Wishart Member

Summary Of Financial Information

The year commenced with uncertainty but quickly blossomed into a year of great achievements for the Ruyton community. With strong leadership from the School Board and School Executive, Ruyton finished the year with stable enrolments and a sound financial position.

As an independent school, Ruyton does not receive government funding for our capital projects. It is through the prudent financial management and forward planning of the School, together with the generous support of our community that will enable the successful completion of the Dream Now project towards the end of 2024.