ABOUT US
The SGHS Foundation’s purpose is the promotion of equal access and inclusion at Sydney Girls High School through financial support to students and families as well as initiating projects to benefit the school.
Through events and activities, the SGHS Foundation will work with the school, the Old Girls Union, and the SGHS P&C Association to secure new facilities and learning opportunities at Sydney Girls High School. It will ensure that all students are supported to participate fully in school life.
SCHOLARSHIPS AND BURSARIES
Scholarships and bursaries form an important part of the Foundation’s purpose in ensuring equal opportunity for students across the school.
The SGHS Foundation will provide financial support for students who would otherwise be unable to fully participate in the community.
Music Scholarships are available to students across Years 7-11 to continue their Music education with a new instrument, from the range of identified instruments by the Music Department. There is the potential for students to access music tuition and the hire of the instrument through the scholarship, with the commitment to undertake the scholarship for a minimum of two years and be a member of a school Music Ensemble.
Students whose families are experiencing hardship can apply for a music Scholarship to allow them to continue tuition in their chosen instrument and become a member of an SGHS music ensemble.
Years 7 and 8 Transition to Secondary School
SGHS Foundation scholarships are available to students commencing secondary school to assist with the expenses and resources that are required. Families experiencing financial hardship are eligible to apply. Applications are made to the Principal to support students in a variety of ways which are determined by individual circumstances. The scholarships are for the first two years, prior to students becoming illegible for the Public Education Foundation and Harding Miller scholarships for female students progressing to Year 9. The Year Advisor of Year 8 will identify students who would qualify for the Harding Miller scholarship and assist with the student application.
Grants for state and national representation
Students at Sydney Girls HS are often successful in many fields and are part of representative teams, ensembles, and projects. Grants are available to support the costs of these as individuals and teams/groups through the SGHS Foundation. Teaching staff with knowledge of the projects can assist students in applying for a grant to subsidize costs, commencing the process through a discussion with the Principal.
Grants for Stage 6 Students
Support for senior students living out of home or facing hardship to complete their HSC is also available from the Foundation. Year Advisers play a vital role in liaising with the Principal and the Foundation. Also, final-year students who are undertaking projects and coursework who would like to pursue research or access memberships that require additional financial resourcing can apply to the Foundation where their applications will be assessed on a case-by-case basis.
*Further information about how to apply is available by contacting the school.
WHO WE ARE
Fiona McDonald
Fiona (Chair), following her graduation from SGHS in 1991, studied Metallurgical Engineering at UNSW. While she found engineering to be full of interesting challenges, she also realised that her real passion lay in understanding why people do the things they do, and so she began studying psychology at University of Tasmania, before completing honours and her PhD at UNSW. Since then she has worked with the not-for-profit Canteen, which provides support to adolescents and young adults impacted by cancer. Fiona has variously been the President and Treasurer of the OGU over the last 10 years.
Bevan Elliott
Bevan (Ambassador, former Treasurer) is an experienced board member and finance professional with a Chartered Accounting background and over 30 years of experience as a private equity investor, corporate adviser, auditor, and CFO to businesses in Australia and overseas. Bevan’s day job is sourcing and managing equity investments. He has non-executive director experience across a wide range of businesses and sectors.
Selina Hiew
Selina (Treasurer) is an Old Girl with over 20 years of experience in financial services across banking, superannuation, and investment. She has a deep understanding and expertise in capital, funding, risk management, data, and IT project delivery. During her executive career, Selina served on numerous committees including the Macquarie Bank Mortgages leadership team, Banking & Financial Services Data Governance Committee and Risk Management Committee, and IT project delivery steering committees.
Andrea Connell
An experienced educational leader, the Principal of Sydney Girls High School since 2009, Andrea has held previous leadership positions at Fort Street High School, Sydney Secondary College, and the NSW Education Standards Authority. She has been a member of the board of the Hunter Valley Theatre Company, UNSW Maths and Statistics community member as well as the Planning Committee for the Inner West Council. Her commitment to public education was recognised in 2023 with a Service Award from the NSW Department of Education.
Vanessa Field
Vanessa is the Head of Compliance for BlackRock Investment Management's Australasian operations and sits on its management committee. Vanessa returned to Australia in 2021, after spending 20 years in the UK, where she worked in asset management compliance and product management roles - most recently for Aviva Investors, heading up its Real Assets Regulatory Compliance Function. Vanessa is a lawyer by training, having completed her BComm/LLB at UNSW. She is an Old Girl, as is her mother, and her daughter.
Vanessa is a keen runner and swimmer and also enjoys theatre. She is passionate in ensuring young women flourish not only academically, but also acquire the skills and understanding to facilitate a successful entry to the workplace.
Mark Grosser
DONATE
The Foundation relies on the goodwill and support of donors who can make financial contributions either as an annual amount or one-off donation in order to support the scholarships. Donations to the school are tax-deductible, also for the school’s Building Fund and Library Fund.
Donations to the SGHS Foundation can be made by contacting Dr Fiona McDonald, Director of the Foundation.
Email: foundation@sghs.nsw.edu.au or phone: 0417 431 677.
CONTACT DETAILS FOR THE SGHS FOUNDATION:
c/o Sydney Girls High School,
Anzac Parade, Surry Hills NSW 2010
P: 02 9331 2336
E: foundation@sghs.nsw.edu.au or administration@sghs.nsw.edu.au