Virginia Ryan appointed as CEO of the new Catholic Leadership Foundation

The Catholic Leadership Foundation is a newly established Catholic Foundation, sponsored by the
Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, to provide formation programs and resources for
Catholics, especially lay Catholic leaders. It is a considered response to the desire of the People of
God voiced at the Australian Plenary Council (2021-2), and the recent Synod on Synodality (2021-24).

Mrs Virginia Ryan has been appointed as the first Chief Executive Officer. Virginia brings a passion for lay Catholic leadership, spiritual formation and a love of the Scriptures. She was the Workstream Lead – Evangelisation and Catechesis for Catholic Schools Broken Bay. Virginia has also worked in Canberra/Goulburn Archdiocese as an Executive Leadership Coach. Virginia has broad experience in governance including as a founding Member of Good Samaritan Education, a founding Member of The Broken Bay Institute, Chair of the Educational Centre for Christian Spirituality, and a Director for EREA NSW Colleges.

The Foundation will focus on four strategic priorities from 2025-2028:

1. Into The Deep: Establish and develop an intensive ministry development and formation
   program for Catholic leaders. The Into the Deep Program is an extended leadership
   formation program designed to strengthen participants’ relationship with Jesus and be
   renewed as missionary disciples.
2. With Burning Hearts: Develop and promote initiatives to assist Catholics in reading and
   praying the Scriptures as an encounter with Jesus.
3. So I Send You: Establish and develop a professional networking platform for the ongoing
   communication, information, and formation of lay Catholic leaders.
4. With Others For Others: Partner with dioceses and religious institutes to promote and
   enable other programs and initiatives aimed at the formation of Catholic lay leaders.