Pat has been part of Philanthropy Australia since 2011, the peak body for philanthropy and giving, holding the key role of State Manager for Victoria and Tasmania, and more recently as their Senior Philanthropy Advisor. She holds a Master in Social Investment and Philanthropy from Swinburne (2013), had an early career in corporate HR in the US finance sector, and has held leadership positions with not-for-profit boards with experience in policy and program development, grants, fundraising and board governance both in the USA (prior to her 1998 arrival in Australia) and here in Australia. A giving circle advocate, Pat is the current Board Chair and Co-Founder of the Melbourne Women’s Foundation – a giving circle established in 2014 to support women and families in need in greater metropolitan Melbourne.
Pat is a Director of the National Trust of Victoria Foundation, and a recently appointed Director of the Invergowrie Foundation, committed to assisting in the development of the workforce of the future through support of girls and women pursuing careers in STEM. Former Australian directorships include: Variety the Children’s Charity, Victoria; a director of the Victoria University Foundation, and director and Chair of the Foundation of Firbank Girls Grammar School in Brighton, Victoria She was awarded an OAM on Australia Day 2020 for service to the community through charitable organisations.