Wendy Simpson acknowledged with Australia Day honour
28 January 2025
Foundation director Wendy Simpson has been appointed as a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the 2025 Australia Day Honours. The list was announced on 26 January 2025 by the Governor-General of Australia, Her Excellency Sam Mostyn AC.
Previously the recipient of an OAM, Wendy received the award “for significant service to social welfare, to cultural and church organisations, and as a mentor”.
At the General Sir John Monash Foundation, Wendy chairs the Board’s People Committee and is highly respected for her work in assessing board skills, reviewing the performance of the CEO and advising on appointments to the management team. She is a member of the Wildcards Committee, which each year decides which “wildcard” candidates for John Monash Scholarships are worthy of being interviewed by State or Territory selection panels. Wendy has also contributed to scholar selections on state and national panels.
The Foundation’s Chairman, Jillian Segal AO, said the awarding of an AM to Wendy was fitting recognition of the enormous contributions she has made across multiple fields of endeavour.
Wendy is executive chair of Wengeo Pty Ltd, a private investment group which invests in industrial and commercial property developments; Non-Executive Director for Sydney Prayer Breakfast Ltd; a member of Alphacrucis University Council; and a member of the Advisory Board for Taste Creative.
Earlier in her career, Wendy was Founding Chairman of Springboard Enterprises Australia, a community-driven accelerator program that recruits, coaches, supports and promotes investment-ready, high-growth companies led by women. She has been inducted into the Australian Businesswoman’s Hall of Fame and in 2013 was listed as one of Australia’s 100 women of influence by the Australian Financial Review. She has held key leadership roles across a range of industries, from airfreight, telecommunications and precision engineering to property development.
Wendy is a previous Trade Commissioner for North Asia for the Victorian Government, a three-time finalist in the Telstra Businesswomen’s Awards, and a finalist in the Shanghai Business Women of the Year Awards.