St Margaret’s and Pitcher Partners: Shaping the Future of Women in Finance

Rooted in the school’s strategic vision, one of the ways this commitment has been brought to life has been through a dynamic partnership with Pitcher Partners, a firm dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive workforce and investing in future talent.

This partnership has opened doors for St Margaret’s Old Girls like Inge Mellor (’23), Georgia Hurwood (’20), and Claire Johnston (’15), offering real-world experience, mentorship, and career pathways that reflect the school’s mission to produce confident, capable and compassionate young women able to contribute on a global stage.

From Student to Professional: Inge Mellor’s (’23) Journey

After graduating, Inge Mellor stepped into the role of Vacationer at Pitcher Partners, later progressing to Undergraduate Accountant — a transition that helped her bridge the gap between school and corporate life.

“My time as a Vacationer, and now as an Undergraduate, pushed me to adapt from a structured school environment to the independence of the corporate world. I learned to manage tasks and deadlines without constant reminders and to communicate professionally with clients. This experience was an invaluable segue into the corporate world.”

As Inge’s academic interests evolved, so did her professional path. Her move from Audit to Wealth Management reflects a growing passion for the intersection of finance, policy, and global economics.

“I have recently transitioned from the Audit division to the Wealth Management division at Pitcher Partners, a move that aligns more closely with my long-term interests and goals in the Wealth Management sector. I’ve come to realise that my interest in global policy and economic dynamics can be applied meaningfully to financial management and investment decision-making.”

Mentorship in Action: Georgia Hurwood’s (’20) Rise

Georgia Hurwood’s journey began with an internship in 2021 and led to her current role as Graduate Accountant. Her success is deeply tied to the mentorship and support she’s received — especially from fellow Old Girl and Partner, Kylie Lamprecht (’90).

“I am incredibly fortunate to be surrounded by inspiring female role models at Pitcher Partners, most notably my mentor, Kylie Lamprecht (’90), whose guidance and support has played a pivotal role in shaping the professional I am today.”

Georgia is a frequent visitor back to St Margaret’s at the Professional Women’s Network Breakfasts alongside the Pitcher Partners team, as well as to directly address students via the school’s career initiatives. The opportunity to speak to students, help them gain a sense of what a career in this industry looks like, and form part of their formative professional network, is a privilege that Georgia recognises is unique to the St Margaret’s and Pitcher Partners collaboration.

“It is quite rare for students to have the opportunity to network directly with employers while they are still in school. The partnership between St Margaret's and Pitcher Partners provides an excellent gateway for students to gain insight into the accounting profession which helps to dispel stigma around accounting.”

Beyond the Numbers: Claire Johnston’s Creative Career (’15)

Accounting firms aren’t just about spreadsheets — and Claire Johnston proves it. As Operations and Marketing Coordinator, she brings strategy, creativity, and people skills to the forefront of Pitcher Partners’ brand and culture.

“In a firm like Pitcher Partners, the role of an Operations and Marketing Coordinator sits at the intersection of creativity, strategy and execution. It’s about connecting the dots between the firm’s advisory and accounting expertise and how we communicate that value to both our clients and our people.

“Day to day, the marketing role involves delivering campaigns, events and communications that highlight our people, services and thought leadership. This includes coordinating events, managing digital and social content, developing collateral and ensuring our brand is consistently represented across every touchpoint. On the operations side, while the work is detail-oriented, the overarching goal is to make the firm run smarter and smoother, ensuring our people are free to focus on their core expertise. It’s a mix of logistics, systems thinking and people coordination.

“From a broader perspective, the role helps shape the firm’s narrative by defining how we position Pitcher Partners as a trusted advisor to the middle market, celebrate our culture and people and evolve our brand to stay relevant in a changing business landscape. This approach keeps us focused on continuous improvement and genuine connection, ensuring everything we do delivers real value to our clients and our people.”

Full Circle: Inspiring the Next Generation

Inge, Georgia, and Claire have all returned to campus this year to share their stories, showing current students what’s possible and helping them see themselves in roles they may never have considered.

Together, St Margaret’s and Pitcher Partners are redefining what it means to be career-ready and are championing the role of young women in boardrooms, advisory teams, and leadership roles across the financial sector and beyond.