Virginia Ryan has been appointed as the first chief executive officer of the newly established Catholic Leadership Foundation, which will provide formation programs and resources for lay Catholic leaders.
Sponsored by the Daughters of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, the foundation is a response to the desire of the People of God voiced at the Australian Plenary Council (2021-22), and the recent Synod on Synodality (2021-24).
Ms Ryan brings a passion for lay Catholic leadership, spiritual formation and a love of the Scriptures. She has been the workstream lead – evangelisation and catechesis for Catholic Schools Broken Bay, and an executive leadership coach in the Canberra-Goulburn Archdiocese.
Ms Ryan 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 Edmund Rice Education Australia New South Wales colleges.
The foundation will focus on four strategic priorities from 2025-2028:
- Into The Deep: Establish and develop an intensive ministry development and formation program for Catholic leaders.
- With Burning Hearts: Develop and promote initiatives to assist Catholics in reading and praying the Scriptures as an encounter with Jesus.
- So I Send You: Establish and develop a professional networking platform for the ongoing communication, information, and formation of lay Catholic leaders.
- 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.
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New Catholic Leadership Foundation Launched to Empower Lay Leaders (Catholic Leadership Foundation)
