Australia Day Honours run in the family

Sarah is not only an ex-student but the daughter of ex-students Lisa Hill (Bell,'75) and Martin Hill AM (a Loreto 'old boy' of 1964) and the mother of current student, Savannah.

Sarah was in the inaugural year of Loreto Kirribilli Rowing in 1992 and rowed in the First Eight in 1995. She continued as a Loreto Coach to 2000, including being the coach of Loreto First Four with her sister, Virginia, as the stroke in 2000.

Sarah continued her passion for rowing to an elite level, including, among many highlights, rowing in the England Women's Eight in 2006 and winning a gold medal in the World Masters 2006 and 2011 Games. She also represented the NSW State Team twice in the Lightweight Women's Quad and the NSW Masters State Team twice in the Women's Eight. A member of Mosman Rowing Club, she previously served as the first female Club Captain and Vice President.

Sarah served on the Rowing NSW Board of Directors from 2015 to 2023 and is recognised by the CEO of Rowing NSW, Melissa Ashton-Garard, in the recent members' notice: "Rowing NSW congratulates Dr Sarah Hill AM on this recognition. Sarah has been a committed competitor, representing NSW over many years, first as a senior athlete and later as part of the NSW Masters team. She has also given a great deal to the sport through her time as a Director of Rowing NSW, where her experience across government and planning brought a valuable perspective to the organisation. We are delighted to see her contribution recognised in this way."

Work-wise, Sarah is a qualified and distinguished urban planner and city maker. Sarah served as Director of HillPDA from 1997 to 2016, and as President of the Planning Institute of Australia (PIA) NSW Division. Her professional excellence has been recognised through multiple awards, including:

• Urban Development Institute of Australia NSW & Stockland Women in Development Leadership Award (2012)
• NSW Planner of the Year (2015)
• Australian Planner of the Year (2016–2017)
• Visionary for Sydney, Committee for Sydney (2023)
• Patrons Prize for Public Administration, Western Sydney Dialogue (2023)
• 2026 International Society for City and Regional Planning - Women in Planning Advanced Career

Following HillPDA, Sarah was appointed CEO of Greater Sydney and, in turn, CEO of the Western Parkland City Authority. In these roles, Sarah has designed and developed new cities and organisations. She has developed new ways of engaging with citizens, measuring and monitoring key planning outcomes, and better aligning growth with infrastructure through initiatives such as Australia's first Place-Based Infrastructure Compact and Bradfield's first building.

Sarah is now leading some of the world's most significant projects in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, on behalf of the Public Investment Fund.

Martin Hill, Sarah's father, also received a Member of the Order of Australia for services to business, sailing and community in the Australia Day Honours List in 2022. As a Loreto old boy ('64), this is a unique father and daughter achievement for the school.