From Priest to CEO and author, Patrick McClure, AO has lived a very interesting life. Throughout his childhood Patrick was strongly influenced by his Catholic education and the faith of his family. At 18 he entered the Franciscans, a religious order within the Catholic Church. His experiences working with the homeless and the influence of a pioneer in microfinance changed his life and sowed the seeds of a social conscience. After resigning the ministry, he worked in the Third Sector. A social entrepreneur, he founded Second Harvest Australia, a social business providing low cost food for people on limited income. He was CEO of the Society of St Vincent de Paul and of Mission Australia. He was Chairperson of the Australian Government’s Reference Group on Welfare reform, Member of the Prime Minister’s Community Business Partnership, Chairperson of the OECD-LEED Forum on Social Innovation based in Paris, and Commissioner of the Australian Fair Pay Commission in 2003 and was awarded an Australian Centennial Medal in 2001. He was an AFR-BOSS True Leader and recipient of the Equity Trustee’s EQT CEO Awards for Lifetime Achievement and CEO of Aged and Community Service Australia.
