Board Member

After eight months in civilian employment, Donna McCulloch completed Army Reserve recruit training in mid-1986, entered the Australian Regular Army and recruit training at Kapooka in September 1986 and the Royal Military College - Duntroon in January 1988, graduating into the Royal Australian Army Ordnance Corps in July 1989.  As a junior officer, she served in a wide variety of appointments in the area of logistics, personnel and training.

From her mid to late career, Donna gained experience in the joint and Australian Public Servant integrated environment and coalition team environments. Underpinned by a Bachelor of Business in Human Resource Management and a Masters of Management in Defence Studies, Donna focused on strategic personnel appointments in her latter years of serving in the full-time Army.   

Donna’s operational service includes six months of duty in 2002 as a United Nations Military Observer in East Timor. In 2008 she deployed for six months to Afghanistan as the Staff Officer to Deputy Commander Joint Task Force 633–Afghanistan, in 2015 a twelve month deployment as the Chief of Staff Task Group Afghanistan for nearly 10 months, and then into a NATO position as the Chief International Engagement for her final two months.  Her final deployment in 2019 was to Afghanistan for 12 months in a NATO position as the Senior Gender Advisor.

Donna transferred as a Colonel from the full-time (SERCAT 7) Army in May 2022 and has been serving in the part-time (SERCAT 3) Army in the Joint Transition Authority since January 2023.

Aside from her military career, Donna is the mother of two daughters and a son: Shannon (26), Hayley (23) and Joshua (18).  Shannon is a dancer and pilates instructor residing in London, Hayley is in the Royal Australian Air Force and on completion of year 12, Joshua is considering joining the Australian Defence Force Academy in 2025.  Donna’s interests are maintaining fitness and learning French.