Sarah McCarthy - OneSchool Global

Sarah is a senior communications and corporate affairs leader with more than 20 years’ experience shaping reputation, engagement, and brand performance for some of Australia’s largest and most complex organisations. Across her career, Sarah has led enterprise-wide communications in highly regulated, fast-paced environments, including major infrastructure and services organisations. Her experience spans large-scale rebrands, market “firsts,” transformational internal communications, executive and CEO communications, and issues and crisis management. Global Head of Corporate Affairs at OneSchool Global, Sarah leads a team of 13 across an international network of 120+ campuses operating in five regions, responsible for brand, marketing, digital, government relations, media relations, internal communications, design, video production, and issues management. Sarah is widely recognised for her people-centred leadership style and her ability to connect strategy with execution. She is known for building high-performing teams, fostering strong cross-functional relationships, and creating communications that inform, inspire, and build trust with diverse audiences. Her work is led by a strong commitment to social sustainability, inclusive dialogue, and community impact. Beyond her executive roles, Sarah donates her time and expertise serving as a senior public speaking and debating adjudicator for independent and Catholic schools in New South Wales. Sarah’s ability to deliver meaningful, sustained impact on a global scale has been recognised internationally. She received Ragan’s 2026 Global Top Women in Communications Award – Change Agent, earned Silver in the Public Relations Institute of Australia’s Golden Target Awards for Corporate Team of the Year, and was a finalist in Australia’s Liquid Learning Women in Communications Awards.