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Honorary doctorate to philanthropist changing lives

The Australian Catholic University has awarded an honorary doctorate to Marionne MacRitchie, a philanthropist who is changing the lives of women and children in Timor-Leste.

The university recognised Mrs MacRitchie for her contribution to the people of Timor-Leste and for being a valued philanthropist to the university.

After a successful career in financial services over two decades, Mrs MacRitchie turned her leadership skills to philanthropy. Her new career began with a project that funded a girls’ school in Adjumani, Uganda, for three years. Such was its success that the United Nations sponsored the project, which became its model for many other projects around the world.

Following the success in Uganda, Mrs MacRitchie and her husband Ian established the Emerge Foundation to promote education gender equality, and women’s and children’s health in the newly independent country of Timor-Leste, where about 60 percent of women and 44 per cent of men are illiterate.

Mrs MacRitchie’s work and generosity have had a remarkable impact on the lives of the people of Timor-Leste and beyond the young nation.

www.emergefoundation.org.au