Hilary McPhee AO and Diana Gribble AM

In 1975, Hilary and Diana established their own independent business, McPhee Gribble Publishers. The company initially co-published a large series of internationally successful children's books with Penguin Books Australia. They then focussed their attention on developing and establishing a large Australian list of writers, including Tim Winton, Rodney Hall, Drusilla Modjeska and Helen Garner. Their publishing was highly regarded in Australia and overseas.

Fifteen years later, the company was acquired by Penguin Books and both women moved forward in their careers to work in the Arts, publishing, and various related endeavours.

Hilary was a publishing director at Pan Macmillan Australia from 1992-94. She was Chair of the Australian Council of the Arts from 1994-97. She chaired the Major Organisations Board and has held senior directorships for Film Australia, Australian Multimedia Enterprises Ltd, and as council member for the Victorian College of the Arts, and board member of the State Library of Victoria and the Melbourne Community Foundation. Hilary was the inaugural Vice-Chancellor's Fellow at the University of Melbourne.

Diana (1942-2011) joined the Text Media Group, where she held the dual positions of publisher and Executive Director, and was awarded an AM in 1993. She held the position of Deputy Chair of the ABC from 1995-2000, and formerly served on the Boards of Circus Oz, the Australia Council and Austrade.