Profile
Miranda McDonald, Principal at McDonald People Solutions, counts guiding more than 100 HR specialists through the creation of Adelaide University, Australia’s largest ever university merger, as the defining achievement of her career. Miranda led the University of South Australia (UniSA) people and culture portfolio through a complete transition of systems, structures and identity. Maintaining psychological safety and trust throughout took deep resilience, authenticity and strategic clarity, work she describes as a once-in-a-generation transformation. Balancing strategic delivery against genuine care for the people affected by it is what Miranda considers her strongest professional quality. “I can hold complexity, make difficult decisions and move organisations forward, while still ensuring people feel seen, valued and supported through the change,” she says. She points to the Adelaide merger as the clearest test of that balance, requiring not just strategic capability but emotional intelligence and a deep commitment to people-first leadership through a context of relentless change. Miranda sees navigating that complexity as the central challenge of her work more broadly. Keeping people grounded, connected and safe matters most when timelines are tight or information is incomplete, since that is when change feels most destabilising. Her response is to stay close to people, create space for honest dialogue, and ensure leaders understand the human impact of their decisions – whilst maintaining the momentum of progress forward. Her own view of leadership underpins that approach. “I believe leadership is relational, not positional, and that culture is shaped by how leaders show up in moments of uncertainty,” she adds. Miranda considers meeting people where they are, before bringing them along, central to how she leads, and counts a sense of fun and positivity among her hallmarks. Building environments where people can thrive, even when the work is difficult is critical. Being named as one of HRD’s Elite Women for 2026 means something deeper to Miranda than personal recognition. It is rooted in her experience of often being in environments where where decision making power was concentrated, where confidence was valued over competence and women had to work harder to be seen as strategic rather than operational. “These experiences strengthened my resolve to lead with authenticity and to create space for others,” Miranda says. “I see this recognition as an opportunity to show emerging female leaders that they can lead boldly, humanely and on their own terms – leading with authenticity and vulnerability at key moments is a super-power!.” Looking industry-wide, Miranda wants to change the expectation that women must constantly prove their capability before being trusted with strategic work. She highlights how women are often over-indexed in operational roles and under-indexed in roles that shape organisational direction. “Shifting this requires leaders to challenge bias, sponsor women intentionally, and create environments where women’s leadership styles are valued rather than judged against traditional norms,” she says. I have experienced this support from colleagues at UniSA but recognise it is not always the case. The legacy Miranda wants to leave is one of leadership that is both courageous and deeply human. “I want people to remember that even in the most complex transformations, it is possible to lead with transparency, vulnerability and care, and still deliver exceptional outcomes,” she says.
Adelaide, SA
0419 802 829
miranda@mcdonaldpeoplesolutions.com.au
linkedin.com/in/miranda-mcdonald-5322156/
mcdonaldpeoplesolutions.com.au
Miranda McDonald
Director McDonald People Solutions
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Bio
Milestones
2016–2026
2023–2026
2026
at University of South Australia
2016–2026
Chief People Officer at
2023–2026
Obtained her GAICD qualification
Interim and Fractional Executive/CPO at
Head of People and Business Performance (Fractional Executive) at Pirtek Adelaide
2026
2024 and 2026: Finalist for NSW Small Business Awards - Outstanding Leader, Excellence in Small Business and Employer of Choice
2026: Australian Women’s Small Business Champion Award
2024–2026
Manager - people strategy, culture and experience at Brisbane Catholic Education. Shapes and leads enterprise-wide people priorities that strengthen culture, leadership, inclusion and employee experience, building the organisational capability required for sustained performance
2025–Present
Milestones
