Gai McGrath

Gai McGrath is a professional director who is able to draw on over 30 years of experience as a senior executive in the financial services sector. Gai is also a risk and governance professional and lawyer. She spent 12 years with the Westpac Group, where most recently, she was General Manager of Westpac's flagship retail business. Gai previously held senior positions with Westpac New Zealand, BT Financial Group and Perpetual and was partner in a Sydney law firm. In her career Gai has been awarded Australia's Corporate Lawyer of the Year (2003), Customer Service Executive of the Year (2009) and Best Retail Banker of the Year -Asia Pacific (2015).

What inspired me to join the Library Council?

I am excited to be part of the one of Australia’s most important cultural institutions as it embarks on its ambitious strategic plan to redefine what a state library is and what it does.  While I feel a strong connection with the Library’s vital role as custodian and steward of so much of the heritage of New South Wales (including its beautiful home), I am also passionate about how technology is enabling the Library to open-up access to its collections so that our community can use the material innovatively and creatively.