My life is joyfully busy.  Family and cultural responsibilities are many, and my engagement with diverse groups to live and promote reconciliation is both challenging and rewarding.  I seek to recognise and maintain the balance required to work in a way that enables flourishing, both for myself and those with whom I connect. This prioritisation is essential for my vision of servant leadership.  Yet I am attentive to the winds and energies around me, prompting me at times to pause and seek clarity. To breathe in and consider other possibilities and truths. To embrace uncertainty, change and challenges… as a servant, Spirit filled and led. In these moments, I have been most grateful to journey with Lisa as a fellow pilgrim. When my heart is full and my thoughts frenetic, Lisa has walked with me, listening deeply and prompting self-revelations with gentleness and genuine sensitivity. We walk together comfortably - moving towards landscapes of new awareness and insights once held within. Yet we are not alone in our discernment, and this understanding nourishes me and makes my spirit sing!   Lisa recognises the gift of relationship as foundational for her work which honours cultures, identities and journeys in progress with integrity.    In our world of multiple realities, noise and competing demands, Lisa is able to weave true sacred spaces, holding and celebrating the inherent dignity of those she accompanies.  I encourage you to connect with Lisa if it is clarity, you seek as you continue your journey. 

I’ve known Lisa for over a decade through our work together across Mary Aikenhead Ministries for which I am currently a Trustee. During this time I have witnessed Lisa lead at a national level with rigour, compassion and integrity. In often challenging circumstances, Lisa maintained her focus on the reason the organisation was founded- it’s Mission, and inspired others to do the same. As a Director of HESTA, I appreciate the quality of input required by Boards and can say that Lisa is respected and trusted by leaders for whom the stakes are high. She is a talented executive, able to work at pace and depth but with a grounding in reflection and contemplation which arises from her faith. Lisa’s facilitation skills are exceptional. I have had the privilege of reading evaluations from participants of a pilgrimage she co-led and all described it as a transformational experience. Lisa’s personal style is very life-giving to those around her. She is committed to the flourishing of others.

It is my pleasure to endorse Lisa McDonald’s leadership program, Gathering of Three. The provision of Spiritual Leadership programs for individuals and for teams that Dr.McDonald offers is designed to address issues faced by those who exercise leadership in the workplace, especially in relation to purpose and values, mission and ministry. Where team leaders are concerned to enhance their own mission alignment they will find support and enrichment in and through this training program. The retreat and supervision opportunities provided, both personally and communally, are directed towards developing personal and communal leadership for contemporary mission and ministry.

We engaged Dr Lisa McDonald, founder of gathering of three, to assist our small steering committee of a national Network, to clarify and align our thinking, as to our purpose and role in facilitating the new Network. Our Network had been established for less than two years, and up until we met with Lisa, we had been meeting over Zoom because of the pandemic and tyranny of distance. The steering committee brought different opinions and a variety of experiences to the discussion, yet we were able to emerge in unity and agreement, through the skill set of Lisa as a facilitator. Everybody was heard, opinions noted, and understanding confirmed. Lisa can read a room, and ensured momentum was maintained, by successfully avoiding rabbit holes and bogs! The whole process was life-giving and enjoyable. Thank you Lisa. With Lisa facilitating we made great in-roads, managing to produce agreed statements on who we are, why we existed, and how the network works. As an added bonus we even agreed on a timetable of next steps. We were also in agreement, that we would not have achieved the outcomes, if it were not for the assistance and skill of Lisa. I confidently commend Dr Lisa McDonald - gathering of three - as a skilled facilitator.

Lisa is a deeply genuine, thoughtful and engaging leader. At a time where individuals are looking to more closely align purpose and work, Lisa has an unparalleled ability to guide people to make that connection in a meaningful and impactful way. Whatever faith or spirituality, Lisa leaves a lasting impact on those she leads, coaches and develops. Her sincerity and sense of humour will move even the deepest cynics to ask the bigger and better questions of life and work.

Lisa has an incredible gift of leading people through a journey of talking about mission, calling and faith. She helps people understand how they are personally called, how an organisation is called and how organisations can lead their people on a journey of Mission. Very few people have the skills or gifts to lead this kind or work. Lisa worked alongside me at St Vincent’s health for 7 years as head of Mission and I commend her work to you – she is outstanding and will bless you and your people.

Lisa ran a day staff retreat for us at the end of our year. Despite all of us feeling tired and flat after a long year by the end of the day we were all energised and motivated for the coming year. We got there under Lisa’s gentle guidance through a series of stimulating exercises which in turn prompted interesting conversations and surprising reflections. She absolutely understood our organisation and what motivates us but she recognised the importance of the individual and the role they played in our team. Every person was heard and felt that they contributed to the session, ensuring that the cohesion of a team, which is based in different cities, was restored. The entire day was underpinned by an element that helped centre us and ground us in the spiritual.