Peggy O’Neal has a Bachelor of Arts from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University and a Juris Doctor from the University of Virginia. She has specialised in superannuation and financial services law for more than 25 years and is presently a consultant to Lander and Rogers and was previously a partner at Herbert Smith Freehills for a number of years.
Since October 2013, Peggy has been president of the Richmond Football Club, having served on the club's Board since 2005. During her tenure, the Richmond Football Club won the 2017, 2019 and 2020 Premierships. She has also served on the AFL's Competition Committee since 2018.
Peggy is a passionate advocate for gender equality and developing women sport leaders. In August 2014 she was appointed to chair the Victorian Minister for Sport's year-long Inquiry into 'Women and Girls in Sport and Active Recreation' and until June 2018 was convenor of the Minister's Change Our Game Champions program. In December 2018, she was made an Honorary Doctor of Laws by Swinburne University in recognition of her work. Peggy served for three years on Victoria's Ministerial Council on Women's Equality and in January 2020 became a director of VicHealth. She is also co-chair of the Victorian chapter of the Minerva Network, which develops mentorships between leading Australian businesswomen and professional women athletes.
Peggy is also committed to numerous other causes. In June 2019, she was appointed to the Australian Institute of Sport Athlete Wellbeing and Engagement Advisory Committee and, from January 2020, has been a member of the AFL Mental Health Steering Committee. She is on the board of Women's Housing Limited and on the investment advisory panel of Home for Homes (an initiative of the Big Issue). She is also on the board of Australia Dementia Network Limited and the board of Fulbright Australia. Effective 1 January 2022, Peggy has been announced as the new Chancellor of RMIT University.
Peggy has been a non-executive director of several companies in the superannuation and financial services sectors. She is currently the chair of Vanguard Superannuation and is also a director of Infrastructure Specialist Asset Management. Peggy is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is also a member of Chief Executive Women and the Melbourne Forum.
In June 2019, Peggy was made an Officer of the Order of Australia for her services to Australian Rules Football, financial services law and women in leadership roles.