Janelle Entwistle is a Partner at Heidrick & Struggles, where she leads the Education and Social Impact Practice in Australia. Based between Canberra and Sydney, Janelle is a highly regarded executive search professional with a deep-seated commitment to the mission-driven sectors. She specializes in identifying and placing high-caliber leadership for universities, research institutions, and social justice organizations, ensuring that these entities have the strategic governance required to drive societal change. Janelle’s expertise is built on a formidable decade-plus tenure at Perrett Laver, where she served as the Managing Partner for Australia. During her nearly 12 years there, she was instrumental in establishing the firm as a leader in the Australian academic and non-profit search markets. Her transition to Heidrick & Struggles in late 2025 signaled a strategic expansion of the firm’s commitment to the Australian "Social Impact" landscape, leveraging her vast network and reputation for rigorous, values-based recruitment. Her background is uniquely balanced by significant "client-side" experience in the higher education sector. She spent over five years at The Australian National University (ANU), serving as Associate Director of International Strategy, Alliances, and Partnerships. This role provided her with first-hand insight into the complexities of university administration, international faculty recruitment, and global institutional branding—knowledge that now allows her to offer her search clients a level of operational empathy and strategic foresight that few in the industry can match. Beyond her professional achievements, Janelle is deeply integrated into the Australian community through her volunteer service. She is currently the Secretary and a member of the Queanbeyan City Rural Fire Brigade and previously volunteered with the NSW State Emergency Service (SES). This dedication to emergency service reflects her core values of leadership under pressure and civic duty. Janelle holds a Master of Management from ANU, as well as a Master of Marketing and a Bachelor of Social Science from the University of Newcastle, providing her with a multidisciplinary foundation in business strategy, social behavior, and organizational culture. Key Leadership & Strategic Pillars Education Sector Authority: One of Australia’s leading voices in academic executive search, with a specific focus on Vice-Chancellor, Dean, and Board-level appointments. Social Impact Strategist: Specialist in identifying leaders for NGOs and foundations who can balance mission-driven goals with commercial sustainability. International Alliances Expert: Deep expertise in cross-border partnerships and global talent sourcing, informed by her strategic roles at ANU. Community-Led Governance: Her volunteer leadership roles in the NSW Rural Fire Service provide her with a unique perspective on crisis management and community-focused organizational structures. Firm Profile (Heidrick & Struggles) Global Leadership Advisory: A premier provider of executive search and culture shaping, known for placing leaders in the world's most influential organizations. Mission-Driven Focus: The Education and Social Impact Practice focuses on institutions that shape the future, from global universities to international humanitarian organizations. Integrated Solutions: Combines world-class search capabilities with leadership assessment and diversity consulting to build resilient, future-proof leadership teams in the Oceania region.