The Australian Women's Register

Summary

Born in Johannesburg, South Africa, Rayne de Gruchy migrated as a child to Australia in 1962. She was educated at St Hilda’s school in Southport, Queensland and went on to graduate with a BA (UQ) in 1975. After spending some time working and travelling overseas, de Gruchy returned to study law (LLB with honours) at the Australian National University. She was admitted as a solicitor in New South Wales and Queensland in 1981, and in Victoria in 1985.

She then worked in private practice and a variety of large firms throughout the 1980 and 90s:

• Private practice, property and commercial, Morris, Fletcher and Cross, Brisbane (1981-85)
• Partner and lawyer Freehill, Hollingdale and Page, Melbourne (1985-92)
• Director, MLC Building Society (1989-95)
• Councillor, Law Institute of Victoria (1989-95)
• Practised at Melbourne and Brisbane Bars (1992-94)
• Executive Director Crown Law Queensland (1994-95)
• Executive Director Australian Financial Institutions Commission (1996-99)
• CEO Australian Government Solicitor (AGS) (1999-2010)
• Deputy CEO Australian Competition & Consumer Commission (ACCC) (2010-14)
• Chief Operating Officer ACCC (2014- )

De Gruchy’s leadership as the inaugural CEO Australian Government Solicitor was integral to the successful evolution of the AGS to a fully commercial and competitive national law firm. She was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001, a PSM in 2003 and an AM in 2008. She left the AGS in later in that year, commencing with the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission where she is now Chief Operating Officer.