Her Story

The saying ‘like mother, like daughter’ could not have held truer for Anna Shepherd. In the 1960s, her mother Patricia forayed into the health industry with the establishment of Regal Home Health. More than three decades later, Anna has heralded that dream into a vastly successful in-home health care and support service.

After joining Regal Home Health in 1984, she decided to step into the role of CEO in 2000, after which she ushered her business into a period of even greater growth and success. Through her hard work and resolve, Anna has made Regal Home Health the first private home health care organisation in Australia to be accredited by the Australian Council on Healthcare Standards (ACHS), and has provided care to over 30,000 people.

Anna is an acknowledged leader in the healthcare industry. Looking back, she believes her greatest strength is in the people she was been surrounded by.

“As I reflect on 32 years of service to the community, my greatest key learning has been to surround yourself with people who are aligned to your vision, people who have the skill set to do the job and people you can trust to deliver as agreed. Once you are in this place, the potential of what you can achieve together is limitless.”

Anna has many accolades to her name: CEO of Regal Home Health, Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of Sydney Nursing School, and founding member of the Sydney Nursing School Primary Health Care Nursing Forum. Also, she was the only Australian woman to graduate from Harvard Business School’s Entrepreneur Owner/President Management Program in 2010. She is now a participant in the Harvard Alumni Mentor Program.

More recently, she won The Australian Financial Review and Westpac 100 Women of Influence Awards for 2015 in the Business Enterprise category.  She was also nominated by ANZ for the Telstra Business Awards in 2011 and the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in 2012.

Strategies for Success

• Persistence – Never give up on what you instinctively know is your right path, and inspire others to join you. There are many times you will feel like giving up but persist. You will find many roadblocks, but just go back and find another way. There is always a way. Never ever give up!
• Kindness & Compassion– Always be kind and compassionate to others. Consider that everyone is born equal. It’s the experiences of one’s life that has led them to whatever their circumstances are today. See them in their true light and reveal their potential with kindness and compassion.
• Nurturing & Building Networks -Most people would say of me, if you need something done or need to connect with anyone anywhere in the world ‘Anna will make it happen’. Many of my relationships I have maintained throughout my career. Once a connection has been made, I ensure that I do whatever I can to help the person and remain loyal over many years.
• Mentorship
– I was a willing apprentice throughout my career, I always sought at the industry leaders and people who seemed to have things figured out better than me to see what I could learn to be better. I now take my role as Mentor very seriously and give back in many forums from The University of Sydney to Harvard University and many members of my team, I mentor to support them in their growth.
• Giving Back– 
Give back wherever you can, a legacy my mother passed on to me. We have supported many organisations to thrive. We take corporate social responsibility very seriously in providing scholarships, social isolation programs, mentorship, indigenous programs, arts programs and humanity for humanity.