Janet Miller

I left the world of professional services, seeking a sector offering community service, warmth and compassion and I found all that and more at Centennial Park. Centennial Park sits in the foothills of Adelaide’s inner south and is the state’s premier cemetery. We are a place for the living; a vibrant community hub where life is cherished, commemorated, contemplated, celebrated. Our 40ha of stunning botanical grounds provide a peaceful sanctuary, and promote physical and emotional healing. We openly talk about options available to families so that they are in control of the decisions to be made when someone they love, dies. We have many stakeholders and my role requires a mix of authenticity, compassion, and commercial accountability. We have a skilled and united team of around 60 individuals working in a diverse range of roles from horticulture to technology; grave preparation to people & culture. Growing a self-funded organisation in a highly emotive setting, where grief and loss are felt every day, has been an unexpectedly rewarding experience to date. We have repositioned the Park at the forefront of contemporary cemetery practices and changed the way in which the community views and uses the Park and its facilities - breaking down long-held taboos.