It is with deep sorrow that we remember Rachel Hagg, a radiant and compassionate spirit who touched the lives of everyone lucky enough to know her.

Born and raised in Ankeny, Iowa, Rachel carried the warmth and steady curiosity of her Midwestern roots into every new community she joined. In recent years she made her home in Sydney, Australia, where she pursued advanced study and a life full of purpose and connection.

Rachel was a talented finance professional whose early career included a role with Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, and later participation in the Finance Rotation Program at Collins Aerospace, where she was known for her sharp intellect, steady work ethic, and collaborative spirit.
Always eager to grow, Rachel expanded her interests beyond corporate finance into global sustainability—enrolling in the Sustainability Analysis program at the University of Sydney beginning in 2020.

There she combined rigorous study with a genuine desire to make a positive difference in the world, approaching complex problems with both analytical clarity and a deeply humane perspective.

Those who spent time with Rachel remember someone who was fiercely herself: thoughtful, quick-witted, and endlessly kind. She had a rare gift for connecting with people across differences — an ability to make strangers feel known and friends feel cherished.

Her laughter and curiosity drew others in; her quiet compassion gave them a place to land. Whether she was discussing a financial model, debating a sustainability policy, or simply sharing a coffee on a rainy Sydney street, Rachel brought authenticity and bright energy to every encounter.

Rachel’s friendships were a central part of her life. One close friend wrote:

“Rachel Hagg was my closest and best friend, and a profoundly bright light in the world. She was fiercely herself, sharp, thoughtful, funny, deeply passionate, and kind… Her influence on my life is difficult to express. Life without her feels a lot emptier and less welcoming. Rachel, you are my best friend and I am endlessly grateful for that privilege. When our paths eventually cross again, I cannot wait to hear about all the adventures you’ll be going on now (and heaven’s new sustainability program). I love you Rach.”

These words echo the experience of countless others who found in Rachel a confidante, a challenger, and a steady presence through both ordinary days and extraordinary moments.

She loved having conversations that ranged from the serious to the silly, and she never shied away from encouraging others to try something new—whether that meant signing up for a half-marathon or boarding a plane to a new city.

Rachel’s family and friends will forever cherish her warmth, her brilliant mind, and the laughter she shared freely. She leaves behind a community spread across continents—family and friends in Ankeny, colleagues from the finance world, classmates from the University of Sydney, and the many people in Sydney whose lives she brightened.

As we grieve, we also celebrate Rachel’s curiosity, compassion, and the countless small kindnesses that defined her days. Her legacy is the people she connected, the ideas she championed, and the love she gave without reservation.

May Rachel rest in peace, and may her memory be a comfort and inspiration to all who mourn her passing. If you knew Rachel and wish to share a memory or a message of condolence, your words will help keep her spirit alive among those who loved her.