[4] McCarthy has held a number of senior management and governance roles in the tertiary education, science and health sectors.

In 1995 she was promoted to professor and served as associate dean of the university's Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences.

[8] McCarthy was co-opted into the Royal Society of New Zealand Council to improve the representation of women.

She has been interested in equity issues throughout her career, being appointed as pro vice-chancellor of equal opportunities at the University of Auckland in 2005.

In the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours, she was promoted to Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit, for her services to science, business and women.