[3][4] O'Neal worked as a lawyer with Herbert Smith Freehills and later with Lander & Rogers, and served on the boards of MLC Limited and the Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation.

She defeated two other candidates, investment banker Maurice O'Shannassy and former International Cricket Council CEO Malcolm Speed, becoming the first woman elected president of any AFL club.

[14] In 2019, she was appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for distinguished service to Australian rules football, to superannuation and finance law, and to the advancement of women in leadership roles.

[16] O'Neal features in the 2021 fly-on-the-wall documentary TV series Making Their Mark, which showed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on several AFL clubs, players, and staff.

[17][18] Players Nic Naitanui, Eddie Betts, Stephen Coniglio, and Rory Sloane, were featured, along with Gold Coast Suns football club coach Stuart Dew, and Richmond staff leaders O'Neal, Damien Hardwick, and Brendon Gale.