At the time of her election as bishop, she was serving as the senior associate priest at Holy Covenant Anglican Church located near the Jamison Centre in Cook, Australian Capital Territory.

[5][2] The diocese includes Anglican churches from Port Macquarie northwards to the New South Wales border with Queensland.

[6] Her election made history, as Macneil became the first woman in the Anglican Church of Australia to be selected as a diocesan bishop.

[10] His resignation came just prior to the commencement of an investigation by a royal commission into sexual abuse at the North Coast Children's home, which was run by the diocese and under Slater's jurisdiction.

[10] On 3 November 2017, Macneil announced her resignation as Bishop of Grafton, effective from 3 March 2018, citing medical advice.