ELTHAM is one of Australia’s few truly independent schools led by a Company Board responsible to parent members. It is not affiliated with any religious or government organisations and has the freedom to dream and set its own strategic directions. The College Board is ultimately responsible for the overall educational and financial policy of the College. One parent of each family is required to take up membership, which entitles them to vote or stand for the College Board.
Jim Grant
I have extensive and varied experience in education, corporate and community organisations as a teacher, senior executive and consultant. A large part of my professional life has involved developing leaders and helping to build constructive cultures. I am committed to ELTHAM College’s purpose of “growing hearts and minds” and our values of courage, curiosity, respect, owning it and one team which are alive every day. I believe that strong and effective governance and strategy are critical parts of the schools’ success and the College Board's obligations.
Ruth Bailey
My reasons for being on the College Board are to ensure that “Parent Voice” is represented. My involvement in ECCA ensures that the connection between student - school - parent is preserved making ELTHAM a positive experience for all. I am committed to ensuring ELTHAM maintains high levels of governance whilst providing an interesting, diverse and quality education for our children.
Cynthia Gebert
I am an experienced senior executive and a strategic and ethical leader with a proven commitment to strong organisational governance. ELTHAM College has a reputation for developing well-rounded students who have a strong sense of community, are able to problem solve, assess risk and tackle life’s challenges. I have seen these valuable life skills develop in my son during his time at ELTHAM College. As part of the College Board I am committed to ELTHAM College being a positive environment where every student can access the opportunities they need to grow and develop.
Heather Campbell
I deeply believe that every young person should be able to explore the full variety of experiences that life has to offer and thus chart a pathway where they can make their dreams a reality. I particularly want to make sure that all students, from those that excel to those who may struggle with the traditional academic subjects, are supported and given the opportunities to excel in the areas that they are passionate about. I bring my skills in strategy, risk management and my years on other Boards to work with the College Board and school management to chart a compelling strategic direction for the school which supports all students.
Peter Frieberg
I bring cybersecurity expertise to the board, with over 24 years providing services into large banks (all big four), many ASX Top 20 companies, law enforcement, telecommunication, start ups, retail, HR and government organisations. I have experience as owner and company director of a $25M+ turnover business. I bring business development, audit and risk management and entrepreneurship skills learnt over a decade in that capacity to this board. Currently, I am a Cybersecurity mentor in the Startmate Accelerator 2024 cohort. I have two children at ELTHAM College, in Year 6 and Year 8.
Bryony Hayes
I have two children at ELTHAM College and I was also a student from Prep – Year 12, while my father taught at the College for many years as Head of the Maths Department, so I feel very connected to the school and would like to contribute and make a difference as part of the College Board. I bring risk management skills, along with legal and governance skills, having had a background in law and then financial services for the past 20 years. I have been involved with Boards and in particular Risk Committees and Investment Committees for many years in my role as Chief Risk Officer in financial services organisations.
Andrew Knight
Coming from a wider family where many have served as school teachers, I have a passion for learning and am involved now in the education sector as the CEO of Outdoors Victoria. I currently serve on the Outdoor Council of Australia Board and on the School Council of the Alpine Schools of Student Leadership. I bring extensive management experience in the automotive, Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG), not for profit and retail sectors having worked in the USA, UK and Australia. I have two children at ELTHAM College, in Year 8 and Year 10. I have been involved with the College’s involvement in the Great Victorian Bike Ride in a volunteer capacity.
Bec Lollback
I am a highly experienced senior leader and advisor to public and private sector clients in relation to their property and infrastructure. I am passionate about ensuring that our school’s hard and soft infrastructure is an enabler of our ELTHAM College Vision, Purpose and education philosophy. I am particularly passionate about ensuring our students are able to learn in an environment where every human, no matter how they identify, can reach their full potential. I have a child at ELTHAM College, attending Grade 1.
Shane Nichols
From our first visit to ELTHAM College my family and I sensed this place was different. Beyond the outstanding environment, what captured my attention were the intangible elements - the way students asked if we needed help, the sociable and respectful interactions between teachers and students, the variety of authentic learning opportunities. I serve as CEO of Good Return, a social purpose organisation that works in Australia and internationally in the fields of education, training and economic development. I am active in the community, my wife Junko is a teacher and my daughter is in Year 9 at ELTHAM College. I bring extensive governance experience having served on several Boards and committees including finance and audit, risk, marketing and fundraising.
Governance at ELTHAM College
ELTHAM is a not-for-profit public company, ELTHAM College Ltd. Its Members are those parents nominated on enrolment as the Company Member. They are entitled to attend and vote at the AGM. If you are not sure who is the Company Member in your family, please contact the College.
The College Board has the responsibility, the same as any public Company Board, to ensure the corporate integrity of the Company and to set strategic and overall policy directions. The Board delegates operational responsibility to the Principal. Directors govern the school under the Corporations Act (2001) and ASIC regulations and must carry out their fiduciary duties accordingly.
Each Company Member will receive the Annual Report, information on the AGM, a call for nominations for Director and proxy voting forms during March each year. Please put the date in your diary or plan to give your proxy to Reception so that we have a quorum. You may nominate any Member as a proxy.
There are twelve elected Directors who are elected for three years. Four retire each year. They are eligible for re-election.
The Principal is appointed as a director each year. The Principal is chosen first and foremost because of his/her capacity for educational leadership and, through this, the capacity to provide the vision and leadership for an executive team, staff, students, families and the wider community.
However, we also see that leadership is a role expected of all staff and, as they develop and learn, of all students. Our staff work in self-managing teams with leadership roles allocated appropriately to the leadership task and the team members. Students have a wide range of leadership opportunities as individual students, in collaboration with peers and working together with staff.
ELTHAM College Constitution
Our Constitution explains how the College is governed.
Download our Constitution