COLLEGE
BOARD
The role of the Board is to provide sound governance for the College. Each member of the Board of Directors is appointed by the members of Scotch Oakburn College Inc. and is bound by a constitution and charter, both of which are regularly updated and amended to suit evolving conditions.
The most important function of the Board is the appointment of the Principal, who is responsible for the staff and students, programs and activities of the College. The Principal is guided by the Scotch Oakburn Strategic Plan, policies and initiatives developed in conjunction with the Board of Directors. The policies administered by the board can be found on our College policies page. Other important functions of the Board include oversight of finances and risk management, and the development of facilities, buildings and grounds.
Back row: Calton Frame, Karen van der Aa, Andy Müller, David Finnigan, Rebecca Cuthill. Front row: Selena Palmer, Emma Vincour, Ben Marsland, Jessica Woodroffe, Jim Wilson. Inset: Rohan Pryor.
The Scotch Oakburn Board is skills based. Collectively, the members of the Board apply a balanced perspective and a wealth of experience to Board discussions and decisions. The Board ensures that the interests of all College stakeholders are considered in the decision-making process.
The Principal, in consultation with the Board, appoints the Business Manager who also has the role of Secretary to the Board. The Business Manager’s responsibilities are extensive, forming an important link between Board Committees, the Principal, the Chair of the Board and wider College groups.
Any large organisation embracing so many committees and subgroups needs clear guidelines for good and orderly communication. The point of contact between the College and Board is through the Principal and the Chair of the Board. Their working relationship is necessarily close, trusting, regular and, where necessary, confidential.
Chairperson: David Finnigan
Deputy Chairperson: Rebecca Cuthill
Other Board members (in alphabetical order):
Andy Müller
Selena Palmer
Rohan Pryor
Karen van der Aa
Emma Vincour
Jim Wilson
Jessica Woodroffe
The Deputy Principal, Ben Marsland, attends all Board meetings.
Secretary to the Board: Calton Frame
T: 6336 3360
E: calton.frame@soc.tas.edu.au
Meet our Board of Directors
Rebecca is a College Collegian (’89) and current parent of the College. She is currently the Associate Director of Philanthropy and Director of Advancement at the University of Tasmania. She is also a committee member of the Fundraising Institute of Australia (Tasmania branch) and trustee of a private philanthropic fund.
Rebecca has over 20 years of experience in the communication, fundraising and social justice arenas having worked nationally and internationally for SBS TV; the BBC and the United Nations. More recently she has worked for the state government and the University of Tasmania. Rebecca was also an Australia Day Ambassador for six years and is a passionate advocate for education, humanitarian causes and wider issues of justice.
Skills and experience:
Rebecca brings skills in effective communication, strategic management and fundraising, and experience in leading and mentoring, public speaking, negotiation and financial literacy.
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Arts (Politics and Sociology)
Graduate Diploma Communications
David moved with his wife (Julie) to Launceston from western Victoria in 1992 to commence employment in the consulting engineering industry. They love Tasmania, its lifestyle, its culture, and its nature and have raised two children, Jacob, and Jessica, here. After their children attended primary school, David and Julie decided they wanted to provide their children with the best education they could afford and enrolled both Jacob and Jess at the Middle School at Scotch Oakburn College.
David and his wife believe in being actively engaged in the education of their children. Simply put this meant for them, being a parent that takes an active interest in the pursuits of their children whilst at the College. For David, it also meant finding a way to be active in the broader College community by offering his problem-solving and risk management skills, and contemporary corporate governance experience, to the College.
Skills and experience:
David is a respected Executive Manager and Professional Engineer with 29 years of experience in the industry including over 15 years of experience in executive management, operations management and the delivery of large capital projects in Australia and has experience in strategy, business development, client relationship management, risk management and leadership of high performing teams.
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Engineering (with Honours)
Bachelor of Economics
Chartered Professional Engineer – Civil, leadership and management
With a background in science and economics, Calton enjoys being a part of the Scotch Oakburn team as College Business Manager and Secretary to the Board of Directors.
Calton’s role includes overseeing all non-teaching activities and ensuring the strategic plan of the College is delivered seamlessly across all aspects of our operations.
He is passionate about ensuring that all at the College are working to the same objective of providing the best possible education for our students and focuses much of his attention to the Capacity strand of the College. The Capacity strand looks to ensure that the College is ‘enabled’ to achieve its broader vision and goals, by delivering both financial capacity and people capacity.
Calton enjoys a range of things outside of work, including family time, assisting the community via his local surf life saving club, and watching all types of sport (particularly professional cycling and the Western Bulldogs AFL team).
Skills and experience:
Calton brings skills in strategic management development and delivery, asset management, risk management, leadership capacity and development, governance and strong commercial administration skills. He has experience in financial management and financial masterplan delivery, facilities development and facilities master planning.
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Science (Major in Forestry)
Bachelor of Economics (Major in Commerce)
Ben moved from Victoria with his partner, Catherine, to take up the role of Deputy Principal at the College. He has a background in Performing Arts and student wellbeing and has developed and led innovative school programs in social and emotional, experiential, and residential learning.
Ben holds a Master’s degree in Leadership (Principal Preparation) and Graduate Certificate in Educational Research, from Monash University. His research focused on experiential and indigenous learning programs and the challenges around culturally inclusive leadership in residential schools.
Ben’s approach to student learning and wellbeing has been influenced by the inquiry-based and conceptual pedagogies of the International Baccalaureate Middle Years and Diploma Programs. Ben is committed to providing holistic learning experiences for young people. He believes in the transformational capacity of coeducational learning, and understands the contemporary classroom is found not only within school buildings but in the natural and built environments all around us.
Skills and experience:
Ben brings a diverse range of skills in education to his role as an observing member of the Board. These include school leadership, arts education, experiential and residential learning, student wellbeing and curriculum oversight.
Qualifications:
Master of Leadership in Principal Preparation
Graduate Certificate in Educational Research
Bachelor of Music Education, Secondary
Certificate IV TAE
Andy has held teaching and leadership roles in education for over 30 years, including in the United Kingdom. Prior to that he worked in industrial chemistry and then in administration in Melbourne’s bid to host the 1996 Olympic Games. Outside the classroom, Andy enjoys coaching sporting teams and has led a range of expeditions, including to Nepal.
Skills and experience:
Andy brings teaching and learning skills and experience and educational leadership.
Qualifications:
Bachelor in Applied Chemistry
Graduate Diploma in Education
Post Graduate Diploma in Educational Administration
Master of Education
Selena is a Scotch Oakburn Collegian (nee Barnett, ’91) and parent at the College. She is passionate about the philanthropic activities of the College. Selena has a background in marketing, communications and fundraising within large corporations, not for profit organisations, a statutory authority within the telecommunications, public sector and sporting sectors. She is a business Director within the automotive industry. Outside of work, Selena loves to read, cook, and is involved in philanthropic pursuits and mentoring. She is passionate about the opportunities that education can provide to all children.
Skills and experience:
Selena brings commercial understanding, marketing and communications experience and philanthropic experience. Her insights as a Collegian also contribute to her role.
Qualifications:
Master of Business
Rohan holds dual roles for the Uniting Church as the senior staff member in Tasmania (Synod Liaison Minister) with pastoral leadership for the Presbytery of Tasmania (Presbytery Chairperson).
Since 1992 Rohan has worked for the Uniting Church in a range of roles including youth work, statistical research, IT management, event coordination, regional leadership, educational coordination, and senior management. He has experience in all four of the layers (‘inter-related councils’) of the Uniting Church, from local to national.
Rohan enjoys family travels, cinema and music, and getting outdoors for gardening, cycling, bush walking, paddling, and back-country skiing.
Skills and experience:
A strong understanding of the Uniting Church: current structures and requirements; theological foundations and commitments; community services and institutions; relationships with other faiths, traditions and worldviews; and leadership development.
A solid understanding of pedagogy and educational practice.
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Science
Bachelor of Computing (Honours)
Bachelor of Theology
Graduate Diploma in Adult and Vocational Education and Training
Graduate Certificate in Leadership
With over 25 years of experience in finance and accounting, Karen is currently CFO and Company Secretary of TasRail.
With two children currently attending Scotch Oakburn College and very involved in sporting activities, much of her spare time is spent supporting them in their pursuits. Karen has also spent time on the Harvest Market board and NRM North.
In her spare time, Karen and her family love to travel, with much of that in recent times around our beautiful state.
Skills and experience:
Karen brings skills in finance and accounting, internal and external audit.
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Commerce
Member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants
Fellow of Institute of Chartered Accountants
Emma is a mother of two children who currently attend Scotch Oakburn. She is also a Collegian (nee Fellows ’96). After graduating from the University of Tasmania, Emma has practised law in Queensland, Tasmania, England and Wales. She has 18 years of legal experience working in the areas of commercial law, property law and estate planning.
Spare time is spent with her family, running with her dog, bushwalking and travelling. She is the Run Director for a local Park Run and an advocate of its benefit to the community. Emma’s passion is travel and all that it teaches you about another part of the world, its people and their culture.
Skills and experience:
Emma’s legal background provides skills in analytical thinking, research and problem solving; together with experience in risk management and providing guidance in conflict resolution. Her travel experience brings cultural awareness and understanding that may be required during decision making.
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Science (Biomedical Science)
Bachelor of Laws
Jim and his wife and three daughters enjoy living in North East Tasmania. He is a Collegian of the College (’98) and continues his connection with the College as a Director, current parent and rowing coach.
Jim is an established leader in the Australian forest and agribusiness asset management sector. He holds several Director roles with Private Forests Tasmania, Forestry Australia, and the Tasmanian Agricultural Productivity Group. He is a strong advocate of service and is passionate about supporting Scotch Oakburn College forge ahead with a contemporary approach to the development wellbeing amongst young people.
Skills and experience:
Jim brings skills in risk management, leadership, workforce development and commerce.
Qualifications:
Bachelor of Science (Forestry)
Graduate Australian Institute of Company Directors
Registered Forestry Professional – Forestry Australia
Graduate Australian Rural Leadership Program
Jess is a social and educational researcher at the University of Tasmania’s Peter Underwood Centre for Educational Attainment. The Centre is a partnership between the University, State Government and Office of the Governor. Her work at the Centre is as a senior lecturer and coordinator of ‘Partner Programs’, responsible for formal learning partnerships with 26 schools and over 1,000 senior secondary learners in Tasmania.
Jess is passionate about engaging with young Tasmanians, schools and communities in the areas of informing aspirations, wellbeing, and supporting transitions to further education and training through innovative and engaged place-based programs of learning.
Outside of work, Jess has two active boys aged 12 and 9. She enjoys hiking, beachcombing and reading and spends as much time as she can at Freycinet, on Tasmania’s East Coast.
Skills and experience:
Jess brings skills in research, publications, grants and reporting. She has extensive knowledge of the Tasmanian educational sector, including current education policy and reform. She has working knowledge of senior secondary pathways and qualifications in Tasmania through her policy work with the Department of Education and the Office of Tasmanian Accreditation Standards and Certification (TASC). She also has and experience in working with all levels of government and NGOs.
Qualifications:
PhD
Graduate Certificate (Teaching and Learning)
Bachelor of Arts (Honours)