Name: Andrew Dwyer
Membership Category: Community Member and Chair
Experience: Strategy, Finance and Transformation
Board Tenure: 3rd year
Connection with School: Parent of former graduate
Summary
I bring skills in strategy, change, and finance developed from executive and consulting roles. High performance requires continuous improvement. As society continues to change and evolve, I am particularly interested in the school’s long-term and sustainable growth, and it continues to be one of the very best schools in Western Australia.
Name: Angie Thomas
Membership Category: Executive Officer
Experience:
Board Tenure:
Connection with School: Vice Principal
Summary
Name: Melissa Clarke
Membership Category: Community Member
Experience: Business Systems and Process Improvement
Board Tenure: 3rd year
Connection with School: Children in Year 7 and 9
Volunteering for the School Board is a way to “give back” to a school that will be a part of my family for potentially the next six years of our lives. I joined the Board as a Community Member and new parent in 2021. I now have two children at the school, Year 7 and Year 9.
I have previously served on other school boards, giving me a strong insight into the many aspects of governance and the Board’s role.
With my business systems and processes background, I hope to assist and help the school and its community of hard-working staff facilitate positive change in an ever-changing world.
Name: Geoff Cooper
Membership Category: Parent Member and Secretary
Experience:
Board Tenure: 2nd year
Connection with School: Children are students
Summary
As a Parent Representative, I’ll utilise 20+ years of experience in private businesses, government, consultancy and not-for-profits – having worked for the Master Builders Association, Property Council, and SGIO. In addition, I have an honours degree in Law and degrees in Economics and Communications.
This experience has included work in employee relations, OSH, budgeting, sponsorships, recycling, worker’s compensation, scenario planning, taxation, and building regulation.
Since 2018, I’ve been the Chair of the Ardross Primary School Board, and I previously contributed ten years as a volunteer on the Blue Gum Early Learning and Day Care Centre Management Committee.
Name: Katie Kumasaka
Membership Category: Community Member
Experience: Academic
Board Tenure: 1st year
Connection with School: Students in Year 7
Summary
As a former secondary teacher and currently a lecturer in the School of Education at Curtin University, I have been involved in teaching and research for over 20 years, with a particular focus in Humanities. I am excited to be involved in the school community through the school board and contribute to a shared vision for school improvement and sustainable practices that always have the needs of students at its core.
Name: Lorraine Hammond AM
Membership Category: Community Member
Experience: Academic
Board Tenure: 3rd year
Connection with School: Student at Applecross SHS
Summary
As an Associate Professor in the School of Education at Edith Cowan University, I have a long history of researching and working with schools and teachers on effective teaching, particularly in the area of literacy. I have been a Board Chair, Deputy Chair and member of Independent Public Schools Boards for over 15 years and am also a former Secondary Teacher.
Name: Malar Jayaprakash
Membership Category: Community Member
Experience: Tertiary Teaching and Learning
Board Tenure: 2nd year
Connection with School: Son in Year 12, Daughter previous student
Summary
I have been involved with education at the secondary and tertiary levels for more than 30 years. My expertise is in curriculum alignment and student learning. I would like to contribute in a way that would see students achieve their personal best in all aspects of school life.
Name: Ben Kelly
Membership Category: Staff Representative
Experience: Defence, Environmental Management, Teaching
Board Tenure: 1st year
Connection with School: Staff member
Summary
I began teaching in 2015 following previous roles in Defence and Local Government. I believe in the importance of public education and the right of every young person to access a safe and supportive learning environment. I hope to provide an ‘operational’ perspective of the school from a teacher’s point of view.
Name: Dr Adeline Teh
Membership Category: Parent Member
Experience: Principal Dentist
Board Tenure: 1st year
Connection with School: Two children in Years 8 and 10
Summary
I have worked as a principal dentist and a small business owner for over 20 years. With experience in the health industry and as a small business owner, I bring my fresh perspectives to running an efficient and productive team. I have had strong ties with the school as an ex-AXSHS alumnus.
I have volunteered in the Special Visual Arts team to support the teachers and students during the Saturday canteen and was one of the key members in bringing forward the Visual Art jacket.
I like to support the school in promoting its core values of producing students that produce their personal best in all areas. I would like to help give new and fresh ideas to the school to create a better multicultural modern school.
Name: Rob Thompson
Membership Category: Parent Member
Experience: Financial Services; Education
Board Tenure: 1st year
Connection with School: Three children at the school
Summary
Having worked for many years in financial services executive roles for firms such as Perpetual Investments, Macquarie Group, PM Capital and Insight Investment, I decided to return to my initial career path of teaching at the start of 2020.
Having all three of our children in attendance at Applecross Senior High School, Tara and I have been delighted with their experience at school and, specifically, the pastoral care that has been available early in their high school experience.
As a firm believer in the importance of public education, I bring business discipline coupled with practical pedagogical knowledge and an understanding of the challenges of providing contemporary, evidence-based practice in an ever-changing environment. I’m delighted to have this opportunity to contribute and serve the school community over the next few years.
Name: Wayne Houden
Membership Category: Staff Representative
Experience: Education
Board Tenure: 1st year
Connection with School: Staff Member – Teacher
Summary
My career has included management roles in franchising and the community education sector, yet for the most part, has seen me employed as a secondary school teacher across a number of schools in Perth and regional WA.
Name: Theo Scagliotta
Membership Category: Student Representative
Experience:
Board Tenure: 1st year
Connection with School: School Captain
Summary
As a Year 12 student at Applecross SHS since Year 7, I can offer a student’s perspective on school life. As such, I am able to provide an outlook on school
life that most other Board members are unable to do. This allows for even better decisions to be made, including direct input from the student body.
Name: Sienna Pettman
Membership Category: Student Representative
Experience:
Board Tenure: 1st year
Connection with School: School Captain
Summary
