NEWCASTLE GRAMMAR SCHOOL - Key Persons


Dr Alan Parsons

Job Titles:
  • Deputy Head of School / Location: Hill Campus

Miss Chantal Byrnes

Job Titles:
  • Head of House

Miss Renee Mackay

Job Titles:
  • Key Staff Member
  • Marketing and Design / Location: Hill Campus

Mr Andrew O'Connell

Job Titles:
  • Head of CAPA / Location: Hill Campus

Mr Ben Peacock

Job Titles:
  • Head of House

Mr Chris Ferry

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Director of Learning and Teaching 7 - 12 / Location: Hill Campus

Mr Daniel Kozey

Job Titles:
  • Director of Co - Curricular / Location: Hill Campus

Mr Daniel Locking

Job Titles:
  • Head of Global Studies

Mr David Frazer

Job Titles:
  • Head of Finance and Business Services / Location: Hill Campus

Mr Drew Collins

Job Titles:
  • Director of Operations and Experiential Learning / Location: Hill Campus

Mr Geoff O'Neill

Job Titles:
  • Head of Language and Literacy / Location: Hill Campus

Mr John Candy

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Chairman of the Audit, Finance
  • Chief Financial Officer of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service
Mr Candy joined the Newcastle Grammar School Board in August 2019 and holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from the University of Newcastle, is a Chartered Accountant and is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Mr Candy is the Chief Financial Officer of the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service and in that role manages the finance function as well as overseeing the organisation's procurement, facilities and technology, whilst having extensive involvement in government tender processes. John has expertise in managing budgets, strategic planning, infrastructure and asset management, fundraising, risk management and corporate governance. Mr Candy is the Chair of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee and a member of the Equity Scholarship Committee. Mr Candy currently has two children attending Newcastle Grammar School.

Mr Lee O'Brien

Job Titles:
  • Head of STEM / Location: Hill Campus

Mr Matt Macoustra

Job Titles:
  • Head of School / Location: Hill Campus

Mr Paul Lumley

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Head of STEM / Location: Hill Campus

Mr Peter Juchniewicz

Job Titles:
  • Head of PDHPE / Location: Hill Campus

Mr Philip Fielden

Job Titles:
  • Director of Strategy and Performance / Location: Hill Campus

Mr Robert Madden

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Member of the Property and Development Committee of the School
Mr Madden joined the Newcastle Grammar School Board in April 2021. He holds qualifications in Construction Management from University of Newcastle, is a Chartered Project Manager and Quantity Surveyor and possesses over 10 years' experience working in Australia, UK and Europe predominantly in the Education, Arts & Cultural, Heritage and Hospitality Sectors. Mr Madden is also a Director of Madden & Associates Pty Ltd. His expertise includes strategic planning, infrastructure and asset management and risk management. Mr Madden is a member of the Property and Development Committee of the School.

Mr Todd Williams

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of the Corporate Governance Committee
  • Deputy Chair of the Board
Mr Williams joined the Newcastle Grammar School Board in February 2017. He holds qualifications in Business from Harvard University, INSEAD and University of Newcastle. His expertise includes business growth, economic development, regional innovation, STEM and strategic planning. He has presented internationally on a range of topics including Economic Development, Innovation, Infrastructure and High Speed Rail. Mr Williams is the Chair of the Corporate Governance Committee and Equity Scholarship Committee. Mr Williams has one child attending Newcastle Grammar School.

Mrs Alicha Dyer

Job Titles:
  • Head of Primary K - 6

Mrs Amy Falconer

Job Titles:
  • Head of Operations and Development K - 6 / Location: Park Campus

Mrs Andrea Ferguson

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Head of STEM / Location: Hill Campus

Mrs Belinda Nichols

Job Titles:
  • Deputy Head of Primary & Head of Learning and Teaching K - 6 / Location: Park Campus

Mrs Carla Holmes

Job Titles:
  • Head of House

Mrs Caroline Rufino

Job Titles:
  • Key Staff Member
  • Student Services / Location: Hill Campus

Mrs Catherine Gomez

Job Titles:
  • Key Staff Member
  • Personal Assistant to the Deputy Head of School / Location: Hill Campus

Mrs Chris Giles

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Member of the Audit, Finance
Ms Giles joined the Newcastle Grammar School Board in 2018 and holds a Master of Organisational Leadership, Bachelor of Arts, and Bachelor of Social Work. Ms Giles has over 25 years' experience in leadership, innovation, and business development, having held strategy and executive roles at local, regional, and national levels in diverse sectors, including primary health and the not-for-profit sectors of aged and community care. She brings expertise and skills in workforce design, strategic planning, quality, risk management, and corporate governance. As a Consultant, Ms Giles supports organisations nationally to understand and meet their legislative and regulatory requirements, manage the rapid changes in the human service sector, and embed robust clinical governance frameworks to drive clinical safety, quality, and continuous improvement in the delivery of clinical care, including through system and health technologies. Ms Giles is a member of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee and the Equity Scholarship Committee. Ms Giles has five children who all attended Newcastle Grammar School and now also has grandchildren attending.

Mrs Clare Fogo

Job Titles:
  • Key Staff Member
  • Personal Assistant to the Head of Primary / Location: Park Campus

Mrs Erin Anderson

Job Titles:
  • Key Staff Member
  • Student Services / Location: Hill Campus

Mrs Kate Grogan

Job Titles:
  • Key Staff Member
  • Personal Assistant to the Head of School / Location: Hill Campus

Mrs Leanne Lynch

Job Titles:
  • Director of Studies / Location: Hill Campus

Mrs Lisa Peterson

Job Titles:
  • Director of Teaching and Learning

Mrs Lucinda Gray

Job Titles:
  • Key Staff Member
  • Communications Manager / Location: Hill Campus

Mrs Melinda Tucker

Job Titles:
  • Head of Learning Enhancement K - 6 / Location: Park Campus

Mrs Michelle White

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Member of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee
Mrs White joined the Board in 2023. She is an experienced lawyer admitted to practice in the UK and NSW, holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Bachelor of Law from University of Newcastle, a Certificate in Corporate Governance from INSEAD and is a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Mrs White has over 20 years' expertise driving legal, strategic, commercial, risk management and corporate governance objectives. She has extensive professional experience as a global lawyer, spanning multiple industries across several areas (including M&A, real estate, projects, construction, regulatory, crisis management) with niche expertise in ESG (Environment and Social Governance), human rights and sustainability. She is an Executive with General Electric Corporation and has a multifaceted global role working closely with Boards and all levels of business, as well as regulators, and external stakeholders. Prior to joining GE, Michelle was a lawyer with Ashurst London. She lived and worked in Europe, USA, and Asia before returning to Newcastle. Mrs White is a member of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee and the Corporate Governance Committee. Mrs White has three children who attend Newcastle Grammar School.

Mrs Rowena McGowan

Job Titles:
  • Key Staff Member
  • Head of Enrolments / Location: Hill Campus

Mrs Sally Wood

Job Titles:
  • Head of House

Mrs Sara Cutler

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Head of CAPA / Location: Hill Campus

Mrs Sharyn Rankin

Job Titles:
  • Key Staff Member
  • Executive Support / Location: Hill Campus

Ms Bobbie Patel

Job Titles:
  • Head of House

Ms Carolyn Yost

Job Titles:
  • Key Staff Member
  • Project & Enrolments Coordinator / Location: Hill Campus

Ms Catherine Wilkinson - Chairman

Job Titles:
  • Chairman of the Board
  • Member of the Corporate Governance Committee
  • Senior Partner at Sparke Helmore Lawyers
Ms Wilkinson commenced as Chair of the Board in 2020 and has been a member of the Board since 2012. Catherine holds a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Laws, Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and is a Graduate of the AICD. Ms Wilkinson is a Senior Partner at Sparke Helmore Lawyers. She is part of the executive management of the Firm and the national manager of the Workplace team. She oversees the work of that speciality practice, which provides advice to corporate and government clients on a range of work health and safety and employment related matters. Ms Wilkinson has also served as the Newcastle Managing Partner of the Firm for six years, is a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee, and has been part of numerous internal committees and projects at the Firm. She has on ongoing focus on the advancement of women in the legal profession and is involved in the Firm's programme which provides support to women at the Firm and within the Firm's client communities through mentoring, leadership, education and knowledge sharing. She was a member of the Industrial Relations Society of NSW (Hunter Branch) for 18 years and served as Secretary and President of that Committee. Ms Wilkinson is a member of the Corporate Governance Committee and a previous Chair of the Audit Finance and Risk Committee. Ms Wilkinson's daughter attended Newcastle Grammar School.

Ms Clare Slattery

Job Titles:
  • Key Staff Member
  • Head of Community Relations / Location: Hill Campus

Ms Eily Pleming

Job Titles:
  • Head of House

Ms Elspeth Standen

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Head of Languages and Literacy / Location: Hill Campus

Ms Jennifer Hayes

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Certified Practicing Accountant
  • Chairman of the Property and Development Committee
Ms Hayes joined the Newcastle Grammar School Board in 2021. Ms Hayes is a Certified Practicing Accountant, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Bachelor of Business in Accountancy and Master of Business. Ms Hayes has over 20 years' experience in Executive and Non-executive positions; locally, nationally and internationally, in a diverse range of sectors including fast moving consumer goods, utilities, primary health and tertiary education. She brings extensive skills and experience in financial leadership, economics, strategic planning, corporate governance, audit and risk management. Ms Hayes is the Chair of the Property and Development Committee and a member of the Audit, Finance and Risk Committee. Ms Hayes has two children attending Newcastle Grammar School.

Ms Jo Murdoch

Job Titles:
  • Head of Wellbeing K - 6 / Location: Park / Hill Campus

Ms Jordan Grant

Job Titles:
  • Head of House

Ms Lisa Foster

Job Titles:
  • Key Staff Member
  • Student Services / Location: Hill Campus

Ms Marnie Thomas

Job Titles:
  • Head of Positive Education / Location: Hill Campus

Ms Matindi Twyford-Moore

Job Titles:
  • Head of House

Ms Nicole Shelley

Job Titles:
  • Member of the Board
  • Member of the Property and Development Committee
Ms Shelley joined the Newcastle Grammar School Board in late 2022. She is a Certified Practicing Accountant, a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of Newcastle. Ms Shelley is currently the founder and owner of a full-service marketing agency with notable clients across Australia and internationally. Recently, her entrepreneurial vision saw her become the new owner and publisher of the Newcastle Weekly. With a diverse accounting and management career spanning port operations, global law firms, marketing and publishing, Ms Shelley contributes extensive communication, financial and strategic experience. Her non-executive experience delivers leadership in corporate governance and risk management. Ms Shelley is a member of the Property and Development Committee and the Equity Scholarship Committee. Ms Shelley has one child attending Newcastle Grammar School.

Ms Samantha Jones

Job Titles:
  • Assistant Head of Global Studies / Location: Hill Campus