OUR INSTITUTE

Our Board

Read about our board members. 

Holmesglen’s Board is accountable to the Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education for the governance of the Institute and achievement of its strategic objectives.

Our Board comprises 12 directors, who represent our diverse community and bring significant expertise and experience.

Ann retired from the Victorian Parliament in November 2014, having served as the Member for Oakleigh from 1999 to 2014.

Prior to this, Ann worked in the Victorian courts, was an adviser to The Hon Simon Crean and also served as the Member for Bentleigh.

During her time in parliament, Ann was a representative on a number of committees and served as the Parliamentary Secretary for Training and Higher Education from 2002 to 2006 and as Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly from 2006 to 2010.

She is still involved in the local community as Secretary to the Oakleigh Carnegie RSL Sub-Branch Committee and Vice-President of the Oakleigh Amateur Football Club.

Ann joined Holmesglen’s Board in December 2015. She is a member of the Board’s Asset and Infrastructure Committee and is a director of the subsidiary Glenuc Pty Ltd.

 

Anita has extensive experience across business management, strategy, finance, risk and governance across a wide range of industries. She is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Acusensus Limited. Prior to this she held various roles at Iress Limited including Interim Chief Financial Officer and Group Financial Controller and Ansell Limited as Head of Investor Relations and Treasury. She commenced her career in Investment Banking advising companies on M&A and capital raisings.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons)/Science from The University of Melbourne. Anita is also a Fellow Certified Practising Accountant (FCPA) and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Her previous Non-Executive Director roles have included Unison Housing Limited and VincentCare Victoria.

Anita joined the Board of Holmesglen in October 2023. She is a member of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee. 

 

 

Alyssa is the Dean of the Faculty of Education and Foundation Studies at Holmesglen and coordinates the delivery of senior-secondary and VET programs to over two-thousand students each year. She was elected by the Institute’s staff to our Board in July 2024.

Following an initial stint as accountant, Alyssa found a passion working as a teacher. With a particular interest in adult literacy and numeracy development, Alyssa specialised in programs targeted disengaged youth, students with specific learning challenges and teaching other teachers.

Alyssa has held senior leadership roles in education, including overseeing initiatives to develop inclusive education and employment opportunities for all. During her time heading the Community Services Department at Holmesglen, Alyssa oversaw the development and reaccreditation of numerous programs focused on social welfare and wellbeing. 

Alyssa’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Accounting, Bachelor of Education Studies, and a Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary), as well as a Master of Arts. She also holds current HDR candidature with Griffith University for her research into competency-based training models.

 

David is an experienced public and corporate affairs professional. For almost 25 years, he has advised leaders across the public, corporate and not for profit sectors, on communications, strategy and advocacy.

David has held senior leadership roles in communications and public relations, and is currently Principal of David Imber Advisory where he specialises in crisis and issues management, and in designing and implementing communications strategies to protect and build organisational reputation.

David’s governance experience includes director roles with social justice and advocacy organisations and professional bodies. He is currently a Director of the Victorian Pride Centre and Immediate Past President of the Victorian chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. David previously served as director of the Australian Communities Foundation and Youth Empowerment Against HIV/AIDS (YEAH).

David holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from Monash University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He joined Holmesglen’s Board in July 2022 and is a member of its Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee.

A Yorta Yorta man, Ian has extensive government and community sector experience, particularly at executive and governance levels. Ian has overseen major policy and strategic reforms for government and community organisations.

Ian was CEO of a major Aboriginal community organisation in 2018, after twenty years in senior positions in Victorian and Commonwealth government departments and agencies. He is now devoting himself to improving the representation of Aboriginal people on boards and other high level governance roles, through strategic action, advocacy and mentoring.

Ian currently chairs the Indigenous Sea and Land Corporation, First Nations Foundation, Koorie Heritage Trust and Connecting Home and is deputy chair of Aboriginal Housing Victoria.

His current directorships are extensive across the health sector and within indigenous, community and cultural heritage agencies and organisations. He also serves as a member of numerous associated governance committees and taskforces.

Ian is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victoria). He joined Holmesglen’s Board in October 2019 and chairs its Asset and Infrastructure Committee.

Janelle is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Tasmania and is an experienced academic and researcher within the fields of geography, regional planning and community development.

She holds a Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Regional Science, Graduate Diploma of Library and Information Systems and a Bachelor of Arts. Janelle was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters for her services to education by the University of Tasmania in 2018.

Janelle has held leadership and professorial roles at a range of Australian universities and has also served as the director of numerous research centres. She has worked with regional communities and in regional development in Australia, as well as overseas in Africa and Asia.

Prior to joining Holmesglen’s Board, she was the founding Principal of the University College at the University of Tasmania and was a director of Tas TAFE and the Tasmania Development Board. Janelle currently serves on the academic and corporate boards of a number of Australian private higher education providers, is an Associate with Wells Advisory and a Fellow of the Australian National University.

Janelle joined Holmesglen’s Board in 2020, chairs its Quality Committee and is a member of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee.

Kathryn is an executive HR practitioner and people leader. Having practised law early in her career, she realised her professional interest was to work through people and secured a number of senior HR leadership roles. Currently, she is Head of People Experience and P&D National Services at King & Wood Mallesons. Kathryn has previously held similar roles at ANZ Banking Group Ltd, the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Victorian Clinical Genetics Services and various legal practices.

Kathryn’s prior governance experience includes her role as Deputy President of University College, where she was also Chair of the Scholarship Committee and member of the Governance Committee. She has also previously chaired the Professional Development Committee of the Australasian Research Management Society. Kathryn remains a committee member of the Scholarship Committee of University College and is also a board member of Cancer Council Victoria.

Kathryn joined Holmesglen's Board in February 2021 and chairs its People, Culture and Remuneration Committee. She holds a Master of Commerce, Master of Business (HR and IR), Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

Karen is an experienced board director and business leader with a background in digital technology, consulting and finance. Previously a partner at KPMG Consulting, she is a qualified chartered accountant and has worked globally, including KPMG London.

In her consulting career, she has led strategic planning and transformational programs and has been responsible for business development and growth. She established a consulting company, Delta Management Consulting, specialising in the health and government sectors and worked for the department during the skills reform of the VET sector.

Karen is a non-executive director at Peninsula Health, Australian Centre for the Moving Image, Global Health Limited and the Cultural Development Network and Chair of the Australian Community Support Organisation. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and in 2020 was privileged to participate in the AICD Chair’s Mentoring Program. Her experience leverages strategy and growth with a strong balance between innovation, governance, finance and risk.

Karen joined the Board of Holmesglen in December 2015. She chairs the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee and is a member of the Asset and Infrastructure Committee.

Christy is an experienced leader with a demonstrated history of leading digital change across financial services organisations.

She has spent ten years working at Google in banking and finance industry leadership roles and is currently its Global Strategic Initiatives Principal for the Asia Pacific. Christy joined Google after an eight-year career with ANZ Banking Group, where she worked globally in various analyst and strategy roles.

Skilled in bringing a customer centric lens to digital strategy, advertising, product and platforms, she is also highly capable Board Director with experience across the not for profit sector. Christy is scholarship recipient for the Women’s Board Leadership Program conducted through the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing in conjunction with the AICD.

Christy holds a Bachelor of Commerce with first class honours from the University of Melbourne, where her thesis investigated inflation and stock returns in Australia. She joined Holmesglen’s Board in July 2016 and is a member of the board’s Asset and Infrastructure Committee.

As Holmesglen’s Chief Executive, Mary is also a director of its board. She commenced at Holmesglen in mid-2003 and became the institute’s Chief Executive in October 2013.

Prior to joining Holmesglen, Mary worked extensively with industry, Registered Training Organisations and TAFEs in various roles. Under her leadership, the institute has secured a reputation for innovation, financial sustainability and industry collaboration. It also continues to deliver on its mission to provide quality education and training, support community diversity, inclusion and cohesion and engage with businesses to develop their workforces.

Mary holds a Bachelor of Arts, Diploma of Education and post-graduate studies in media, and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She currently chairs TAFE Directors Australia and is a board member of the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics and WorldSkills Australia. Mary is also a member of Jobs and Skills Australia’s Consultative Forum.  

Mary is an ex-officio member of the board’s committees and is a director of the two controlled entities – Glenuc Pty Ltd and Holmesglen International Training Services Pty Ltd.

Maryum is an experienced leader in strengthening communities and building purposeful connections to promote social inclusion and diversity. She has more than 15 years’ experience in positions of leadership, program management, strategic stakeholder engagement and fundraising to address dynamic and complex public policy challenges. Maryum is currently the Executive Manager, Sector and Community at InTouch Multicultural Centre Against Family Violence and has previously worked across numerous public sector, advocacy and social service agencies.

Maryum is currently the Deputy Chair of Centre for Muslim Wellbeing and President of the Sanad Foundation (Scholarships) board. Her governance and community roles have ranged from Women’s Legal Service of Victoria, Victorian Multicultural Commission, Islamic Council of Victoria, Fund Advisory Committee (Inner North Community Foundation), Multicultural Museums Victoria to serving as the AFL Multicultural Community Ambassador.|

Maryum holds a Bachelor of Business from RMIT University and an Executive Master of Arts from the University of Melbourne. She joined Holmesglen’s Board in July 2022 and is a member of its People, Culture and Remuneration Committee.

Michael is an experienced commercial lawyer and is currently Principal and Partner at Russell Kennedy Lawyers. He holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce and has over 35 years’ experience in legal practice, mainly focussed on the health sector. He publishes widely in health and legal association journals and is often asked to address public and private companies, government and non-government organisations.

Michael has extensive governance experience. He currently chairs the boards of Peninsula Health and Wellways Australia and is a board member of Latrobe Regional Hospital. He also chairs the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act Expert Advisory Group for the Victorian Department of Health.

Previously, he has been a board member of a range of health and human rights agencies, professional associations and community organisations and has served as chair of major committees and expert panels. Michael is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Taxation Institute of Australia and is an Honorary Fellow of Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. He was made a Member in the Order of Australia in 2004.

Michael joined Holmesglen’s Board in August 2017 and commenced as Chair in March 2023. He is a member of all the Board’s committees.