The NESA Board

The Board sets the direction for NESA and what we need to do. Learn about the members of the Board and their role in the delivery of NESA's activities.

About the Board

NESA is governed by a Board, which sets the strategic direction for NESA. The NESA Board is made up of 12 to 14 members. The Board works with the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) to support NESA in achieving its goals.

The Board guides NESA to fulfil its functions and delivers policy directions set by the Board and the Minister.

The Board has created several Committees, with the approval of the Minister. The Committees:

  • have been delegated functions, on behalf of the Board
  • can give advice or assist the Board with its functions.

NESA Board members

NESA Board member Peter Shergold
Chair

Professor Peter Shergold AC

BA, MA, PhD, Hon. Litt.D (UNSW), Hon. Litt.D (UWS)

Peter is an Australian academic, company director, and former public servant. He has chaired recent Government reviews into education.

He has been:

  • Chancellor of Western Sydney University
  • Secretary of the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet
  • awarded a Companion of the Order of Australia and a Centenary Medal.

Peter is currently

  • Chair of the Australian Research Council.
NESA Board member Jenny Allum
Board member

Jenny Allum

BSc, GDipEd, MA, DLitt

Jenny has been Head of SCEGGS Darlinghurst since 1996.

Jenny has previously been:

  • Manager of the Curriculum Branch of the Board of Studies NSW
  • Chair of the NSW/ACT Branch of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools
  • on the NESA Board Curriculum Committee.

She is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators and has an honorary Doctor of Letters from the University of NSW.

NESA Board member Murat Dizdar
Board member

Murat Dizdar PSM

BEd

Murat Dizdar PSM is the Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, which delivers quality education and training services for the people of New South Wales. This includes the Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) sector, government and non-government schools, and the Vocational Education and Training sector.

NESA Board member Margery Evans
Board member

Margery Evans

MEd 

Margery is the Chief Executive of the Association of Independent Schools of NSW.

She has spent her career in education, starting as a teacher, progressing to school principal and executive leader.

Margery has previously held roles as CEO of Independent Schools Australia, Academic Director for Aga Khan Education Services and CEO of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership.

NESA Board member Robyn Evans
Board member

Robyn Evans

MEd, BEd, DipEd

Robyn is the former President of the NSW Primary Principals’ Association representing NSW Primary Principals. She collaborated with the NSW Department of Education corporate and executive personnel to make recommendations to shape policies and practices in NSW schools.

  • Vice President Australian Government Primary Principals Association
  • Principal Casula Public School.
NESA Board member Angelo Gavrielatos
Board member

Angelo Gavrielatos OAM

Angelo Gavrielatos is the former President of the NSW Teachers Federation. 

He is currently working with Education International (EI), the global union federation representing teachers leading a global campaign aimed at securing greater government investment in teachers and education. 

Between 2008 and 2015 Angelo was the Federal President of the Australian Education Union, where he led the national Gonski schools funding campaign.

Angelo is the current chair of NESA’s Education of Students with Disability Forum.

NESA Board member Dr Sally Howell
Board member

Dr Sally Howell

BEd, MA, PhD

Sally has spent her career supporting students with disability as a support teacher, inclusion consultant, university lecturer and principal. Current and recent roles include:

  • President, Australian Association of Special Education (AASE) NSW Chapter
  • Expert Panel Member, Institute of Special Educators (InSped)
  • Principal, Macquarie University Special Education Centre (MUSEC) School (2013–2023)
  • Member of NESA’s former Policy and Advisory Committee
  • Current member of NESA’s Education of Students with Disability Forum.
NESA Board member Gary Johnson
Board member

Gary Johnson

BA, DipEd

Gary was the Principal of Cherrybrook High School from 2003 to 2024.

He has also been:

  • Principal of Jamison High School
  • Deputy Principal, Asquith Boys High School
  • HSC marker and HSC Marking Supervisor on the Curriculum Committee of the NESA Board since 2017
  • a nominee of the Minister representing secondary principals on the Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards.

Gary is Chair of NESA’s Curriculum and Credentials Committee.

NESA Board member Paul Martin
Board member

Paul Martin

BA(Hons), DipEd

Paul was appointed as NESA CEO in December 2019. He is an ex-officio member of the NESA Board and current member of the ACARA Board.

Paul has held past positions as:

  • Executive Director, Quality Teaching, NESA
  • Policy advisor for NSW and Australian Governments.
NESA Board member Dallas McInerney
Board member

Dallas McInerney

BA, LLB, MPP, MSc

Dallas McInerney is the CEO of Catholic Schools NSW, the peak body of the state’s almost 600 Catholic schools with responsibility for their funding, distribution, compliance and governance.

Dallas previously held senior roles in the private sector and in Government.

He is an alumnus of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) Young Leaders Programme with delegations through Asia. Before this, he interned for H.E Kofi Annan, Secretary – General of the United Nations in New York. He holds Masters degrees from the Universities of Sydney and Oxford.

NESA Board member Elizabeth O'Carrigan
Board member

Elizabeth O’Carrigan OAM

BEd. M. Educational Admin, MA (Theology), Masters of Educational System Leadership, Grad. Cert. Gifted Education, GAICD, FACE, FACEL

Elizabeth is a passionate educator with many years of leadership experience as a teacher, principal, and director of education in the city and rural communities. She is committed to improving student outcomes and coaching and mentoring future leaders.

Elizabeth is the current chair of NESA’s Registration & Accreditation Committee, a sub- committee of the  NESA Board. She has previously been a member of the inaugural Redfern Jarjum College Council, Chair of the Board at St Patrick’s College, Strathfield, and Board member for St Clare’s College, Waverly.

NESA Board member Professor Mary Ryan
Board member

Professor Mary Ryan

BEd, MEd, PhD

Mary Ryan is Professor and Executive Dean of Education and Arts at Australian Catholic University, responsible for the largest teacher education program in Australia. She is Principal Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy and Chair of AISNSW Education Research Council. Her research focuses on teachers’ work in diverse classrooms and writing pedagogy and assessment.

NESA Board member Nathan Towney
Board member

Nathan Towney

BTeach, BHlthPhyEd

Nathan is a proud Wiradjuri man from Wellington, NSW. He has been the Pro Vice-Chancellor Indigenous, Strategy and Leadership since 2019 and Head of the Wollotuka Institute since 2024. He has held various teaching and leadership positions, including Principal of Newcastle High School.

He is:

  • Chair of NUSport Board
  • Chair of NESA's Aboriginal Education Forum.
Image of NESA Board Member David Towson
Board member

David Towson

BEd, DipTeach

David is the Deputy Secretary of the Independent Education Union of Australia NSW/ACT Branch (IEU).

David began working for the IEU in 2005 and has represented the interests of teachers and support staff in various capacities over the last 20 years. Before this David taught history and other subjects in secondary schools in Sydney, London and Far North Queensland for 18 years. During that period, he held leadership positions in pastoral and curriculum roles.
 

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