The NESA Board

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:

• the 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.

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.

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.

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.

MEd, BEd, DipEd

Robyn is the President of the NSW Primary Principals’ Association representing NSW Primary Principals. She collaborates 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.

BA(Hons), DipEd

Angelo Gavrielatos is the immediate past President of the NSW Teachers Federation. 

Before election, Angelo led Educational International’s (EI) Global Response to the growing commercialisation and privatisation of education.

Angelo was the Federal President of the Australian Education Union for 7 years before beginning work with EI, when he led the national Gonski schools funding campaign.

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)
• NESA Policy and Advisory Committee member.
   

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.

BEd(EC), DipT(ECE)

Christine has been CEO of KU Children’s Services since 2011 and  is the former President of Early Childhood Australia.

She is a member of:

• NSW Dept of Ed, Early Childhood Advisory Group
• Australian Dept of Ed Early Childhood Education and Care Reference Group
• Advisory Boards at Macquarie University, Notre Dame; and Western Sydney University
• Executive Member of NSW Early Childhood Australia.

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.

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.

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

Elizabeth is a passionate educator with 30 years leadership experience as Principal and Director across city and rural communities. She has an enduring commitment to raising student outcomes and coaching and mentoring future leaders.

BTeach, BHlthPhyEd

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

He is:

• Chair of the NSW Vice-Chancellor’s Indigenous Committee
• Chair of NUSport Board
• Chair of the Aboriginal Education Forum.

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.