Governing Council - Our People.

Our People – Sharing the Journey

The Good Samaritan Education Assembly consists of at least 15 Members who are admitted in accordance with the requirements of its Statutes: one nominated by each of the Bishops of the five dioceses in which Good Samaritan schools are situated; three Good Samaritan Sisters nominated by the Superior; and others as nominated by the Superior. 

From among this group, a minimum of seven Members are elected by their peers to the Governing Council. The Governing Council is authorised to act in the name of Good Samaritan Education. 

Each Good Samaritan Education Member is also a Member of the Company for either one or two Good Samaritan schools and, as such, is involved in the life of the school communities. 

Click on the names below to expand individual bios.

Members of the Governing Council

Moira was educated by Good Samaritan Sisters in Canberra and is a Company Member of Mater Dei, Camden. She was a teacher and principal in Canberra before becoming Director of Catholic Education in the Canberra Goulburn Archdiocese (2007-2016). Currently Moira is a Director on the Board of Catholic Schools NSW.

John was a Catholic secondary principal before undertaking senior roles in Queensland Catholic Education Offices as Assistant to the Director, Area Supervisor for Catholic schools and Manager of Professional Standards and Student Protection. John served for a significant period as a member of the governing body of the Queensland Board of Senior Secondary School Studies. He is Chair of Members of Stella Maris College, Manly and Company Member of Mount St Benedict College, Pennant Hills.  

John is a retired solicitor and has been involved in the Diocese of Wollongong for many years, serving for over ten years as Chair of CatholicCare  (formerly Centacare). He was a member of the Good Samaritan Education Council from 2007 until 2012 and a Member of the first GSE Governing Council.  John is a Company Member of two GSE schools in the Wollongong Diocese:  St Mary’s College, Wollongong and St Patrick’s College, Campbelltown. 

Danielle has had extensive experience as Deputy Director of the National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC), Executive Director of the Council of Catholic School Parents NSW and is currently Director, Education Policy with Catholic Schools NSW. She is a proud past student of Mount St Benedict College, Pennant Hills where she is now Chair of  Members. Danielle also serves as a Company Member for Stella Maris College.

Natasha was educated by the Sisters of the Good Samaritan at St Mary’s College, Wollongong where she now serves as a Company Member. Natasha is currently a Legal and Industrial Officer with Catholic Education Wollongong and has previously held Human Resources,  Policy and Legislative Development positions in Christian organisations and with the Commonwealth Government. She is Chair of Members of Mater Dei, Camden.

A retired principal of two GSE schools, St Mary Star of the Sea, Wollongong, and previously at Mater Dei, Camden. With experience across primary, secondary and special education contexts Frank brings a wealth of knowledge and heart for the Good Samaritan Benedictine tradition to his governance role. Frank is a Company Member of St Scholastica’s College, Glebe and Rosebank College, Five Dock.

Eileen has a background that encompasses education and business experience. She has lectured and tutored in finance and accounting to MBA students and conducted change management processes for major firms. Eileen is Company Member of two GSE Colleges: Mater Christi, Belgrave and Santa Maria, Northcote.

Libby is a highly respected education leader who has led strategic thinking, innovation, leadership development and pedagogy at Sydney Catholic Schools. Her roles included principal, Secondary Consultant, and Director of System Performance /School Operations. She has served on school advisory Boards and is currently a Director of Marist Schools Australia. Libby is an oblate at the Abbey in Jamberoo. Libby is Chair of Company Members at St Pat’s Campbelltown and a Company Member at St Scholastica’s. Libby is currently Chair of the GSE Reconciliation Working Party. 

Current
Assembly Members

Elizabeth is a Sister of the Good Samaritan with qualifications in education, canon law and theology. She has filled various roles in the church at national, state and diocesan level in education, administration, governance, ecumenism and canon law. Elizabeth is Chair of Members of St Patrick’s College, Campbelltown and Company Member of St Mary’s College, Wollongong.

 Fiona is a Catholic Educator with over 30 years’ experience in a variety of roles . She has served as an Education Officer in Learning Diversity, was Principal of Aspect Vern Barnett School Forestville, interim Principal at St John the Baptist Freshwater, and Principal of Our Lady of Good Counsel, Forrestville. She currently works with Catholic Schools Broken Bay as a Senior Executive leading the Eileen O’Connor School development. She has a passion for learning and teaching with a special dedication to student diversity. Fiona is a Company Member at Mater Dei School and Stella Maris College. 

Michelle has extensive experience in Internal Audit, Risk and Assurance roles. She is a former Director and past Chair of the Finance and Audit Committee at St Mary’s College Wollongong. Michelle currently works with the Illawarra Retirement Trust as the Manager: Risk. Michelle is Company Member at St Mary’s College, Wollongong, and Mater Dei, Camden. Michelle is the Chair of the GSE Finance Risk and Audit Committee. 

Veronica has been a Good Samaritan Sister for over 40 years. She has extensive experience in education particularly in the areas of disability and student services and is currently the Professional Standards Adviser for the Sisters of the Good Samaritan and the Vicar for Religious in the Archdiocese of Melbourne. Veronica is Chair of Members of Santa Maria College Northcote, and a Company Member of both Mater Christi College, Belgrave and Mater Dei, Camden. 

Gerry is a Company Member of Lourdes Hill College, Hawthorne.  He has had a long association with Good Samaritan schools and as one of the first members of the Assembly of Good Samaritan Education has played a significant role in its governance.

Teash is Principal of Brigidine College, St Ives and in 2020 has been appointed Company Member of St Patrick’s College, Campbelltown and Rosebank College, Five Dock.  She is a distinguished educator who has been a teacher,  Assistant Principal and Principal in Catholic schools throughout Sydney.

Former Executive Director of Good Samaritan Education, Leonie, in 2020 was made a Company Member for Santa Maria College, Northcote and Mater Christi College, Belgrave.  From her unique insights into the workings of GSE to her leadership and consultation for numerous peak bodies in Education Leonie brings with her considerable governance experience.

Catherine is a Sister of the Good Samaritan and an experienced teacher and principal. She was Chair of the Good Samaritan Education Council from 2006 until 2012 and has been instrumental in shaping the formation programs within Good Samaritan Education and in nurturing the evolution of GSE. Catherine is Company Member of Mount St Benedict College, Pennant Hills and Stella Maris College, Manly. 

Amanda held the position of Head of the NSW Catholic Secondary Schools Association Exams Division from 2011 to 2020 and member of the Association for 21 years, holding the position of Senior Vice-Chair until the Association disbanded in early 2021. She is a distinguished educator, leader and consultant. Amanda brings considerable governance experience to her role at GSE. In 2020 Amanda was made a Company Member of Stella Maris, Manly and Mt St Benedict College, Pennant Hills.

Ellen is a respected educator of over 20 years experience, teaching senior school both internationally and locally with a focus on English, RE and SOR. Currently the Curriculum Leader – Religious Education at Mt St Michael’s College, Ashgrove, Ellen was also an Associate Lecturer at Australian Catholic University and an Activities Writer, collaborating to develop the new QCE Study of Religion textbook, Religion: Contexts and Expressions. Ellen is currently a PhD candidate, investigating the responses of Catholic secondary schools to gender and sexuality diversity in their communities. She is a Company Member at Lourdes Hill College and Mount St Benedict College.

The role of Director in a Good Samaritan College offers an opportunity to work in partnership with others in the ministry of education within the mission of the Church. The Directors ensure that the best possible educational opportunities are offered to students within a faith community. 

While people of goodwill from all walks of life may be appointed as Directors,  the foremost requirement is that each comes with his or her own life experience, knowledge and gifts, and is prepared to share them for the benefit of the school community.  Each Director appointed to a College Board must meet the requirements set out under the Corporations Act 2001 and the Australian Charities and Not-For-Profit Commission (ACNC).

Directors should have a sincere desire to grow in closeness to God, to live the Gospel life and to listen to the voice of the Spirit in order to contribute fully to the work of the Board. 

Download Call to Governance

Rosebank College
Five Dock, New South Wales 
Principal: Iris Nastasi

St Scholastica’s College
Glebe Point, New South Wales 
Principal: Kate Rayment 

Stella Maris College
Manly, New South Wales 
Principal: Elizabeth Carnegie 

Mount St Benedict College
Pennant Hills, New South Wales 
Principal: Michael Hanratty  

St Mary Star of the Sea
Wollongong, New South Wales 
Principal: Tony Fitzgerald 

St Patrick’s College
Campbelltown, New South Wales 
Principal: Mary Leask

Mater Dei
Camden, New South Wales 
Principal: Jennifer Foldes

Mater Christi College
Belgrave, Victoria 
Principal: Maria Haggett 

Santa Maria College
Northcote, Victoria 
Principal: Joanne Rock

Lourdes Hill College
Hawthorne, Queensland 
Principal: Kay Gleeson

The Good Samaritan Education Services Team provides support for the work and mission of Good Samaritan Education by:

  • providing executive and practical support to the work of the Governing Council and Assembly
  • providing direction and advice to the ten Good Samaritan Education school communities through liaison with Principals and their senior leadership, Business Managers, Boards and Company Members
  • developing and maintaining peer and collaborative networks through liaison with Church education and ministerial bodies

The Good Samaritan Education Services Team work is focused through the lens of the Good Samaritan Benedictine tradition providing formation, advice, resource development and the ongoing development and maintenance of policies and procedures.

E-mail: admin@goodsameducation.org.au