Cornish College Board

Cornish College is an incorporated company limited by guarantee. The College Board comprises up to 12 members responsible for the Governance of Cornish College. The Principal, who is appointed by the Board, is responsible for the day-to-day management of the College.

It is the role of the Principal and the senior leadership team to manage the College in accordance with the strategic direction set by the College Board. The Board does not have a management function.


Our principles

In all our policies and practices, the College supports and promotes the principles and practice of Australian democracy, including a commitment to:

  • Elected government
  • The rule of law
  • Equal rights for all before the law
  • Freedom of religion
  • Freedom of speech and association
  • The values of openness and tolerance

Board membership

The Board comprises individuals with a diversity of skills, qualifications and experience and consists of:

  • No fewer than ten and not more than twelve members, including office bearers
  • At least three of whom shall be female and three of whom shall be males; and the Principal

Office bearers

The office bearers of the College consist of a Chairperson (Chair), a Vice Chairperson and a Treasurer. Office bearers are elected for a term of three years.

Term

A Board member other than the Principal will not retain office for more than three calendar years or beyond the third Annual General Meeting following the member’s appointment (whichever is the longer period) without being re-elected.

At the Annual Meeting each year, one third of the Board in office, other than the Principal, must retire from office.

Retiring members can be re-elected, but a director shall not be entitled to be elected for more than three consecutive terms, unless by special resolution for one further term of three years.

Skills

The skills and experience required by the Board may include, but not necessarily limited to, the following areas:

  • Accounting and finance
  • Governance
  • Risk and compliance management
  • Education
  • Legal
  • The Uniting Church in Australia
  • Business systems and commercial management
  • Property
  • Community, stakeholder engagement and marketing
  • Executive management
  • Information technology strategy and governance
  • Strategy
  • Policy development

Committees

There are five committees of the Board.

Responsible for oversight of governance principles, Board policies, codes of conduct and compliance and risk management mechanisms, as well as the management of executive succession and the evaluation of Board and committee performance.

Responsible for oversight of all financial aspects of the College, including preparation of the annual budget and long-term forecasts, externally-audited annual financial statements, reporting to College Board and statutory bodies. This Committee also has oversight of internal controls and financial management systems, and is responsible for the appointment of the external auditor.

Responsible for interviewing and nominating candidates for Board committees and for Board member (excluding Principal) positions.

Responsible for capital development policy, planning for the development of new College buildings and grounds, refurbishment of existing facilities, internal controls over property development and the appointment of external contractors.

Responsible for oversight of the development of marketing strategy and determining the marketing resources required to meet College needs, for recommending marketing principles applicable to Cornish and the Board, ensuring appropriate plans are in place for marketing of the College, ensuring appropriate plans are in place for enhancing the community and culture of the College, and any other matters referred to the committee by the Board.


Constitution

The Cornish College Constitution details the College’s objectives, powers, Board membership and duties.


Board Members

Dr Bev Menner, Chair, Scientist

BSc(Hons) PhD GradDip (GenCouns) PMP

Bev was appointed to the Board in July 2020 and is a member of the Governance Committee.

She is a scientist who has worked in pharmaceutical research and development for the past 15 years, and has previously worked as a genetic counsellor and research scientist.

Her son attends the College.

Tara Broderick, Deputy Chair, Social Worker

BSW, MHA (current) ADip (SocSci)

Tara was appointed to the Board in July 2018. She became Deputy Chair in August 2020 and is currently Chair of the Marketing, Community and Culture Committee.

Tara has worked in the public health sector for the last two decades, where she now holds a senior manager role. She has held previous university roles in clinical education and social work and was also President of Cornish College Parents Association for three years.

Her three children attend the College.

Nicola Forrest, Principal

BEd(Sec) MSchLead

Nicola was appointed to the Board when she became Principal of the College in August 2019. She has been a staff member at Cornish since 2013 and was previously Deputy Head of Cornish Campus of St Leonard’s College and has worked in both independent and government schools.

Specialising in curriculum design, pedagogical leadership and innovation in middle years education, Nicola presents workshops and keynote addresses for educators throughout Australia.

Rob Covey, Sales Director

MBA (International Business)

Rob was appointed to the Finance Committee in 2022 and to the Board in March 2023.

He has held senior positions at several global technology companies, focusing on account management, innovation and customer experience.

Rob’s two children currently attend the College.

Glen Dymond, Chief Financial Officer

CA BBus(Acc)

Glen was appointed to the Finance Committee in 2021 and to the Board in August 2022.

He has held senior finance positions at several listed companies across the technology, healthcare, and infrastructure sectors and has experience driving successful change management across organisations undergoing rapid growth and change.

Glen’s family has a strong connection with Cornish College with two sons, a niece and nephew attending the College.

Lister Hannah, International Educator

BA TSTC GradCertSchLead (Dalhousie, Canada; Rutgers, USA)

Lister has been a member of the Board since May 2016 and is also the Chair of the Risk and Governance Committee.

He has headed leading international, independent and state schools globally for over 30 years, and has chaired several school management boards. He has also been extensively involved in the accreditation (quality assurance) of schools world-wide and he currently advises schools internationally.

Lister has a passion for educating for a sustainable future. He has served as a trustee of the Jane Goodall Institute (UK), and represented a Swedish-based consultancy as a co-founder of Compass Education for sustainability.

David Johnson, Executive Director

MBA (Exec) MAICD

David was appointed to the Board in May 2021 and is a member of the Marketing, Communications and Culture Committee.

He has worked in strategy and transformation roles at IFM Investors, Deloitte and ASIC. David is also an advisor and director for various fintechs and startups.

David’s two children currently attend the College.

Dr Andrew Maher, Architect

BArch PhD

Andrew was appointed to the Board in March 2019 and he is a member of the Property Committee.

Andrew is an architect who works at engineering, design and advisory firm Aurecon, where he is a member of the Executive Committee.

He had three children who attended the College.

Christine Marks, Lawyer

BA LLB

Christine was re-appointed to the Board in August 2022 following an earlier period as a Board member from 2011 – 2020. Her connection to the school is through her father, Richard Cornish, after whom the College is named. She is a member of Risk and Governance Committee.

Christine is an experienced Property and Estates Lawyer practising in the Bayside area.

Two of Christine’s grandchildren attend the College.

Dr Silvia Seibold, Academic

DBA

Silvia was appointed to the Board in May 2021 and is a member of the Marketing, Community and Culture Committee.

She has 25 years of international business and 10 years academic experience in both Germany and Australia and is currently Professor of Business Administration at Rosenheim Technical University of Applied Sciences.

Her three children attended the College.