Our People

Catherine has extensive experience in business, governance and innovative thinking across a variety of leadership roles in financial services, public policy, the arts and philanthropy. Achievements include steering the Actuaries Institute through the HIH Royal Commission & James Hardie Commission of Inquiry and the revision of professional actuarial and prudential standards in Insurance; developing Indigenous Education and Employment programs; contributing to thought-leadership in economic and social policy, and philanthropy.

Working as a business & governance consultant Catherine advises SMEs and start-ups, mentoring executives and providing mediation services. A qualified Board Chair & Company Director with experience in government, private business, non-profit and public companies, Catherine is a graduate of the AICD Company Directors’ Foundation Course & advanced Mastering the Boardroom program. Over the past thirty years many significant initiatives & projects have been realised in partnership with Aboriginal leaders in Indigenous business development, education and employment, major cultural and creative events.

Formerly Principal of Alberton Primary School 2004-19: Achieved Excellent Rating from Australian Standards Board, Award-winning outdoor learning spaces; International recognition via OECD ‘Innovative Learning Project’; equitable outcomes for disadvantaged students; managed multi-million dollar infrastructure projects; presented interstate and internationally; research-informed practices, including significant Arts-focussed practices for holistic outcomes; amalgamated two schools to create the new Alberton PS.

Andrew is a highly experienced and visionary school leader. He is passionate about creating opportunities for children to express themselves in diverse ways and to pursue their passions. Andrew is committed to working with families to build a strong College culture, which brings our values to life.

Ngara, is a proud Ngarrindjeri, Alawa, Mara woman and lives and works on Kaurna country. She is currently working at the Central Adelaide Local Health Network as Senior Project Manager Aboriginal Strategy.  Ngara was previously employed at the Aboriginal Health Council of SA (AHCSA) for over a decade and acknowledges the AHCSA board members, leaders and senior staff who led by example, mentored her in her younger days on good governance practices and encouraged her take on more leadership roles.

With experience in leading and supporting organisational accreditation, strategic planning and program management in areas of workplace development, research and evaluation and population health promotion, Ngara was appointed to the Ngutu College Board in 2021.

Kyran is a proud Narungga and Kaurna man, who is a highly motivated and committed individual, with experience working across private, not-for-profit, and government with a broad range of industries including Indigenous affairs, property & development, transport & infrastructure and local government.

Kyran is currently working in a role leading a culture change initiative across Renewal SA, and is extremely passionate about developing relationships and delivering initiatives which improve organisation culture and long-term outcomes. Kyran is a member of the Adelaide Football Club Aboriginal Advisory Group and in 2018 was awarded the South Australian Young Australian of the Year.

Experienced Consultant with a demonstrated history of working in the international education management and international banking. Gerald is skilled in International Marketing, Business Planning, Governance, the Education Industry, and Banking.

For over 20 years, Gerald owned and managed one of Australia’s leading Hotel Schools, is a registered Australian Chartered Accountant and an Ambassador for EUHOFA International.

Mary spent 30 years in clinical anaesthetic practice in Adelaide. Mary was an associate in a large practice enabling her to work in a number of Adelaide’s private hospitals. Her early exposure to the committee of the SA section of her professional society gave her an insight into the workings of committees and boards.

Mary was given the opportunity via Foundation Boards at two schools to gain experience in fund raising, board structure, governance and strategy. Her six years as the Chair of the St Peter’s College Board honed her skills at managing people, strategizing and prioritizing. The Boards she has served on and currently is part of are distinctly different. However the governance issues, the need for good communication, the ability to distil and process information effectively are common to all of them. Mary’s primary science background has complimented her performance on these boards and committees.

Dana has 20 years’ experience working across the public and not for profit sectors in the areas of health, families and child protection and established her own consultancy business in 2017. Dana is Aboriginal/Chinese and a descendant of the Ngarrindjeri people in South Australia and has a passion for working with Aboriginal people and communities.

She commenced her career as a Youth Community Development Officer in both the Adelaide Hills and the Murray Lands. Dana went on to work in a number of senior roles with the SA public sector where she had responsibility for program management, service delivery, policy development and strategic planning. Previous to Dana leading her own consultancy she was with The Australian Centre for Social Innovation where she held the role of Principal, Social Services, Systems & Aboriginal Policy and before this was the Director of the Family by Family Program. Dana has extensive experience working with Aboriginal communities and organisations, and brings a unique skill set in Aboriginal cultural consultancy, mainstream service delivery and systems change.

Andrew is a highly experienced and visionary school leader. He is passionate about creating opportunities for children to express themselves in diverse ways and to pursue their passions. Andrew is committed to working with families to build a strong College culture, which brings our values to life.

Ngarrindjeri and Kaurna elder, Uncle ‘Moogy’ Sumner is a world renown cultural ambassador for Ngarrindjeri arts, crafts and traditional culture, at the same time standing strong as a defender of and ambassador for Country. He was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2014 and the South Australian Premier’s NAIDOC Award in 2022.

Uncle Moogy works with the children, young people and staff at Ngutu College to share his deep knowledge and connection of traditional dance and song, cultural advice, arts and crafts. He lives the ideal that by looking at things from a cultural perspective, we can do more to care for people and country than we currently are.

Michelle’s extensive background working as a Certified Practicing Accountant for both small start-up organisations as well as large corporations allows her to bring a mix of skills to her role at Ngutu.

Michelle is tireless in her attention to detail and in working to achieve excellence. Her diligence around the financial and operational aspects of the College is high, which enables confidence in the decisions and future planning for the College. Michelle is a deeply principled and ethical operator, who invests much of herself into her role.

Louise has been an educator in South Australia in both rural and urban settings, working with learners in large and small school environments. She has taught Agricultural science, Science, Biology, and Maths. Her passion for learning and questioning drives her practice. A priority for Louise is to build on the quality curriculum experiences at Ngutu, and provide guidance and pathways as the senior school learners plan for their future.

Louise is a dynamic and bold educator, with an unending energy for questioning and ongoing improvement. Louise’s ability to draw threads together within learning and connect beyond the College provides access to interesting opportunities for our young people. Louise’s approach to people and relationships is exemplary, understanding the importance of investing significant amounts of time and energy into learners, families and her team.

Mimi has worked in the South Australian Education Department for 45 years in a variety of positions including preschool teacher, director, special educator, peer evaluator and Early Childhood Consultant. Mimi held the position of Early Years Coordinator at a Primary School for seven years where she successfully integrated preschool and reception children (3- to 6-year-olds) in a play-based curriculum.

Mimi’s commitment to the image of the child as competent and capable is important for our entire team. She is a vocal advocate for high quality, early years education for all children in South Australia, and models this at Ngutu. Mimi is constantly learning and adapting, most readily from the children with whom she is working. Mimi strongly believes that children have the right to learn through play and playful pedagogies.

Cassia has 18 years of experience teaching in primary school settings. She is passionate about the Arts – particularly performing arts, believing that children learn best when they are creative and connected. Cassia uses arts-based learning as a space to inspire and engage children in learning. Cassia believes that Ngutu is a place full of opportunities and where children can find their own passions and curiosities, which are authentically fostered and built upon.

Cassia adeptly connects knowledge and skills across learning areas, to provide truly holistic learning experiences. Cassia’s drive and energy is infectious, inspiring others to achieve their absolute best. She was recognised in the South Australian Educators – World Teachers Day 2020 awards for her curriculum leadership in Mathematics.

Debbie works alongside children and colleagues in a highly supportive way, and repeatedly has shown an ability to bring the best out in groups and individuals. Her drive and enthusiasm come from a deep-seated belief in the transformative power of education and the importance of promoting diversity. Debbie is a champion for ensuring the voices of children are heard and considered in the design of learning and Ngutu College’s daily life.

Sean has worked in both primary and secondary schools, and loves drawing on and strengthening the best bits of whichever context he works in. A priority for Sean is looking at the integration of knowledges and perspectives within learning. He believes Ngutu is a place where the responsibility for the learning journey is a shared one.

Sean is an exceptional educational leader who operates with wisdom, humanity and integrity. He develops strong connections with children and adults, by listening with compassion. Sean brings a calm, reflective, analytical nature to the team.

Phoebe’s career began with seven years of teaching in Scotland within the Deaf and Autistic community. Since returning to Australia, she has worked in early-intervention with children and families across the not-for-profit sector and found her passion in creation of environments that support neurodivergent children to thrive. Phoebe has personal knowledge and experience of navigating disability support systems, expertise that she is very willing to share. She sees Ngutu College as an amazing opportunity to work within a community that has the flexibility, knowledge and ability to individualise learning experiences that work for, and celebrate, all of our children and young people.

Phoebe’s work with children, young people and their families comes from a place of deep care and empathy. This engenders trust that the best interests of the learner are always considered. The skills, knowledge and boundless contacts make Phoebe an invaluable wealth of knowledge for staff to learn from and build their own capacities.

Lisa has worked in the childcare sector for her entire career. Her roles have included Room Leader, Area Manager of up to 11 childcare centres, and everything in between. Lisa has always pushed herself to reach the highest level in everything she sets her mind to. In the Year 2000, Lisa represented Australia at the Olympics in Sydney. She uses her passions for goal setting and pushing boundaries as a philosophy to guiding and inspiring children.

For many of our families, Lisa and the OSHC team are the first person they will see in the morning and the last in the evening. As such, she has become an important contact point and connection for these families to the College. Lisa communicates with all around her in an open and genuine manner, and is very willing to listen and work through challenges.