Back in 2021, the Swan Christian Education Association (·èÂí¸èÎèÐã) Membership agreed to create a Board Recruitment Committee (BRC) that included Association Members Dr Martin Bent, Mr Neil David and Mrs Caroline Blake along with ·èÂí¸èÎèÐã Chief Executive Officer, Dr Graeme Cross, and ·èÂí¸èÎèÐã Principal representative, Mr Michael Bolan (Beechboro Christian School).
Since that time, the BRC has met regularly to identify potential Board Members who could serve ·èÂí¸èÎèÐã in this way. As part of this process, the BRC identified and recommended three people be ‘co-opted’ to the ·èÂí¸èÎèÐã Board to fill current Board vacancies. ‘Co-opted’ means they are unelected members, and are only active until the next Annual General Meeting, where a formal election will occur.
Why are there vacant positions on the ·èÂí¸èÎèÐã Board?
Mr Steve McAlpine has recently stepped down from the ·èÂí¸èÎèÐã Board due to his hectic schedule of speaking engagements across Australia and Ms Charlene Woodbine moved to Company Secretary for the ·èÂí¸èÎèÐã Board last year. Although she will be present during Board meetings, she is no longer an active Board Member.
Who are the new Board Members?
Mr Jordan Thyer will be familiar to many ·èÂí¸èÎèÐã staffers from his keynote address at the 2022 ·èÂí¸èÎèÐã Celebration Day and his long-standing association with ·èÂí¸èÎèÐã as an alumni (Mundaring Christian College & Swan Christian College), a pastor (Mundaring Church of Christ, Providence Church – Midland) and ·èÂí¸èÎèÐã parent. His educational background includes qualifications as a chemical engineer and theologian – including some time training within the theology department at Oxford University. He now resides in Perth and is the Senior Pastor at Providence Church in Midland.
Dr Thelma Perso should now be a household name across ·èÂí¸èÎèÐã! Our recently retired Chief Education Officer (CEdO) now turns her attention to serving ·èÂí¸èÎèÐã as a Board Member. Her academic pedigree is internationally recognised. Her service to ·èÂí¸èÎèÐã since joining Mundaring Christian College as Director of Teaching and Learning in 2015 and then as Chief Education Officer for ·èÂí¸èÎèÐã from 2018-2022 has been substantial.
Mr Rod White is a Charted Practicing Accountant (CPA), Principal of an accounting practice (Corporate+ Accountants and Services), and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He has been involved with and provided advice to private education for over 20 years, including serving as a Chair and Board Member of Regent College (2014 to 2020) and both Kennedy (previously Winthrop and Somerville) and Mandurah Baptist Colleges (2003 to 2012). He has also had previous ASX directorship experience.
No doubt Mr Thyer, Dr Perso and Mr White will bring rich experience and wisdom to ·èÂí¸èÎèÐã as they serve on the Board. Please pray for these new members, as well as the Board as a whole as they serve in this important role.