The Foundation Board brings together the skills and expertise of our wider community, including current and past parents and old scholars who work to ensure that all decisions are made with integrity and with the student experience as central.
The Foundation Board is appointed by the Pembroke School Board.
Meet our Foundation Board
Julia Steele Scott (Chair)
Julia is a past parent of two old scholars (2021, 2022) and was appointed to the Pembroke School Board in 2018. She joined the Foundation Board in 2016 and succeeded David Minns as Chair of the Foundation in 2020. She is also a Foundation Member. Julia holds an MBA and is a Graduate and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is the Chief Executive Officer of JM Philanthropy and Grant Toolbox. She has also served on the boards of several not-for-profit organisations.
Amy Bredon
Amy is an old scholar (1997) and current parent. She joined the Foundation Board in 2016. She is currently the Operations Director at Communikate et al. Formerly she has held the roles of Foundation Director and Chair of the Work Health and Safety Committee at St Andrew’s Hospital and General Manager Operations and National Partnerships & Fundraising Manager with the Julian Burton Burns Trust. She has also worked for the Research Fund at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Amy is a member of the Fundraising Institute of Australia and holds a Bachelor of Arts Majoring in anthropology and philosophy.
Jason Huang
Jason is the parent of two Pembroke students and joined the Foundation Board in 2020. He is a member of the Parents’ and Friends’ Association Committee. He is a Fellow of CPA Australia, Chartered Tax Advisor, Australian Institute of Company Directors graduate. Jason is founder of C&J Accountants and Advisors, current divisional councillor of CPA South Australia.
David Minns
David joined the Foundation Board in 2010 and was elected as Chair in 2012. He is a parent of two old scholars. David is a Chartered Accountant and Director at Jaquillard Minns. He served on the School Board from 2012-2019, is Chair of the Foundation Investment Sub-Committee and is a Foundation Fellow. David is Chair of the Wyatt Trust, Chair of Ukaria, Chair of Fay Fuller Foundation, Founder & Director of SuperGuardian Pty Ltd and board advisor to a number of private company groups.
Nicholas Ross
Nicholas joined the Foundation Board in 2014. He is an old scholar ('74). He is the parent of two old scholars (2019 and 2022). He is Chair of the Foundation Capital Campaign Sub-Committee and is a Foundation Fellow. Nicholas is a founding Partner of Knightsbridge Wealth Management, an Australian Institute of Company Directors graduate and holds tertiary qualifications in economics and finance. He is Chairman of the James and Diana Ramsay Foundation and sits on the board of several other charitable foundations.
Darren Townsend
Darren is a current parent of two students and past parent of one (2021). He joined the Foundation Board in 2016. Darren is a specialist Orthodontist and tutors in the Postgraduate Orthodontic Program at The University of Adelaide. He is a Foundation Fellow, member of the School Board and the Parents’ and Friends’ Association Committee.
Mark Staker (Principal)
Mark commenced as Pembroke Principal in July 2022. In accordance with the School Constitution he is an ex officio non-voting Board Member. Mark is also a member of the four Board appointed committees.
Mark is an experienced educational leader, with undergraduate and postgraduate qualifications in English, History, Communications and Educational Leadership. Most recently, Mark was Senior Deputy Principal at Wenona School in North Sydney where he worked closely with the Principal and School Board of Governors on all matters of school leadership and management, with particular emphasis on leading the innovative staff culture of learning.
Throughout Mark’s extensive career he has held many leadership roles across diverse areas such as Student Wellbeing, Professional Learning and Teaching and Learning. He is thoroughly committed to developing a school culture that values relationships and fosters personal excellence through continual improvement within a respectful and caring community.
Mark is passionate about all things Pembroke and is looking forward to advancing the School into the future, and co-designing strategy that supports Pembroke being at the forefront of education and one of Australia’s leading independent schools.
Ben Wilson
Ben joined the Pembroke Foundation Board in 2023 and is a current parent. Ben is a division director within Macquarie Asset Management, specialising in asset finance and debt capital markets. He is a Chartered Accountant and Fellow of the Financial Services Institute. Ben has prior experience as Governor and Chair of Finance and Investment at St Peter’s College in Adelaide, along with other directorships.
Vincent Ciccarello
Vincent Ciccarello is the parent of an old scholar (2008). He is currently Head of Philanthropy and Enterprise at the Art Gallery of South Australia, having previously served as Managing Director of the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra for nine years. He holds qualification in music, management and journalism, and worked for 10 years as a journalist and in communications. He is Deputy Director of the Adelaide City of Music Board and a member of the Adelaide Italian Festival Board.
Advisors
Finance Manager: Angeline Naylor
Director of Community Engagement & Indigenous Education: Amanda Bourchier
Philanthropy Manager: Catriona Neil-Dwyer
Founding Patron
Mrs Margaret H Bennett (Sellars) 1924-2017, Girton (1939), Life Member of the School