Meet Our Staff

Luke has been Pembroke Principal since July 2010. In accordance with the School Constitution he is an ex officio non-voting Board Member. Luke is also a parent of two old scholars. Luke is an experienced educational leader and teacher with tertiary qualifications in Social Science, Arts and Education. He is a Foundation Fellow and a member of all the Board appointed committees. Luke is immediate past Chair of the Heads Council International Baccalaureate Organisation (a position held in conjunction with being ex officio member of the International Baccalaureate Organisation Board), the immediate past Head of Trinity College Gawler (2002-2010), past President of the Association of Independent Schools of South Australia and a past board member of the Independent Schools Council of Australia.

Kym has worked at Pembroke since 1993, apart from a year working as an Australian Volunteer Abroad in Western Samoa in 1996. Kym has experience working in the public, Catholic and independent education sectors. He has held many acting and substantive roles at Pembroke, including Head of Physics, Head of Science, Assistant Head of Middle School, Assistant Head of the Senior School and Dean of Administration prior to commencing as Deputy Principal in 2016. Kym has tertiary qualifications in physics and education.

Alexandra commenced at Pembroke in 2005 and manages the busy Girton Campus, site of the Senior School, working with a range of staff and being responsible for 450 students in their final two years of formal education. She is an experienced teacher having worked in the UK, been Chief Assessor for the SACE and an examiner for the IB Diploma Programme. Additionally, she has contributed to textbooks and journals along with serving as the President, Treasurer and Journal Editor of the Geography Teachers’ Association of South Australia. Alexandra has an Honours Degree in Geographical Sciences and Master of Education – Leadership and Management.

Kia joined Pembroke as Head of Middle School in 2021 (previously Head of Middle School at Seymour College, Head of Middle School/Acting Deputy Principal at Woodcroft College). In addition to her success as a Head of Middle School, Kia brings many proven strengths and experiences to her role at Pembroke. She is currently completing a Master of Education Studies (Innovation and Change). She is an excellent Design and Technology teacher across Australian Curriculum, IB and SACE and blazed a trail with a number of female colleagues in the early 1990s to teach in the traditionally male-dominated school curriculum area of Technology. She is a Nationally Accredited Assessor in Australian Professional Standards for Teachers (AITSL) and can certify and assess teachers in the Highly Accomplished and Lead Teacher level. Kia is actively engaged in professional associations and, from time to time, specialist committee work. In 2019, Kia won the Adolescent Success - Middle Years Leader of the Year National Award. She holds Australian Sports Commission and South Australian Sports Institute coaching certification for softball, lacrosse and netball having played all these sports at state or club level.

Carl has been working in the Primary Years education sector since 1991 and commenced his role of Head of Junior School at Pembroke in 2004. In addition to his extensive teaching career, Carl has given generously of his time, expertise and experience to involve himself in the wider educational community. Carl is an active contributor to the Independent Primary School Heads of Australia (IPSHA) and the Australian Primary Principals Association (APPA). He is the current chair of the Pembroke School Academy which aims to stimulate critical thinking about education, through knowledge, research and teacher development. Carl has a Dip.Teach, BA, MA and MEd. He is also completing a PhD which explores the experiences of following in Senior Leadership Teams.

Hannah commenced at Pembroke in 2018 and has responsibility for a broad portfolio including admissions, marketing, communications and fundraising, as well as activities that engage the wider community in the life of the School. Hannah is an experienced advancement professional and her career includes leadership positions and consulting appointments in the performing arts, tertiary and secondary education sectors, across Australia. She is a member of and an advisor to the Pembroke Foundation. Hannah has tertiary qualifications in music and management.

Amanda has gained an extensive understanding of Pembroke over more than 30 years. Prior to working at Pembroke, Amanda worked with an international research and marketing company interstate. At Pembroke, Amanda has held the positions of Deputy Head and Acting Head of Girls’ Boarding and she was the inaugural director of the Pembroke School Foundation from 1999 to 2018, helping enable several major capital developments and scholarships. In 2019 Amanda was appointed Director of Indigenous Education and Community Engagement, continuing her work with key supporters of the School, and developing the Indigenous Education program in support of students’ growth as well as engendering a spirit of reconciliation across the School. Amanda is a Fellow of, and an advisor to, the Pembroke Foundation, and a member of the Indigenous Education Advisory Committee at St Mark’s College, Adelaide.

Darren joined Pembroke in 2001 having taught previously in the Catholic sector. Employed as a Chemistry/Science teacher he has since held a range of acting and substantive roles including Senior Tutor, Head of IB and Assistant Head of Senior School prior to commencing as Dean of Administration in 2016. Darren has qualifications in chemistry and education.

Clark re-commenced at Pembroke in 2020 following previous stints from 2006-09 and 2012-15. Clark oversees the planning and management of Pembroke’s academic program. He has experience in international education in Singapore, the Lutheran sector in addition to the independent education sector. He has held a wide variety of positions including Year 11/12 Coordinator, IB Diploma Coordinator and Assistant Head of Senior School prior to this role as Dean of Studies. Clark has tertiary qualifications in Finance, Economics and Education.

Wendy commenced as Business Director at Pembroke in 2000. Wendy manages the School’s finance, business, administration and governance functions, is Secretary to the School Board, a member of the four Board appointed committees and a Foundation Fellow.

Prior to joining Pembroke Wendy worked across manufacturing, banking, finance, housing and multimedia. She has qualifications in economics, finance, investment, management, governance and superannuation. She is currently a Trustee Director of NGS Superannuation, a member of the AISSA Finance Committee and Chair of Kathleen Lumley College Inc. Wendy is a Justice of the Peace (SA) and a fellow of CPA Australia, Australian Institute of Company Directors and Governance Institute.