The Board, with the Principal, sets the strategic direction for the School, initiates and reviews policies, monitors the School's performance in line with the School Aims and ensures compliance with the School Constitution and all legislative requirements.
The Board comprises twelve skilled, astute and committed members. There are three Board committees which assist the work of the Board. These are Finance, Planning & Properties and Governance. The School Board has delegated its fundraising and funds management powers to the Foundation Board which reports directly to the School Board.
Members of the School community who would like to be considered for membership of the School Board's committees or the Foundation Board are encouraged to contact Wendy Wills, the Business Director and Board Secretary.
Meet our School Board Members
Jane Miller (Chair)
Jane was appointed to the Board by the Pembroke Old Scholars’ Association in 2014 and was elected Chair in June 2018. She is an old scholar (1995) and a parent of three current students in the Junior and Middle School. Jane is a Barrister and an Accredited Specialist in Family Law. She is a Foundation Fellow, a member of the Board Governance Committee and of the Pembroke Old Scholars’ Association Committee. Jane is also a graduate of the Australian Company Directors course.
Luke Thomson (Principal)
Luke has been Pembroke Principal since July 2010. He is 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 School Board committees. Luke is immediate past Chair, 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.
Wendy Wills (Business Director)
Wendy commenced at Pembroke School in the role of Business Director in 2000 and joined the Foundation Board in 2013. She is a Fellow of CPA Australia, Governance Institute of Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors with tertiary qualifications in economics, accounting, management, and governance. Wendy is a Foundation Fellow and a member of all the School Board Committees. Wendy is Past National President of Governance Institute of Australia and current Council Chair and Finance Committee member of Kathleen Lumley College Inc.
Andreas Clark
Andreas is a current parent of three students and joined the Board in 2019. Andreas is the Chief Executive Officer of Wine Australia. Before joining the wine sector, Andreas served as a diplomat with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade in Canberra and Brunei and has also worked as a lawyer in private practice and in-house with an ASX-listed company. Andreas is also a member of the Board of Operation Flinders Inc.
He holds a Master of Laws from the Australian National University and Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Laws (First Class Honours) from Flinders University and is admitted to practice in South Australia. He has also completed a Graduate Diploma in Applied Finance and Investment from the Securities Institute of Australia and the Authentic Leadership Program at Harvard University.
Peter Daw
Peter was appointed to the Board in January 2020 after retiring from Catholic Education in July 2019. In his career Peter has been Principal of three Catholic Co-educational Schools. In 1989 he became the first lay Principal of Mt Carmel College at Rosewater and after five years in that position was appointed as Principal of Thomas More College, Salisbury. In 2000 he was asked to lead the development of the SACSA Framework for Catholic Education and spent the year working in DECD Central Office. At the end of this project Peter was appointed to the newly formed position of Principal Consultant for Catholic Education SA. This position enabled Peter to work with some 25 metropolitan and rural Catholic Secondary, Combined and standalone Primary schools. In 2004 Peter was appointed to the position of Principal of Mercedes College, Springfield where he remained until his retirement.
Throughout his career Peter has served on a number of Catholic Education SA and SACE committees mainly in the areas of finance and governance. Peter has also been an active member of the International Baccalaureate Organisation where he has been involved at local and international level. Internationally, Peter has also been an active member of the Council of International Schools where he has co-chaired school accreditation visits.
In his ‘retirement’ Peter is now providing leadership support to the Adelaide International School for six days per fortnight. He is delighted to be a member of the Pembroke School Board as he has worked closely with our past two Principals and has always had the highest regard for our school.
Melissa Mellen
Melissa was appointed as a School Board member by the School Board, in 2015. She is a parent of three current students. Melissa is a chartered professional engineer, Director of MFY traffic and parking consultants and an accredited road safety auditor. In 2015 Melissa was awarded the grade of Fellow with the Institution of Engineers Australia and is a member of the Australian Institute of Traffic Planners and Managers, the Urban Development Institute of Australia and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She is a Foundation member and Chair of the Board Planning and Properties Committee. In 2010 Melissa was the Telstra South Australian Business Woman of the Year, she went on to win the National Award for the Business Owner Category and is now a judge for these awards. Melissa is also a member of the Young Adelaide Voices Board and has previously held positions on the Lincoln College Council and a sub-committee of the Women’s and Children’s Hospital Foundation Board.
Ali Michell
Ali is a Pembroke Old Scholars' Association appointed member of the School Board. Ali was appointed in 2016. She is an old scholar (1998) and a future parent. Ali is a member of the Pembroke Old Scholars' Association and a past member of OzHarvest SA's Advisory Committee. Ali is a freelance public relations, marketing and social media consultant as well as a marriage celebrant. Ali has tertiary qualifications in journalism and communications.
Cathy Oster
Cathy was elected to the School Board by the Trustees in 2016 and re-elected at the 2018 Annual General Meeting. She is a parent of an old scholar and a current student. Cathy is a corporate lawyer and company secretary working most recently at Beach Energy Limited. She is a Foundation Fellow and a member of the Board Finance and Audit Committees. Cathy is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia. Cathy serves as a board member of not for profit aged care provider, LHI Retirement Services and on a number of industry management and advisory committees.
Peter Read
Peter is a parent of two old scholars and one current student. He was appointed to the school board by the Parents’ and Friends’ Association in 2018 and is Chair of the Board’s Finance Risk & Audit Committee. Using his finance background, Peter works with groups in various horticultural and agricultural industries.
Jo Rebuli
Jo is a construction management professional with an extensive background in the infrastructure, defence and facilities management industries. Jo’s extensive business knowledge and experience in leadership, governance and strategy is founded on 5 years as general manager of an ASX listed company and over 10 years in senior management roles in tier 1 construction companies.
Jo brings a passion for aligning sustainability and innovative solutions to meet evolving business needs. She is an advocate for advancing women in construction and has held a career long passion for developing and delivering mentoring, education and training programs to enable emerging construction professionals to thrive.
Julia Steele Scott
Julia is a parent of two current Pembroke students and was appointed to the Board in 2018. She joined the Foundation Board in 2016 and succeeded David Minns as Chair of the Foundation in 2020. She also is a Foundation member. Julia is the Chief Executive Officer of JM Philanthropy, Impact100 SA board member, holds an MBA and is a Graduate and Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She has also served on the boards of several not-for-profit organisations.
Darren Townsend
Darren is a current parent of three students and 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.