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 up to twelve skilled, astute and committed members. There are four Board appointed committees which assist the work of the Board. These are Finance, Risk & Audit, Foundation Board, Governance and Planning & Properties. These committees have specialist expertise and make recommendations to the Board. The Foundation Board Committee also has specific delegations with respect to philanthropy and investment management.
Members of the School community who would like to be considered for membership of the School Board or Board appointed committees are encouraged to contact Wendy Wills, the School’s 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.

Cathy Oster (Deputy Chair)
Cathy was elected to the School Board by the then Trustees in 2016 and was re-elected at both the 2018 and 2021 Annual General Meetings. She is a parent of two old scholars and is a Foundation Fellow, Deputy Chair of the School Board and Chair of the Board Governance Committee.
Cathy is a corporate lawyer and company secretary. Her career spans partnerships with private law firms and in house counsel roles in the ASX listed and private company sectors. Currently, she is Head of Legal and Governance at private equity financial services firm, Duxton Capital (Australia). Cathy also serves on the board of The Burnside War Memorial Hospital Inc. and on several industry management and advisory committees. Cathy is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Melissa Cadzow
Melissa is the parent of two current students and Foundation Fellow and was appointed to the Board in 2021 by the Parents’ & Friends’ Association. She is also a member of both the Board Governance Committee and the Parents’ and Friends’ Association Committee.
Melissa serves on national and South Australian boards and committees in the areas of governance, healthcare, regulation and innovation. Her experience includes companies, not-for-profit, advisory, statutory and regulatory bodies. In the health system, Melissa works constructively with others towards better, safer, person-centred care. She is director of her family company, a boutique IT services firm with a diverse portfolio of clients.
Melissa holds Bachelor of Science, Master of Systems Development, Graduate Certificate in Small Business Management and a Graduate Certificate in Medical and Health Leadership and is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors course.

Andreas Clark
Andreas is a current school parent and was appointed as a Board member in 2019 and is a Foundation Member. Following a successful executive career, concluding with a 8 year term as the CEO of Wine Australia, Andreas now holds a range of non-executive director roles across a broad range of sectors including agriculture (wine and dairy), medical services, education and not-for profits.
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. He is also a Graduate of the AICD Company Directors Course.

Peter Daw
Peter is an elected Board member who commenced on the School Board in January 2020. During his career Peter served as Principal of three Catholic co-educational schools, most recently for 15 years at Mercedes College until his retirement in July 2019. Peter has also served on a number of Catholic Education SA and SACE committees with a focus on finance and governance. In the role of Principal Consultant for Catholic Education SA, Peter worked with and supported 25 metropolitan and rural Catholic secondary, combined and standalone primary schools.
Peter is a past member of the International Baccalaureate Organisation and also the Council of International Schools where he has co-chaired school accreditation visits.

Melissa Mellen
Melissa was appointed as a School Board member by the School Board, in 2015. She is a parent of two current students and one old scholar. Melissa is a chartered professional engineer and a registered professional engineer in Queensland, Director of MFY Pty Ltd (traffic engineers) 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.
Melissa is a Foundation Fellow and Chair of the Board Planning & Properties Committee. In 2010 she was the Telstra South Australian Business Woman of the Year and went on to win the National Award for the Business Owner Category. Melissa is also Chair 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 was appointed to the School Board in 2016 by the Pembroke Old Scholars Association. She is an old scholar ('98) and a current parent. Ali is a member of the Pembroke Old Scholars Association Committee and a past member of OzHarvest's SA Advisory Committee.
Ali is an authorised Marriage Celebrant and has previously worked as a business operations director; public relations, marketing and digital media consultant, as well as a journalist. Ali has tertiary qualifications in journalism and communications.

Peter Read
Peter is a parent of three old scholars and a Foundation Member. He was appointed to the School Board in 2018 and is Chair of the Board Finance, Risk & Audit Committee. Using his finance background, Peter works with groups in various horticultural and agricultural industries along with a number of not for profit boards.

Jo Rebuli
Jo was first appointed by the Board in 2019. She is a current and past parent as well as a Foundation Member. She currently also contributes her professional expertise as a member of the Board Planning and Properties committee. 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 one current and one past Pembroke student and was appointed to the School Board in 2018 and subsequently elected at the May 2019 Annual General Meeting. Julia joined the Foundation Board Committee in 2016 and became Chair in 2020. She is also a Foundation Member.
Julia is the Chief Executive Officer of JM Philanthropy and Grant Toolbox, 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 was first appointed to the Board by the Parents’ & Friends’ Association in 2016 and he is a current parent of two students and one old scholar. Darren is a specialist Orthodontist and tutors in the Postgraduate Orthodontic Program at The University of Adelaide. He is a Foundation Fellow and member of both the Foundation Board Committee and the Parents’ and Friends’ Association Committee.

Luke Thomson (Principal)
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.

Wendy Wills (Business Director)
Wendy commenced as Business Director at Pembroke in 2000. Wendy manages the School’s finance, business, administration, risk 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.
Life Members
Life Membership is bestowed upon individuals who have made an outstanding contribution to the School.
To view all Pembroke Life Members, please click here.