Appointed 1.12.1983
(Re-elected 24.11.2015)

Janet Holmes à Court is owner of the Janet Holmes à Court Collection.  She is also Chairman of the West Australian Symphony Orchestra and the Australian Children’s Television Foundation.  She is a Board Member of the Rio Tinto Community Investment Fund, the Australian National Academy of Music (ANAM), the Australian Major Performing Arts Group (AMPAG) and Chamber of Arts and Culture WA.  She is a science graduate from the University of Western Australia and taught science for a number of years before working more closely with family business matters.  She has won numerous awards recognising her contribution to the community and to business, including a Companion of the Order of Australia.  Janet is an elected member of the Board.

Appointed 22.7.2003 (Retired 10.9.2015)
(Re appointed 21.6.2016 for three years)

Catriona Hughes worked at the Australian Film Commission and the Film Finance Corporation Australia (FFC), which have since merged to form Screen Australia, including five years as the FFC’s Chief Executive. During that time, Catriona oversaw a slate of important Australian film and television projects. Her company, GFN Productions founded with Geoff Levy of Investec Bank in 2005, has executive/produced two feature films and a documentary. Catriona was made a Member of the Order of Australia 2005. Catriona represents the Commonwealth Government on the Board.

Appointed 11.5.2009 (Retired 6.6.2015)
(Re appointed 21.1.2016 for three years)

Feyi Akindoyeni is Partner at Newgate Communications which opened its doors in Australia in 2013. Newgate brings together some of Australia’s most experienced strategic communications professionals and specialises in corporate affairs, government relations, financial communications, community engagement and market research. Prior to this Feyi was Global Partner and Head of Kreab Gavin Anderson (Canberra) for five years where she led one of the nation’s premier strategic communications and government relations consultancy teams. Feyi has advised organisations such as Google, Apple, Vodafone, Foxtel, TAFE NSW and the Federal, NSW and Victorian Education Departments. Prior to joining KGA, Feyi was Education Marketing Manager for Apple Australia. Feyi represents the Commonwealth Government on the Board.

Appointed 21.6.2016 for three years

Cheryl Best is currently the Executive Director, Learning and Business Systems in the NSW Department of Education. Cheryl is responsible for business engagement and sponsorship, digital media services, including the development of high quality resources utilising mobile and immersive technologies to enhance teaching and learning, school policy coordination and review, international student programs in public schools, financial support services and funding to all public schools in NSW and the Assisted School Transport program. Part of this role involves developing and maintaining relationships with internal and external groups to achieve better outcomes for public education in NSW. Cheryl’s career in education spans over 30 years. During this time she has worked in a variety of educational settings and has a wealth of experience in school leadership and the development of quality teaching and learning programs.  Cheryl represents the New South Wales Government on the Board.

Appointed 9 January 2017 for three years

Jason Borton is the Director, Learning and Teaching with the Australian Capital Territory Education Directorate. Jason is a dynamic leader who is committed to implementing innovative practices that cater for the needs of 21st Century learners. He uses social media to promote public education at a school, state and national level, reaching a wide national audience on a regular basis. Jason has been an educator in the ACT public school system since 1996. He was a school leader in three different schools, before being appointed as the Principal of Richardson Primary School in 2012. Jason was the winner of the 2014 AEU ACT Public Education Award. He has a Bachelor of Education. Jason represents the Australian Capital Territory Government on the Board.

Appointed 5.10.2015 for three years

Susan Bowden is the General Manager, Early Childhood Education and Care, Northern Territory Department of Education.  Susan has recently taken up this role which has a strategically important place in the Northern Territory Government’s education policy direction.  Prior to this she has worked as a principal and in senior positions including General Manager Student Services, Senior Director Centre for School Leadership, Learning and Development, Director School Performance and Executive Director School Support Services.  Susan is the Minister for Education’s representative on the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority Board and is a member of the Northern Territory Board of Studies.  She has a Bachelor of Education and a Masters of Educational Leadership.  Susan represents the Northern Territory Government on the Board.

Appointed 27.11.2013
(Re appointed 9.9.2016 for three years)

Jenny Burgess is the Director, Equity Services in the Early Years and Schools Division of the Department of Education in Tasmania.  Jenny oversees the program delivery in the Early Years, Child and Family Centres, Education and Care, English as an Additional Language and Aboriginal Education.  Prior to undertaking this role, Jenny was the Manager of Strategic Policy and Planning for the department, having moved into this role after working in various areas across the agency including Learning Services, Educational Performance Services and the Tasmanian Qualifications Authority.  Jenny has a Masters of Education specialising in Literacy and Numeracy.  Jenny represents the Tasmanian Government on the Board. 

Appointed 29.6.2016 for three years

Susan Cameron is the Executive Director, Learning Improvement in the South Australian Department of Education and Child Development (DECD) and member of the DECD Senior Executive Group (SEG). Susan is responsible for ensuring that curriculum and pedagogy are aligned to the needs of the education system. Prior to this she has been a Principal for 20 years and a Board member of the South Australian Secondary Principal Association, frequently representing SA at National Principals Meetings. As a Director in DECD, Susan led the Review, Improvement and Accountability Division state-wide. This included developing and implementing school review processes using evidence-based learning improvement practices. Susan has also redesigned the structure of the Learning Improvement Division overseeing approximately 150 people who work with preschools and schools to improve learning outcomes for every child and young person. Susan represents the South Australian Government on the Board.

Appointed 22.11.2016

Helen Coonan was elected to the Australian Senate as Senator for NSW in 1996, 2001 and 2007 and also served as Deputy Leader of the Government in the Senate. She held Ministerial portfolios, in Cabinet, as the Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts and prior to that as the Minister for Revenue and Assistant Treasurer.

Helen was shareholder Minister for Telstra and Australia Post and had portfolio responsibility for major agencies including the Australian Tax Office and Australian Prudential Regulatory Authority (APRA).

With a background as a commercial lawyer, barrister and mediator in Australia and New York, Helen has a proven track record of leading stakeholders through major economic reforms and handling complex policy settings, especially where public policy and regulation intersect with business interests.

After 15 years in Parliament, including nine years on the front bench, Helen stepped down to take up commercial opportunities in the corporate sector. Helen’s current appointments include directorships of Crown Resorts Limited and Snowy Hydro Limited. She is the Chair of Supervised Investments Australia Limited a member of the JP Morgan Advisory Council and Aon Risk Services Australia, Board of Advice. Helen is a consultant to Samsung and to Qantium (data analysts). She is the Chair of Sydney Harbour Foreshore Authority and the Crown Resorts Foundation. She also co-chairs GRACosway (member of Clemenger Group) and is a consultant to the Allegis Group.

Appointed 30.10.2013 for three years
(Re appointed 31.10.2016 for three years)

Andrea is an experienced film and television producer.  A media lawyer for 10 years before becoming a producer, Andrea has held senior producing and legal roles in major international and Australian production companies.  As a principal in leading production company Princess Pictures, Andrea has recently produced the groundbreaking screen opera The Divorce, comedy series It’s A Date series 1 and 2, and the landmark documentary series Sporting Nation.  She was executive producer, story editor and mentor on indigenous comedy series 8MMM Aboriginal Radio.  She also oversees the development and production of the broader slate of narrative and documentary projects at Princess Pictures.  Andrea’s other producing credits include: comedy series Outland, Australian/UK mini-series Tripping Over; iconic family drama series SeaChange; mini-series After the Deluge; drama series CrashBurn and children’s live action series Worst Best Friends.  She was also a writer on Tripping Over and SeaChange.  She represents the screen content industry in the Victorian Government’s Creative Industries Expert Reference Group.  Andrea represents the Victorian Government on the ACTF Board.

Appointed 14.6.2012
(Re-appointed 15.6.2015 for three years)

Garry Hewitt currently holds the position of Executive Director in the Office of Early Childhood Development and Learning for the Department of Education in Western Australia.  Garry is responsible for strategic leadership and the delivery of Department, State and Commonwealth reforms in early childhood education in WA public schools.  Garry’s leadership in Education spans 36 years and encompasses 22 years as principal in a diverse range of primary schools, a year as vice principal in Toronto Canada and 18 months as District Director of Schools in the Canning Education District in Perth.  Garry has a Masters of Education specialising in Teaching and Learning.  Garry represents the Western Australian Government on the Board.

Appointed 29.10.2008 (Retired 21.11.2014)
(Re appointed 21.6.2016 for three years)

Daryl Karp brings extensive experience as media executive in documentary, factual content and digital media. She is currently the Director of the Museum of Australian Democracy at Old Parliament House. Previously she was the CEO of Film Australia, and Head of Factual Television at the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. She is a company director of SBS, where she sits on the Audit and Risk Committee, deputy chair of the Canberra Writers Festival, and on the executive of the Council of Australian Museum Directors. She is a fellow of the Institute of Company Directors and a Graduate of the Advanced Management program at the Wharton School of Business. Daryl represents the Commonwealth Government on the Board.

Appointed 29.11.16 for three years

Sharon Schimming is the Regional Director of the North Queensland Region in the Department of Education & Training.  In this role her current priority is to prepare Queenslanders with the knowledge, skills and confidence to participate effectively in the community and the economy, leading the implementation of the Queensland Government's policies and programs in her Region across state schools, training and early childhood. As a long serving educator including over twenty years as a Principal, Sharon has worked with a range of students in environments across Queensland from Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities, regional towns west of the Great Divide to metropolitan schools on the north side of  Brisbane.  Sharon was previously the Principal of the Queensland Curriculum into the Classroom business unit leading the state wide implementation of the Australian Curriculum.  Sharon represents the Queensland Government on the Board.