Governance and Advisory Council

Edmund Rice Education Australia

Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) is the network of schools, entities and offices offering a Catholic education in the tradition of Blessed Edmund Rice. Established by the Christian Brothers in 2007, EREA now governs the schools owned by the Brothers at that time, as well as schools established since then. EREA has its own canonical and civil identity.

EREA New Governance Structure

Waverley College Advisory Council

The Advisory Council is made up of volunteers who work collaboratively with the Principal and with the EREA Executive to ensure quality stewardship, which is aimed at offering the best possible learning environment for students attending Waverley College. It may consist of between 7 and 11 members, with the Principal as an ex-officio member who cannot hold any office of the Advisory Council. The Advisory Council meets at least six times each year.

The Advisory Council has particular responsibilities in these areas:

1. Oversight of faithfulness to Charter and Touchstones.

2. Approving submissions to EREA in the following areas:

• 2.1 – Strategic planning
• 2.2 – Budget
• 2.3 – Capital works and master planning
  and oversight of the implementation of the above initiatives.

3. Approving major school policies that are consistent with EREA policies.

4. Oversight of compliance with EREA Risk Policy and procedures.

Advisory Council may be appointed for a maximum initial term of three years and may be appointed for a further term of a maximum of three years.

Patrick McClure AO - Chair

Patrick McClure, AO has worked in leadership roles in the social purpose sector over many years. During his tenure as CEO of Mission Australia, it was transformed into a national organisation with revenue of $300 million and 3,000 staff providing innovative employment, education, housing and youth services. He developed strategic partnerships with business and government. He was also CEO of the Society of St Vincent de Paul (NSW/ACT) which is a major provider of homeless services.

He was Chair of the Australian Government’s Reference Group on Welfare Reform reviewing the $150 billion income support system with Prime Ministers John Howard and Scott Morrison. He also chaired the Review Panel of the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission which regulates charities. He has been a Member of the Prime Minister’s Community-Business Partnership Board. Currently he is Chair of Oaktree Retirement Villages Group, Member of NSW Treasury Social Impact Investment Group and Adjunct Professor at Australian Catholic University conducting workshops on governance, leadership and ethical decision-making.

Patrick was awarded an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) and an Australian Centennial Medal. He is an AFR – BOSS True Leader, recipient of the EQT CEO Award for ‘Lifetime Achievement’, Distinguished Alumni Award (Murdoch University, WA) and a Churchill Fellow. He has a Master of Arts (Public Policy), Bachelor of Social Work (Distinction) and Diploma of Theology. He has two children and a grandchild. He is a Waverley College Old Boy (Class of 1967).

Claire Anstis

Claire Anstis is an interior designer and stylist. Claire has assisted with projects for Waverley College over the past year. Claire studied at the Sydney Design School and works predominantly on residential and hospitality projects. Claire has two students at the College, in Years 12 and 10.  Claire graduated from St Clare’s College in 1991.

Fran Grant

Fran Grant is a Yuin woman and her Aboriginal family come from the NSW South Coast. She is the child of a Stolen Child and is a passionate advocate for true reconciliation in Australia, which is inextricably linked to positive outcomes in education, employment, and health for First Nations Australians. Fran is particularly dedicated to education as it offers a future along with opportunity, and assists in ‘closing the gap’. She holds a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood Education) and a Master of Strategic Communication.

Fran currently works with Qantas Australia at Sydney Airport where she is a member of the Indigenous Working Group, and has been deeply involved in developing Qantas Australia’s Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP). She is an accredited classroom teacher and also works in undergraduate degree programs at UTS and Macquarie University. She is a member of the Gowrie NSW RAP Indigenous Advisory Group. Fran is married to an Old Boy and both her sons currently attend the College. Students at the College will likely know Fran as ‘Aunty Fran’ through her continuous work towards a better understanding of the rich culture and history of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

Danika Johnston

Danika is a senior marketing and commercial executive with 24 years’ experience in the media industry. Danika has worked in leadership and executive positions across all facets of the media industry – digital and social media, content marketing, consumer marketing, strategic consultancy, advertising agencies, broadcast media. She has worked for large media companies both in Australia and London.

Danika consults and specialises in digital media and technology, digital marketing, and content. She has also served on boards in the NFP sector and is passionate about Indigenous affairs and social change. Danika has three sons, her eldest is in Year 8 and second youngest in Year 6.

Joelle Kinsella

Joelle Kinsella is an Educational and Developmental Psychologist with 16 years experience. She is passionate about young people’s mental health and prevention/early intervention to promote student wellbeing. Joelle has worked with schools in Dublin, London, Melbourne and Sydney. She has a wide range of experience across primary and secondary schools and has experience working with other EREA schools. Joelle previously worked at Shore School and prior to this she worked as a psychologist at Waverley College.  She currently runs her own private practice.

Joelle has a Bachelor of Arts (in Psychology) from University College Dublin and a Masters of Psychology (Educational and Developmental) from Monash University. She is registered with the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (Ahpra) and is a member of the Australian Psychological Society (APS). She has two young daughters.

Christine Aarsaether

Christine Aarsaether is currently working as the Country Controller (CFO) for the Swedish retailer H&M. Originally from Norway she has been working for H&M in various countries including Norway, Sweden, Austria, Russia and now Australia and New Zealand, for over 20 years. She holds a Master in Business and Economics from the Norwegian Business School.

Christine has a son in Year 8. Being a globetrotter, Christine wanted to give her children the opportunity to live and study abroad to experience the world outside Stockholm, Sweden. She believes in the value of learning and understanding different countries, cultures and languages.

She is very interested in sports and also passionate about the importance of active children and the positive effect sport has on mental as well as physical health. In Sweden she served as the soccer coach for her son’s team. Here in Australia she has become an official within Surf Lifesaving (SLSC) where her daughter is an active competitor for Coogee SLSC.

Todd Cunningham

Todd Cunningham is the Commander, Communications Group New South Police Force.  He has over 34 years of operational policing experience, working with local communities and in Specialist commands addressing crime and social issues. He holds a Diploma in Management and Leadership, qualifications in Emergency Management and Risk Management. He has worked closely with local, State and Federal Government agencies including transport and maritime industries. Todd is a Waverley Old Boy (Class of 1987) and his two sons graduated from Waverley College in 2020 and 2022.

Christopher Peralta

Christopher Peralta is an Old Boy (Class of 1993) and in 2024 has two sons at Waverley College in Year 6 and Year 11. Christopher has over 25+ years as a Business Development executive closing strategic and tactical deals with 50+ tech companies around the world. His passion for innovation is only surpassed by his deep foundation and love of building relationships.

More recently, Christopher is the Founder and CEO of Silicon Valley HQ, an incubator focused on Web3-4-Good projects, for purpose-led outcomes. His entrepreneur journey started in Silicon Valley in 2012. His passion for helping entrepreneurs has expanded and he is now on a mission to help the next generation of innovators. Christopher holds a bachelor’s degree in Electrical Engineering from the University of Technology, Sydney. In 2023 he ran a mentorship program for Waverley College students, and in 2022 also mentored a group of students who won a final pitch at Google. He is excited to continue supporting our boys.

Graham Leddie

Graham Leddie was appointed Principal on 26 April 2017. Prior to his appointment at Waverley College, Mr Leddie was Deputy Principal at St Joseph’s Nudgee College in Queensland, an Edmund Rice School which participates in the GPS Association. Prior to the role as deputy he held two other senior positions as Dean of Administration and Dean of Learning and Teaching. During his early teaching career he worked at the Rockhampton Grammar School and SCECGS Redlands.

Mr Leddie was educated at Sydney Grammar and holds a Master of Educational Leadership and a Master of Religious Education from the Australian Catholic University and Boston College. Recently he completed the Business Executive Program at the Stanford Business School where he focused on developing innovative practices, strategic leadership in dynamic environments, managing bias in strategic judgement and strategic crisis management.

Waverley College Foundation

Patron of the Foundation:

Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC

Foundation Board members:

A/Prof. Brett Courtenay (Class of 1968), Chair

Pasquale Guerrera (Class of 1987), Chair of the College Advisory Council

Michael Jaeger (Class of 1991)

Dr Wal Jarvis (Class of 1965/66)

Graham Leddie, Head of College

Andrew Maloney (Class of 1983)

Mary Ramsay, Past President of the Parents Association.

Also representing the College and their respective specialist areas:

Bryn Gregerson, Director of Business

Emma Laurence, Marketing & Development Manager

Billy Nicolas, Foundation Officer

Read more about the Foundation Waverley College Foundation