Committee of Management

Commitment to good governance is essential for the success and ongoing planning of directions for any school. Time is given generously for monthly meetings of the Committee of Management. The strategic directions of the College have been determined through the Committee of Management and Senior Staff discussions and ensure alignment between policy directions and the daily management and leadership of the College.

The essence of the Committee of Management’s governance role at Northside Christian College is to oversee all aspects of the College, appoint the Principal, and ensure a strategic approach to the College’s future by setting major objectives, policy frameworks and strategies. The Committee of Management must also monitor adherence to systems of risk management, ensure compliance with legal obligations and undertake periodic performance reviews. The Committee of Management is also committed to ensuring the financial security of Northside Christian College.

The Committee of Management is responsible for developing policies to reflect the College’s values and support the College’s broad direction, as outlined in the improvement plan. The Northside Christian College policies are documents that are made available to the College community as a means to clarify functions and responsibilities, manage change, promote consistency, meet standards and make decision-making transparent. The Committee of Management is responsible for reviewing the College’s policies on a regular cycle with some policies requiring review on an annual basis.

The implementation of the Child Safe Standards and the guidelines outlined in Ministerial Order No. 870 was a key priority for the Committee of Management during the 2016 academic school year. The Committee of Management has approved a new Child Safety Policy, Code of Conduct and Procedures, and a wide range of supportive policies and documents to ensure that the College maintains a culture of child safety. A wide range of resources have been published on the College website.

Committee Members

Raff Marcucci

Date Appointed: 1997 to 12/2014 & rejoined 01/01/2021
Qualifications: Cert IV in Pastoral Ministry, Cert IV Workplace Training and Assessment

Pastor Raff Marcucci has been a long-serving Committee of Management member at Northside Christian College having served between 1997 and 2014 before re-joining in the capacity as Chairperson in 2021. Raff is committed to ensuring the ongoing fulfillment of the College’s Vision and Mission and is passionate about the provision of Christian Education. Pastor Raff has supported in a range of roles at the Encompass Church, including serving as the Lead Pastor at the Plenty Valley Campus.

Henry Franck

Date Appointed: 22/5/2015
Qualifications: Diploma of Ministry

Henry joined the Committee of Management in 2015. He has previously served as the Committee Secretary. He is a pastor in the Australian Christian Churches and is the Mernda Campus Pastor of Encompass Church. Henry and his wife Vicki are the owners of MBC Cleaning Services, operating in the northern and eastern suburbs of Melbourne. Henry and Vicki have two children who are currently students at Northside.

Filomena Palmer

Jinu Abraham

Date Appointed: 26/05/2017
Qualifications: Certified Practising Accountant (CPA), Masters in Accounting and Financial Management, Bachelor of Commerce

Jinu joined the Committee of Management in 2017 and is an experienced senior Finance and Operations Leader. He brings a broad range of skills to the Committee of Management including financial analysis, business analysis, project management, business strategy, and managerial finance. Jinu attends Encompass Church and serves there across a range of roles. He is married to Nithya and has four children.

Karen Burke

Date Appointed: 25/05/2018
Qualifications: Bachelor of Education

Karen joined the Committee of Management in 2018 and served as the Committee Secretary during 2020, 2021, and part of 2022. She is a Teacher at Banyule Primary School and a former Primary Teacher at Epping Views Primary School, one of the largest Primary Schools in Australia. Karen has been a primary school teacher for 20 years, teaching all year levels as a classroom teacher with a few years as a Performing Arts teacher. Her educational leadership expertise, from Year Level Team Leader through to Teaching and Learning Coach, provides a strong knowledge of curriculum, assessments, and pedagogy. Karen attends Unihill Church and serves in the Prayer team, UniHill Kids team, and Women’s ministry. She is married to Colin and they have a son.

Oscar Ruiz

Phil Johns

Date Appointed: 10/6/2020
Qualifications: Bachelor of Engineering (Mechanical), Honours

Phil joined the Committee of Management in 2020. He has extensive Project Management experience across various industrial sectors. Phil was a board member at Moonee Vale Christian School between 2004 and 2012 and served on the steering committee for projects and leading numerous sub-committee while on the board. Phil has also served as a board member for Inner City Christian Church between 1999 and 2005. He is people-oriented, results-focused, and decisive concerning efficiently and effectively delivering project goals.

Mark Donato

Nandika Mather

Date Appointed: 16/6/2021
Qualifications: Certified Practising Accountant (CPA), Master of Business Administration

Nandi joined the Committee of Management in 2021. Nandi has been the General Manager of Finances and Business for MacKillop Family Services since 2018. She was previously the Budget and Analytics Manager at Anglicare Victoria. Nandi has a strong Christian faith, attends an evangelical church in Rosanna, and serves as a Sunday school teacher.

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