Board of Management

I have been an educator, social worker, counsellor, mediator, lecturer and facilitator across my career. Beginning work life as a high school teacher I taught various subjects for 15 years in Queensland and South Australia. In the early 1990’s I moved on to become a social worker and have since been working in a variety of contexts in that role ranging from community health to project work.

I have worked in project management, parenting, domestic violence counselling and group work, mental health counselling and child protection during my time as a social worker. I have lectured at University, tutored, and supervised students, and for the last 19 years facilitated learning programs for other child protection social workers.

I have a strong interest in domestic violence work and child protection work and am passionate about children, and their parents, having the best life possible for them.

I am a life-long learner and enjoy the challenge and stimulation of new learning. I am a parent, and grand-parent, and have a wide circle of friends. I have enjoyed being on the Board over the last few years and have gained so much from being a part of the Suneden community.

Heidi became a Co-Principal at Suneden in 2019. She has been a Teacher for 17 years and working in Special Education for 13 years. Heidi completed her Bachelor of Education (Primary) at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane and later a Master of Education (Special Education) at Flinders University in Adelaide. Heidi has worked at Suneden for 10 years. She is also a recently appointed member of the AISSA Board.

She began teaching in mainstream settings in Brisbane and then Adelaide and then moved into a special class within a mainstream school. It was here she found her passion for teaching students with disability and embraced a move into a special school. This was at Suneden.

Heidi then won a leadership position and moved into an Assistant Principal role which she had thoroughly enjoyed. When the Principal role became vacant, Heidi and Helen applied for the role jointly and became Co-Principals. A very exciting and innovative leadership model.

Heidi is very family-focused and has three children and one grandchild. She enjoys socializing with friends, overseas travel, reading, Netflix, wine and chocolate.

Brenton Ellery has been Treasurer of Suneden since 2001. Brenton is currently a consultant to Nexia Edwards Marshall, Chartered Accountants, having been a partner of the firm from 1983 to 2017.

Brenton has held Board positions with a number of not for profit organisations, as well as professional bodies and regulatory bodies.

Brenton is married and he and his wife have 2 children and 4 grandchildren. Brenton is a keen (but not very good) golfer. They enjoy their holiday house on Yorke Peninsula and overseas travel

Robyn has been a member of the school community for past 12yrs as a parent and in the roles of PTO president/member and board member.

She is the director and part time manager of family owned and operated Engineering company specialising in unique design and manufacture.

She is has been involved with industrial, commercial and residential design creating architectural feature elements and project managing their completion.

Her interests include creative projects, enjoying the outdoors, live music, movies and books, sharing wine and food with friends and holidays with her family

Jo is proud to be included as a Member of the Board of Suneden in March 2019, and excited to be included and involved in the Suneden Community.

Since 1998 Jo has practiced as a Registered Occupational Therapist. She specialises in hand & upper limb rehabilitation and is an Accredited Hand Therapist, Certified Hand Therapist, and Registered NDIS provider. Jo works in her private practice based in the Adelaide Hills.

As a passionate life long learner, Jo enjoys sharing her knowledge and skills with students and staff as clinical expert lecture to post graduate Occupational Therapy studients at Flinders University and for rural therapists through Country Health SA.

Jo is a mother to a school-aged daughter, and in her spare time loves spending time in nature and spending time with her wide group of friends and family.

As a special education teacher and coordinator, Katherine has dedicated 34 years to supporting students with disability, learning difficulties and students at risk in a number of schools and specialised settings. Through her daily work, she aims to create inclusive and innovative learning environments for students with disabilities. Katherine has developed and expanded educational opportunities for students through a range of initiatives, programs and practices. Her strong leadership and commitment have been instrumental in not only promoting whole school change, but also, through professional development, resource development and modelling good practice, change on a district and state level. She is the recipient of three national awards for her work and leadership in the field of Special Education. Katherine is married with two children. She enjoys bushwalking, camping, photography, gardening and reading.