Diane Darcy
Far West Delegate
P&C Federation Board Members
Natalie Walker | President | Far West Councillor
Natalie Walker is the Far West Councillor and elected President of P&C Federation NSW. For the past six and a half years, she has volunteered as a councillor to support students, parents and citizens involved in public education in NSW, as well as nine years as a member of her local P&C Associations, in the role as President, Vice President and Secretary. She resides in Forbes, Central West NSW, with her husband and two children who attend Forbes High School. She enjoys reading, music, gardening, and spending time with her family.
Natalie holds a Bachelor of Education (ECE), from Macquarie University and is currently undertaking the Women in Leadership Australia – Advanced Leadership Program. She also completed a Diploma in Business (Governance), Cert IV Training & Assessment and Advanced Diploma in Community Sector Management.
As a passionate advocate about public education, Natalie wants to ensure that all children and young people get the best start in life. As a product of the public education system, Natalie has experienced both rural and metropolitan public schools attending Tullamore Central School through primary and Fort St High School in Petersham, Sydney, a selective high school.
Natalie has supported public education through various Boards and educational committees with the NSW Department of Education and NESA, and has over 20 years’ experience in the community sector.
Her goal moving forward is to continue to strengthen the organisations foundations, allowing P&C Federation to continue to grow and step up to the next level of service delivery and advocacy for its members. Natalie would also like to see the organization and its members seen as a valuable partner and contributor to NSW public schools and looks forward to working with stakeholders to support children and young people in NSW public schools.
Current P&C Association involvement: Vice President of Forbes High School P&C Association.
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Yvonne Hilsz | Vice President | Sydney Councillor
I have been championing children’s well being and their access to education for many years. I was inspired to what is possible for their future when I was GM for a global teen charity stepUP and saw first hand what a difference can be made with education, support and resources.
Recently, my efforts have been channelled in my daughter’s primary school, Birchgrove Primary School. When we joined Birchgrove in Feb of 2018, I became the head of fundraising and then President by November 2018.
My motivation is to provide support to students so they can thrive in the school environment and with an emphasis on improving their learning outcomes through increased resources, such as equipment, staffing levels or specialist programs.
I see the purpose of a P&C to be collaborating with the school’s vision and needs to elevate possibility to new levels with funding opportunities and support through partnering with the Principal and faculty to work cohesively as much as possible.
I continually seek innovative ways to engage the community including facilitating fundraising events utilising technology and pivoted us quickly to develop strategies to robustly continue funding the big projects within the school despite a global pandemic.
The community has stayed strong and continued to support the initiatives as part of the strategic plan already in place and we have achieved significant improvements and provided much needed resources despite these unprecedented 18 months.
Through my leadership skills, I foster strong connections between P&C and the school which I see as an opportunity to help a broader sector within the NSW P&C Federation to make a difference.
I have a core belief that through engaging and being inclusive with an open mind to seek solutions we have an opportunity and responsibility to enhance the learning and education of our children; and provide a safe and aspirational environment for them to thrive.
Current P&C Association involvement: Member of Birchgrove Public School P&C Association.
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Cassandra Jones | Macarthur Councillor
I’m grateful and honoured to be elected as Federation of Parents and Citizens Association NSW Executive Councillor for Macarthur Electorate.
I have a fondness Macarthur as I have lived in the area most of my life and was educated in public school for both primary and high school in the local area. My two children also attend public schools in the local area.
I have been a P&C member and Office Bearer at Mount Annan High School for the last four years – 2019 and 2020 as Treasurer, 2021 and 2022 as President. I’m also a returning fundraising committee member.
I firmly believe all students should have fair and equal access to free public education and programs within the Department of Education that is inclusive to all students and families regardless of culture, gender, academic ability and socio-economic status.
I am driven to be an advocate for families and their child/ren with additional needs within public education. Having my own child on the autism spectrum, I have extensive experience and knowledge of mental health and additional needs. I’ve worked closely with the Department of Education and other stakeholders within a school setting to implement methods of inclusivity for students with disabilities within mainstream education. I’m deeply passionate about supporting families with additional needs child/ren as they face the challenges, milestones and victories that occur along their journey through the public education system.
I am Department of Education Merit Selection Panel trained. I have been a panelist representing the ‘community’ for employing a vast range of staffing roles across at many different schools. I thoroughly enjoy and am extremely proud of all I have been involved in and seeing the growth and the positive impacts that have been made along the way at both a school P&C level and within the P&C Federation as an Executive Councillor.
Current P&C Association involvement: President of Mount Annan High School P&C Association
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Jason Ryan | Mid North Coast Councillor
- Current Board member and former delegate to the P&C Federation of NSW.
- President Taree High School P&C Association.
- Chair, Regional P&C Associations Meetings Mid North Coast.
- Member Rotary Club of Taree on Manning.
- Former Director of Football Mid North Coast.
- Currently studying the Graduate Diploma in Financial Planning.
- Bachelor’s degree in Applied Economics.
- Contributing author to ‘Where’s the fair go? The decline of equity in Australia”. Book launch National Press Club, Canberra.
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Isabelle Borrelli | North Coast Councillor
I’ve been a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors since 2011. I believe that at a Board or Director level, the process of continuous improvement is all the more onerous on each individual to make sure they are always improving their skills as directors or board members and that decision making is based on the best possible strategic approach.
I have significant governance experience in Government organisations and Not-For-Profits:
- I’m currently a non-executive Company Director for ETC Ltd –a highly regarded national employment services and training company operating in NSW and QLD.
- I’m also a ministerially appointed community Board member for the National Parks and Wildlife Service – Byron Area Management. I’ve been on that management committee for 12 years. I work closely with the Arakwal people of the Bundjalung Nation to make decisions in the best interests of Country. That committee is the most successful joint management committee in NSW and has been lauded internationally. We operate under an ILUA (Indigenous Land Use Agreement).
- Former P&C President of Ocean Shores Public School (2nd year and located 30mins south of Tweed Heads). Becoming a P&C president during COVID was a difficult process as was as adjusting to being on a committee with a variety of non-professional people. We have managed to deliver a strategic vision for the future as well as making P&C processes more professional and easier to navigate and securing the continuous supply of our teachers who live in QLD.
- I was also a Board member for 4 years on the former NRCMA (Northern Rivers Catchment Management Authority became Rural Lands Board)
My work experience and volunteering includes:
- 25+ years experience in senior management roles including in the NSW public service.
- Leadership roles in structural workplace change and organizational culture.
- Project manager in civil construction (public works).
- Director of award-winning Preschool (2 years).
- Coordinating and teaching the Primary Ethics Program at my children’s school (volunteer).
- I’ve been a passionate wildlife educator specializing in birds for 15 years.
My formal qualifications are:
- A (public administration and international relations)
- Graduate Certificate in Adult Ed & Training
- Masters in Education (Adult Education and Training)
- Post Graduate Diploma in Project Management
- Certificate and Diploma in Early Childhood Education
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Liga Hegner | Northwest Sydney Councillor
I have a long history of serving in P&Cs at a grass roots level. I joined for the same reason many of us do: to get involved with our children’s school at a practical level and contribute where we can. Now in my tenth year serving the Castle Hill Primary School P&C community as an Office Bearer and now life member, concurrently President of Castle Hill High School P&C, a regular attendee of the Northwest group of P&Cs since inception, I am without question passionate about working with P&C communities.
During my involvement, I have partnered with our parent and school communities to deliver large infrastructure projects, create interactive play and green spaces, implement online ordering for parents, lobbied local council and government over development matters and overcrowding in schools, been awarded multiple community building partnership grants, overhauled operations for canteen and uniform business units and aligned our governance documents to our constitution. In the last four years I have been fortunate to deliver two finalists and subsequent winners of the P&C volunteer of the year award for our region.
I am excited about working in close collaboration with the Northwest region P&C Associations, to support their needs and help navigate the challenges. I understand the value and inherent need for our members to belong, be heard and have a voice and my goal is to contribute meaningfully to P&C Federation’s vision, to empower P&C Associations and to be the support hub that every volunteer- based P&C Association needs.
Current P&C Association involvement: President of Castle Hill High School P&C Association.
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Dr. Saba Nabi | Riverina Councillor
I am the current Riverina Councillor at NSW P&C Federation and currently sit on many representative committees.
My main purpose to join the P&C was to bring the parent community together and share the information amongst the Riverina community.
I was the President of Sturt Public School P&C for three years and Secretary for a year. As parents we are also the role model to our children. If we are interested in what’s happening at the school, then our children will show greater pride and connection.
A bit background about myself. I came to Australia to complete my Ph.D. in Biomedical Sciences at Charles Sturt University with my young family in 2012 and since then Wagga Wagga has become my permanent home.
To avoid social isolation and homesickness, I engaged heavily in my local community via volunteering and my efforts were recognized, regionally and nationally. I was the winner of the 2014 NSW International Student of the Year Awards in the Higher Education category, Finalist at 2014 CROW Awards in the category “Young Professional Award” organized by Wagga Business Chamber, NEMBC National Ethnic Broadcasters eChamp, Finalist in 2017 and 2020 India and Australia Business and Community Achievement Awards, Finalist in 2017 and 2020 NSW & ACT Regional Achievement and Community Awards, one in 100 2018 Australian Financial Review’s Women of Influence Awardee in the local and regional category, in 2019 I was the Riverina Volunteer of the Year Award winner and in 2020 induced in NSW Hidden Treasurer’s Honours Roll.
Based in Wagga, some of my volunteer roles are: member of Regional Advisory Council (RAC) member with Multicultural NSW, Board Member and Secretary at Multicultural Council of Wagga Wagga (MCWW), AFL Multicultural Community Ambassador, Riverina Board member at NSW PandC Federation, Australia Day committee member, member of BreastScreen NSW, Healthy Framework Committee with MLHD, representing NSW PandC Federation on ECC NSW committee and on NESA Curriculum committee.
Current P&C Association involvement: Member Kooringal High School P&C Association.
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Hema Fifita | Southwest Sydney Councillor
Warami mittigar! I am humbled to have the support of the wonderful Granville Boys High School community to serve as your South-West Councilor. I salute the dedicated teachers and communities throughout the state who support our children in Public Education. I have the unique experience and insight of three school communities which my children attend. I understand the differing challenges of P&C associations in primary, high school, mainstream, selective stream and across South-West and Sydney electorate.
I represent a wonderfully diverse and vibrant South-West community with much to offer. With mental health and wellbeing of students and teachers a priority, my message for school leaders and P&Cs is to embrace the strengths of your community. I look forward to getting to know faces, stories and achievements of the P&C Associations I represent and providing opportunities to network, engage and empower communities in public education.
I am a first-generation migrant from the Kingdom of Tonga living and learning Gadigal country. I am a product of public education system having attended Strathfield Girls High School. My P&C journey started in 2011 joining the P&C to find out how I could support my children in their education. As a first year President in 2016 in a South-West School Hall I watched in awe of then South-West Councilor and Federation President Susan Boyd in action. Five years later, I stand shoulder to shoulder with a woman of great strength, a fearless Indigenous Maori women pathing the way helping parents, P&Cs and communities support students in public education.
I hold a Bachelor of Commerce degree from Western Sydney University, am currently a Pre-Service Primary Teacher studying online with Swinburne University and a community languages teacher. I currently serve as President of Management Committee for Tongan Language School. I am an AMP Future fund recipient 2021, an author of bilingual picture book series being produced for teachers and the Pasifika community.
Current P&C Association involvement: Secretary of Strathfield South High School P&C Association and Granville Boys High School P&C Association.
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Wade Marionneaux | West Sydney Councillor
I am pleased to be able to serve as the P&C Federation Councillor for West Sydney. I am the current president, and past treasurer, of the Kurrajong Public School P&C Association, and in these roles have observed first-hand what an important resource the P&C Federation can be. I believe that parent, carer, and community volunteers have an important role to play in the life of a successful public school system, and I hope to make a positive contribution to both my daughter’s local school and to our state-wide organization.
I am originally from the southern state of Louisiana in the United States and came to Australia in 2016. I practiced law as a corporate litigator based in Atlanta, Georgia for 25 years in both the state and federal courts. I’ve previously served on the board of a non-profit Conservancy dedicated to the preservation and restoration of a large historic public park in Atlanta and provided volunteer legal services to a non-profit community garden in that city.
At our local school, I’ve served as a canteen coordinator and purchasing agent, organized our election day sausage sizzles, and helped to coordinate our school fairs and fundraisers. Our local organization faces challenges that are common to many P&Cs, including attracting volunteers and keeping up with best practices in organizational governance. These have become even more acute during the pandemic. We have frequently relied upon the P&C Federation for support and guidance, and I hope that I am able to contribute to the Federation’s mission during my term.
Current P&C Association involvement: President of Kurrajong Public School P&C Association.
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Delegates
Michael Nash
Northwest Sydney Delegate
Richard Copnall
North Sydney Delegate
Christopher Kirk
Northwest Sydney Delegate
Mark Van Kerkwyk
North Sydney Delegate