Å·ÃÀAV

Chair Ian Nethercote 

Ian Nethercote has been involved in the electricity and coal mining industry for about 40 years and held the role of Chief Executive of Victoria’s largest power station and open cut mine for more than 13 years. During this time he provided oversight and overall business direction and strategy in addition to managing the finances, technical/maintenance aspects, market and human resources. He was also the Chairman of the Loy Yang Marketing Management Company until his retirement in 2012.

Ian has served as a member of many organisations, including the Monash and Federation University Councils, the National Low Emissions Coal Council, the Energy Futures Forum of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, and the Energy & Transport Sector Advisory Council. He is currently a Director of Latrobe’s biggest Ever Blokes BBQ Committee which he Chaired from 2012 - 2018.

Ian Nethercote holds Engineering Qualifications and is a Fellow of the Institution of Engineers Australia, a Fellow of Australian Institute of Company Directors and a Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders. In 2018 Ian was awarded Member of the Order of Australia for ‘Significant Service to Electricity Supply in Victoria through industry reform and restructuring, to education and to the community of Å·ÃÀAV’.

Co-Deputy Chair David Gittins

David Gittins lives with his family in Warrnambool and has a background in business, spending the past 20 years owning several vehicle franchises across Å·ÃÀAV and the Latrobe Valley for Ford, BMW, Honda, CJD, Hyundai, and Kia. David’s career began with Ford Australia as a graduate trainee and he has a Diploma of Business.

David was also the founding chair of Life Education in Doncaster/Templestowe and he is a life member of APEX Australia. David was president of Å·ÃÀAV TAFE for six years and served on the TAFE board for 14 years. He served as Regional Chair of BMW Dealer Council and is currently chair of Clifton Waters, chair of the Anglican Diocese Finance committee, trustee of the Anglican Diocese and director of the Anglican Corporation of Å·ÃÀAV. David is also director and major shareholder of Traralgon Harley Davidson and a director of Stawell Hospital and Regional Health.

Co-Deputy Chair Jessica Cane

Having grown up in East Å·ÃÀAV, Jessica Cane currently lives in Wy Yung with her husband and their two children, who both attend Å·ÃÀAV Grammar.

Jessica is a director and owner of Accounting Solutions Victoria, a Bairnsdale accounting firm. She holds her CPA, Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting), Diploma of Financial Planning and is a SMSF Specialist Advisor. Jessica enjoys volunteering her time on boards of numerous local groups and businesses, where her knowledge and experience is shared to ensure the growth and development of East Å·ÃÀAV. She has strong knowledge of the property industry, holding Directorships in the Property Investment Industry. In her quiet time, Jessica and her family enjoy spending time together outdoors and going on holidays with friends.

Andrew Reynolds

Originally from Adelaide, Andrew Reynolds moved to Bairnsdale in 1997 and is a co-owner and Partner of Wards Barristers & Solicitors Pty Ltd, where he undertakes legal work in the areas of commercial, conveyancing, wills, estates and trusts.

Andrew is a long serving volunteer in the East Å·ÃÀAV community, with past committee roles with APEX, Eastern Victorian Group Training and East Å·ÃÀAV Institute of TAFE. Andrew’s interests include gardening, boating on the Å·ÃÀAV Lakes and motoring. He lives in Bairnsdale with his wife and two children, who are both current Å·ÃÀAV Grammar students.

Neela McGilton

Neela McGilton has a commercial strategy background with more than 10 years' experience with Australian universities. Prior to the higher education sector, Neela worked in corporate finance at KPMG and Ernst & Young in Asia and Europe with focus on restructuring and transactional advisory. She currently leads the Partnerships team at Invest Victoria, which is the economic development arm of Victorian Department of Treasury and Finance.

Neela grew up in Malaysia and completed her degree in Finance in the US before working across four continents and eight countries before finally settling in Melbourne. She holds a Master of International Business from Melbourne University and a Bachelor of Business from University Nebraska-Lincoln, USA. Neela has a wide breath of experience in the public sector, consultancy, not-for-profits and multi-national corporations in both Australia and overseas and her professional success to date is built on her ability to leverage her financial and analytical skills to deliver on strategic business outcomes.

Growing up in a rural town, Neela is passionate about regional communities and the role education and skills plays in the economic development of regions.

Keren Terpstra

Keren Terpstra has been Dean of Å·ÃÀAV since June 2022. Prior to coming to Sale she was the Vicar of St Margaret's Eltham and before that held multiple roles in the Diocese of Brisbane. Keren spent some time on the board of Canterbury College, Waterford, as well as a range of diocesan and ecumenical committees across the three dioceses in which she has served. Keren has been a member of the Liturgical Committee for the Diocese of Melbourne (now extended Province-wide) since 2019, and the President of Victorian Anglicans Together, also since 2019. She is a Provincial Synod and General Synod representative for the Diocese of Å·ÃÀAV. Keren has a passion for good governance, for ensuring the safety of vulnerable people in our communities, and for actively drawing on creativity and the creative arts as ways of engaging in decision-making.

Belinda Wilson

Belinda Wilson is a third generation Å·ÃÀAV Grammar Old Scholar and has established a successful career as a Chief Executive Officer, lawyer and accomplished company director.

From her beginnings as a Å·ÃÀAV-based lawyer, Belinda has led the legal profession as the President of the Law Institute of Victoria. In this leadership role she spearheaded state government law reform and orchestrated large scale organisational cultural and governance improvements. Belinda has also reshaped the Defence and veteran landscape through her role as Chief Executive Officer of Bravery Trust, developing a national Defence strategy for the financial resilience of ADF members. Her work has been recognised by Defence and Defence Industry, being awarded Executive of the Year, 2023.

Belinda’s director roles have included the education sector, legal profession and seafood industry at both national and state levels. She is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the first civilian graduate of the Australian War College and currently undertaking a Master of Leadership.

Motivated by a deep commitment to give back to those who influenced her professional career, Belinda is dedicated to building strong communities, and nurturing the future generation of leaders.

Elizabeth Board

Elizabeth Board is an experienced director with a demonstrated history of working in education, philanthropy and the not-for-profit sector, including regional hospitals, aged care facilities, community Foundations and apprenticeships and training.

Liz has taught and had leadership roles in the primary, secondary and tertiary education sectors and is currently the Chair of IntoWork Australia & New Zealand, Australia’s largest integrated national provider of employment, skills and education and support services.

Liz is a Å·ÃÀAVer; originally from South Å·ÃÀAV and more recently residing in Sale. She was appointed Head of the St Anne’s campus in 1987 before returning to Melbourne in 1993 to resume her studies at the University of Melbourne and work at Camberwell Grammar School.

Liz currently spends her time between Melbourne and Sale and is looking forward resuming a service relationship with Å·ÃÀAV Grammar.

Peter Jennings

Peter Jennings OAM is a recently retired Å·ÃÀAV farmer and former member of the Å·ÃÀAV Grammar School Board (2001–2009), including two terms as Chairman. During this time, his three daughters attended the School. Peter holds a Bachelor of Science, a Graduate Diploma of Education, a Diploma of Management, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Peter began his career as a maths and science teacher and Outward Bound instructor before relocating from New South Wales to Å·ÃÀAV in 1981 to join his family’s farming enterprise. Alongside his agricultural work, he has held a number of leadership and governance roles, including as a Shire Councillor and Local Government Commissioner. He has served as Chair or Board Member for a range of regional bodies, including the West Å·ÃÀAV Catchment Management Authority, Å·ÃÀAV Rural Financial Counselling Service, Å·ÃÀAV Coastal Board, Å·ÃÀAV Lakes Coordinating Committee and the Corner Inlet Waterway Authority. He has also been actively involved with the Victorian Farmers Federation, the Country Fire Authority and Landcare.

Peter was awarded a Centenary Medal in 2001 and received a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2017 for his service to the Å·ÃÀAV community.