Board Chair
2022–Current

Vice Chair 2017–2021
Board Member 2013–2017

Formal Qualifications:
Master of Arts – Sculpture, Canberra University

Motivation for joining the Board:
I would like to see Geshe Konchok’s vision of encouraging an education model that
focuses on developing a child’s capacity for kindness and compassion towards
themselves and others in combination with critical thinking and the 5 precepts flourish.

Previous engagement with the school:
Former parent

Buddha Dharma Experience:
Practicing Buddhist since 2011

Relevant experiences:
I have experienced education in Asia, USA, and Australia including completing the
International Baccalaureate and continuing to tertiary education.

Relevant skills:
Professional Landscape designer and project management.

Current profession:
Landscape designer / Artist

What do you hope to achieve while serving as Board Chair?

I would like to be a part of the school’s ongoing development as a place that nurtures its students, staff, and community, has a strong connection with the land and how to work with it respectfully, and is a place of joyful engaged learning.

Vice Chair
Current

Year you joined the Board:
2025

Formal Qualifications:
PhD in Genetics, University of Melbourne. Certified Professional in Learning and Performance (CPLP). Accredited in a range of leadership, coaching and organisational development methodologies.

Motivation for joining the Board:
I am passionate about education that develops both wisdom and capability. The Daylesford Dharma School offers a unique model that integrates academic learning with mindfulness, compassion and community, and I am excited to contribute to its growth and long-term sustainability.

Previous Engagement with the School:
I was drawn to the school’s vision of combining academic learning with mindfulness, compassion and community. The opportunity to contribute to an educational model that nurtures both personal development and academic achievement was a key reason for becoming involved.

Buddha Dharma Experience:
I have a long-standing interest in mindfulness, meditation and Buddhist philosophy, particularly where these intersect with personal growth, leadership and wellbeing. I value the practical application of Dharma principles in everyday life and the cultivation of wisdom, compassion and ethical action.

Relevant Experiences:
My career has spanned science, technology, education, leadership development and entrepreneurship. I have worked as a geneticist, bioinformatician, technology executive, business founder, educator, facilitator and executive coach. For more than 30 years I have designed and delivered learner-centred education and professional learning programs for scientists, technology professionals, leaders and educators across Australia and internationally. More recently, I have been working with schools and educational leaders to build AI literacy, governance and digital capability, helping organisations navigate the opportunities and risks of artificial intelligence in ways that align with their values, responsibilities and educational mission.

Relevant Skills:
Strategic planning, governance, leadership development, organisational change, facilitation, coaching, stakeholder engagement, technology and artificial intelligence, innovation, business development, and the design and delivery of professional learning experiences.

Current Profession:
Leadership consultant, educator, facilitator, executive coach and advisor. My work focuses on helping individuals, leaders and organisations learn, adapt and thrive in times of change, including the responsible adoption of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies.

What do you hope to achieve while serving on a Board?
I hope to support the school’s sustainable growth while helping strengthen its governance, strategy and community impact. I am particularly interested in helping schools cultivate digital wisdom alongside digital capability, ensuring that technology and artificial intelligence are used ethically, thoughtfully and in ways that benefit students, families, staff, the school and the wider community. I believe education has a critical role to play in preparing young people to flourish in a rapidly changing world while remaining grounded in wisdom, compassion and service.

Treasurer
2017–Current
2012-2014

Formal Qualifications:
Bachelor of Accounting, Northern Arizona University
Bachelor of Business Administration, University of the South West, New Mexico
Bachelor of Science in Nursing, University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Motivation for joining the Board:
The school and how it engages with the greater community is such a beneficial thing in the world. When I see how our students engage with their world I am filled with a sense of hope for the future.
While I am working for the school I often feel a warm spot in my
heart and life and understand that it brings so much benefit.

Previous engagement with the school:
I was living in Daylesford and had my own financial services business when I came into
contact with the school. I stepped onto the Board as Treasurer for 3 years initially but
experienced a serious motorcycle accident that interrupted my continuity with the school
for some years as I recovered.

Buddha Dharma Experience:
I engage in daily meditation and Qi Gong and listen to the Dharma teachings that we
have access to as a Board.

Relevant experiences:
Business and Accounting skills training and mentoring.

Relevant skills:
I conduct business health checks and a Business mindfit consultancy on top of my
financial services provided to the business community.

Current profession:
I have my own financial services business that provides digital accounting services,
payroll and financial reporting services to small and medium businesses. I am a certified Quickbooks trainer and mentor.

What do you hope to achieve while serving on a Board?
I am committed to the ongoing development of the school and supporting its various projects to ensure that they are well-funded and financially viable. I have spent the last
few years auditing and developing the school finance department and creating best practice policies and procedures. I am passionate about building projects and would love to see the school develop its middle years secondary campus.

Board
Secretary

2025–Current

Year you joined the Board:
2025

Formal Qualifications:
Master of Practising Accounting, with additional professional development in project management and education administration.

Motivation for joining the Board:
I am passionate about supporting children’s education in an environment that nurtures both academic and personal growth. I value the school’s commitment to cultivating wisdom, compassion, and mindfulness in young people. Joining the Board allows me to contribute my professional skills while giving back to a community that aligns with my values.

Previous engagement with the school:
I have been involved in supporting the school’s project to conduct a survey for the establishment of a second campus at Quang Minh Temple.

Buddha Dharma Experience:
Buddhism has always been part of my cultural background, and over time my connection has deepened. Buddhist teachings and practice have become an important source of guidance in my life, helping me develop greater mindfulness, compassion, resilience, and understanding. I continue to actively engage with Buddhist communities and activities.

Relevant Experiences:
I have over ten years of experience in finance and administration roles. I currently serve as School Coordinator at the Vietnamese Language School – Quang Minh Temple, supporting school operations, curriculum implementation, staff coordination, and community engagement.

Relevant Skills:
Finance and administration, governance support, project coordination, policy and procedure development, and community engagement. Strong organisational, communication, and teamwork skills across professional and volunteer settings.

Current Profession:
Finance and Administration Professional; School Coordinator

What do you hope to achieve while serving on a Board?
I hope to contribute to the long-term sustainability and success of the school through effective governance, sound financial oversight, and strategic decision-making, in alignment with the school’s values and community focus.

School Principal 2022–Current

Board Chair 2017–2021
Board Member 2014–2015
School Principal 2009–2013
School Cofounder 2008

Formal Qualifications:

Bachelor of Health Science – HONS, Victoria University.

Motivation for joining the Board:

I co-founded the school under the guidance of Tibetan Buddhist monk Geshe Konchok Tsering. I was the first principal from 2009 to 12 and worked closely with our founding vision, the original Board, and the school community to establish the school as the first of its kind in Australia. Establishing a contemporary education system that is founded upon the compassion and wisdom philosophical teachings of the Buddha is such an important undertaking and requires many interdependent skills, support, and advice across many levels.

Previous engagement with the school:

I have worked across many areas within the school and Board since the idea for a Buddhist philosophical primary school was introduced in 2005. My time has included a break for 2 years when I moved away from Daylesford which gave me an awareness of how unique and important the vision of the school is and how it enriches the lives of all who work to both establish and experience the vision and values of the school. 

Buddha Dharma Experience:

I have been a student of Mahayana Buddhism since the early 80’s and began undertaking studies and retreats in my early 20s. I think that being a parent has been a great motivator for me in holding with the Buddha’s teachings and integrating them into the way of family living. 

Relevant skills:

Established the first registration of the school in Victoria. Managed the school operations and development of policies and procedures as the first Principal. 20 years of service and support to community groups within the Daylesford community. Teaching in the tertiary and private sector in performing arts practice. Supervising student health science clinical placements in the tertiary sector. 

Current profession:

I work in the allied health sector as a Chinese medicine practitioner with specialist areas of interest. I have a practice in Daylesford and Ballarat. 

What do you hope to achieve while serving as a Board:        

I hope to see the school establish itself as an education leader in developing the inner qualities of students that enhance the expected physical, social and academic elements of the Australian curriculum.  Particularly of interest to me is how we as a school support the development of compassion, the wisdom view, kindness, and ethical responsibility as intrinsic in our students.

Board Invitee 2022–Current, Risk Management Advisor

Board Member 2019–2021
Department of Education Secretary 2020–Current

Formal Qualifications:
Certificate in Governance and Risk Management (Governance Institute of Australia);
Foundations of Directorship (Australian Institute of Company Directors);
Bachelor of Arts (International Studies), Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
(2011).

Motivation for joining the Board:
To have more exposure to the Buddha Dharma and to be part of the fabric and culture
of the School.

Previous engagement with the school:
I helped to coordinate a Dharma School Fair and have also had my younger brother
attend the school as a student and saw the benefits of a wisdom compassion education
approach in his life.

Buddha Dharma Experience:
I have attended different Buddhist retreats and attended many Buddhist teachings. I
have also explored yoga teaching and philosophy through a 500-hour Yoga Teacher
Training.

Relevant experiences:
I am a founding board member of Food Next Door Co-op and have 8 year’s experience
working in Risk and Governance roles.

Relevant skills:
Risk management, Strategy and planning, Governance.

Current profession:
Research management, University of Melbourne.

What do you hope to achieve while serving as a Board:
I hope to strengthen the Board’s decision-making processes using a risk management
Approach enabling the school to continue to deliver their integrated Dharma Curriculum within the Australian Curriculum framework.