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 of the Board
Current

Dorje has been involved in Buddhism since 2007, ordained in 2009 and resides at Thubten Shedrup Ling monastery, Bendigo, Australia.

Dorje has worked as a management consultant for the past twenty years and has been running his consulting practice for the past sixteen years. Prior to this, he was with a government welfare agency, conducting experiential programs for disadvantaged youth and their families.

He has worked extensively within the resources sector, implementing experiential learning programs for management and operations staff to focus on effective management, change, communication, leadership, values, conflict resolution, negotiation and team effectiveness.

Dorje’s down-to-earth practical approach to his work has been quite successful in involving people in a learning environment and he works closely with the client to make sure their outcomes are achieved.

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
2022–Current

Formal qualifications

Graduate Diploma of Education (Primary) – Federation University, Ballarat.

Bachelor of Information Management and Systems – Monash University, Caulfield.

Motivation for joining the Board

I joined the Daylesford Dharma School Board because I admire and respect the School, its ethos and the work that it does. I believe it offers a unique and inclusive learning space for young people and is an incredible asset to the wider community.

Previous engagement with the school

I volunteered at the Daylesford Dharma School when it first opened and eventually fulfilled the role of

 Office Manager for two years while completing my Graduate Diploma of Education.

Buddha Dharma experience

I am of Sri Lankan origin and was raised as a Buddhist. My primary school years consisted of studying Buddhism as a compulsory subject. I have a connection to Buddhism through strong family traditions and commenced a deeper relationship with Buddhism about twenty years ago. I trained as a Buddhist Religious Education teacher and conducted lessons at a primary level. I maintain a daily meditation practice and listen to Dharma talks online.

Relevant experiences

• Buddhist practice and values since childhood.
• Attending talks, workshops and retreats.
• Long-standing connections with the Daylesford Dharma School and its Board, staff and other affiliated community members.
• Family support work and social work background.
• Trauma-informed practice.
• Teaching experience.
• Administrative experience.

Relevant skills

• Administration
• Communication and interpersonal skills
• Non-judgmental and compassionate
• Technology and digital literacy
• Problem solving and critical thinking
• Flexible, supportive and adaptable
• Trauma-informed and culturally sensitive

Current profession

Recently relocated and in the process of seeking fulfilling employment.

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

I am humbled and impressed by the Daylesford Dharma School community; its students, parents, teachers, staff and Board. I hope to support the Board and the school to thrive, grow and achieve their goals, and for the school to become a sustainable School of Excellence and shine into the future.

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, and to deliver an enhanced and more deeply integrated Dharma Curriculum
through the Department of Education.