CANDIDATES FOR THE SCHOOLS BOARD PARENT REPRESENTATIVE
There is one parent vacancy on the Schools Board commencing in 2023. Five parents have nominated. The school community is encouraged to vote to determine which nominee will serve as one of the parent representatives.
Please read the candidate profiles below and vote for one candidate on the online voting platform here. Every parent with a child currently enrolled at the primary school or education support centre is entitled to one vote. Voting closes on Tuesday, 13 December at 5:00 PM.
The Board in Brief:
The Schools Board is integral in shaping the strategic direction of the school, progressing initiatives and attracting resources to the school, as well as ensuring that the community’s values are integrated into decision making. Parent representatives on the Board share a broad range of skills and experiences gained through work, family and community involvement to support the primary school and education support centre. The Board includes the principals of the primary school and the education support centre, six parent representatives, four staff representatives and one community representative. There is one parent representative vacancy in 2023.
ROWAN ACTON
parent to current Pre-primary and Year 2 students
I have been a resident in the Mount Hawthorn community since 2016 and a member of the school community since 2020 after returning from a stint in the state’s north-west. My two children are currently in Year 2 and Pre-Primary.
I am passionate about holistic child development through community participation (specifically sport) and am actively involved as a committee member of the Mount Hawthorn Cardinals Junior Football Club, having coordinated the Club’s Auskick Program in 2022 (for which the club was awarded Champion Auskick Club) and have taken on the role of Club Secretary for 2023.
I am an experienced senior public administrator with a proven track record in the delivery of high-quality infrastructure outcomes for the WA community. I have a keen interest in corporate governance and accountability within the public sector and am an advocate for aboriginal and regional economic development. I would welcome the opportunity to bring these skills to bear as a member of the MHPS board.
JULIANNE COKER
parent to current Kindergarten and Year 1 students.
I believe our school plays a pivotal role in developing and supporting children both mentally and academically. I am passionate about supporting our children in becoming well-rounded human beings and developing critical life skills for success in their adult life. This means recognising and celebrating children when they demonstrate resilience, kindness, inclusiveness, compassion, as well as academic achievements. I am excited to give back to the school and community we have lived in for 13 years.
I can bring to the role both entrepreneurial and professional business experience, as well as people focussed skills with a strong interest in community welfare and charity work. I have a Bachelor of Commerce degree with first class honours at Curtin University in 2007, with a double major in Human Resources Management and Management. In the last 15 years, I have worked for an international drilling company both in the Australian and global offices in Copenhagen; founded and sold two businesses and worked at Woodside in various roles including Leadership and Capability, Change Management and Generalist HR Manager roles.
ELIZABETH TILMOUTH
parent to current Year 5 student
I am a parent who commenced at MHPS in 2011. I am keenly interested in Public Education. I was publicly educated at Ardross Primary and Applecross Senior High School and can see the marked changes under the Independent Public Schools system in how schools both deliver education and how they govern and market themselves. I wish to ensure that the system works as intended to increase the quality of the service to all students and raise education standards. The School Board plays an important role in this. I am a Chartered Accountant having experience in the profession in Tax and Business Services to SMEs and have also worked in Corporates. I served as Treasurer of the MHPSP&C from 2018 to 2021 and was instrumental in improving financial and management systems and processes. My personal attributes are passion, hard work, honesty and humility.
ANDREW WHITEHOUSE
parent to current Pre-primary and Year 1 students
I am dad to two daughters at MHPS. In my professional life, I am the Professor of Autism at the Telethon Kids Institute and UWA.
In this role, I lead a prominent clinical research organisation (called CliniKids) that supports the learning and wellbeing of children diagnosed with autism and their families. CliniKids has made important research advances that has improved our understanding of autism and neurodiversity. I have also written the Australian Guidelines for how to diagnose autism, and for how to provide best practice therapy.
I have significant Board experience, and currently sit on the Boards of Autism Awareness Australia (national parent support organisation) and Ocean Heroes (a charity that takes autistic children surfing).
I have been lucky to meet thousands of families over 20 years. I believe this experience could be helpful in supporting teachers and parents at MHPS and the Education Support Centre to raise children that flourish within their community.
SUSANNA WILLS-JOHNSON
parent to current Year 2 student
I have over 20 years communications, marketing and brand/reputation management experience, gained in the education sector. Five of these years of experience was at a school. I now work part time at WACSSO and run my own business part time. I am passionate about MHPS and I would like to positively influence the school culture, plus use my background as a member of a school executive team to help shape the strategy underpinning the new MHPS leadership team. Thank you for considering me.
