Department of Education and Training

Members of the NT Board of Studies

Name	Member Category
Prof. Alison Elliott	Chairperson Professor Alison Elliott’s career in education spans some 25 years in a range of professional contexts including schools, universities and research organisations in Australia and elsewhere. Her main areas of academic expertise are early learning and education policy and practice, pedagogy and curriculum including literacy and digital technology applications in schools and teacher education. Professor Elliott is an active contributor to public and professional debate and comment on educational issues including early childhood education. Professor Elliott was recently appointed Professor and Head of the School of Education at Charles Darwin University. Her most recent previous position was as a Research Director with the Australian Council for Educational Research. She has made a significant contribution to a variety of education and community contexts over many years, have served on and/or held executive positions on a range of boards, committees and advisory and reference groups and is a Fellow of the Australian College of Educations.
Brenda Keenan	One member nominated by the Northern Territory Catholic Education Office Ms Keenan joined the staff of the Catholic Education Office as Deputy Director, Learning and Teaching at the beginning of 2006. She is an experienced teacher leader, school leader and systemic leader. In addition to her various roles in Catholic education in Australia, Brenda has worked as an educational leader and administrator in a number of developing countries. Brenda holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree, Graduate Diploma of Education, Masters of Educational Leadership and is currently undertaking doctorate studies.
William Russell	Member (who is a parent of a child who attends a Government school) who represents the interests of parents of children who attend Government schools Mr William Russell is the father of four children who attend a government school in the remote community of Mataranka. Mr Russell works for Northern Territory Council of Government Schools Organisation as a Project Officer and actively supports Mataranka Primary School in a pilot sustainable schools and values education project. He holds degrees as a primary healthcare practitioner and a double major in anatomy and physical education.
Tracy Jennings	One member (who is a parent of a child who attends a non-government school) who represents the interests of parents of children who attend non-government schools Mrs Tracy Jennings is employed as an Accountant and Senior Analyst with the Business Advisory Services team of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu. Mrs Jennings is responsible for all aspects of business services and tax compliance for small to medium sized enterprises based in the Darwin and Kununurra areas. Mrs Jennings has been a School Council member in Victoria and is currently on the Board of Directors at The Essington School Darwin. She has a keen interest in education and a commitment to working to develop educational programs for all children.
Rodney Smith	Member nominated by the Northern Territory branch of the Australian Education Union Mr Smith moved to the Territory in 1960 aged 10 years. He became a teacher and taught for 37 years as a specialist teacher in Technical Studies at student levels from years 8 to 12 including VET and adult night school. He spent seven years in the private school sector working at O’Loughlin Catholic College. Mr Smith has been the Union representative in his work places, including the Independent Teachers Association and the Australian Education Union, Northern Territory (AEUNT Mr Smith was nominated for the position of President of the AEUNT in January 2009.
Vacant	One member who is an employee of the department administering the Education Act
Joanne Earl	One member (who is the head teacher of a secondary school) who represents the interests of head teachers of secondary schools Ms Earl currently holds the position of Principal Centralian Senior Secondary College. She has been the Principal of Katherine High School (2002-2005), a Schools Portfolio Principal for Rivers Cluster (2003-2004) and an Association of Northern Territory School Educational Leaders (ANTSEL) representative for Rivers Chapter (2004-2005). Joanne began her teaching career at St John’s College Darwin and joined the Northern Territory Department of Education and Training (NT DET) in 2001. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws, Graduate Diploma in Education (Secondary) and a Master of Education. She is also a member of the Australian College of Education (NT Chapter) and the Vice President Secondary of ANTSEL.
John William Emslie	One of two members who represent the interests of employers Mr Emslie is the Education and Training Advisor at the NT Chamber of Commerce and Industry. He was employed for 25 years in the Australian Army (Engineers) in field, training and staff positions. His previous employment between 1992 and 2005 included working as a self-employed consultant specialising in the preparation of facilities briefs and projects and working for NT government agencies developing and delivering quality assurance and procurement training.
Susan Crowe	One member (who is the head teacher of a primary school) who represents the interests of head teachers of primary schools Mrs Susan (Sue) Crowe currently holds the position of Principal at Braitling Primary School in Alice Springs. Ms Crowe has been Principal of Ross Park Primary School (2002-2005), Assistant Principal of Alice Springs High School (1999-2001) and Principal of the Alice Springs Language Centre (1995-1998). She was the Executive Officer for the Northern Territory Principals Association (now known as the Association of NT School Educational Leaders (ANTSEL)) and Human Resources Manager for the Southern region. Sue has taught in Italy, Finland and England and began her teaching career in Alice Springs in 1984. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma in Applied Linguistics, Graduate Diploma in Public Sector Executive Management and a Master of Education.
David Cannon	One member nominated by the Association of Independent Schools of the NT Mr Cannon is the Principal of The Essington School Darwin and is the Independent Schools representative on the Northern Territory Board of Studies. Prior to coming to Darwin and The Essington School Darwin, Mr Cannon was in Independent Schools in Melbourne where he held various educational leadership positions. In Melbourne and in Darwin, Mr Cannon has been active in Independent School Associations and Professional Principal Associations for many years.
Andrew Oliver	One member (who is a practicing teacher) who represents the interests of teachers Mr Andrew Oliver is currently working at Taminmin High School and is in charge of Vocational Education and the Taminmin School Farm. He manages the Registered Training Organisation (RTO), the School to Work Transition program and the Workready program. In the RTO, he oversees the delivery of twenty qualifications with fifteen trainers, five support staff and approximately 400 trainees. The delivery is on school campus and remote Indigenous communities scattered throughout the Northern Territory. Mr Oliver also manages the school farm consisting of 75 HA, running Brahman cattle, buffalo, bore goats and Australian stock horses. The farm has a large horticulture component as well as fodder conservation and aquaculture.
Susan Bandias	Member nominated by Unions NT Ms Susan Bandias has lived and worked in the Northern Territory since 1992. Her teaching experience in the Territory is extensive and includes the private sector, government schools as well as Vocational Education and Higher Education. Whilst employed with the Department of Education and Training, Susan worked as a teacher in urban and remote schools, as a technology officer and as a project administrator. Susan is currently employed as a lecturer at Charles Darwin University and has recently completed her Doctorate. She is also the Northern Territory Division President of the National Tertiary Education Union.
Wendy Troe	Member (who is a parent of a child who attends a remote school) who represents the interests of parents of children who attend remote schools (whether Government or non-Government) Ms Wendy Troe has lived in Nhulunbuy for eight years. She has a daughter who attends Nhulunbuy High School and a son at Nhulunbuy Primary School. Ms Troe has worked in the education industry for 25 years as a teacher, education adviser, curriculum writer and project officer and is currently on staff at Nhulunbuy High School teaching English and Modern History. Ms Troe has previously served on the Education Advisory Council and was President of Nhulunbuy Childrens' Services Inc for a number of years.
Margeret Friel	Member who represent the interests of Indigenous people
Prof. Marguerite Maher	Member who represents post-school education Professor Marguerite (Margie) Maher is currently working as an Associate Professor of Teaching and Learning at the School of Education, Charles Darwin University. Professor Maher previously worked at the Auckland University of Technology in New Zealand as a senior lecturer and program leader, primary teacher education. Margie has worked in education for some thirty years in three countries, at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. She therefore brings an international perspective to post-school education together with a comprehensive understanding of the local context. Her main areas of academic expertise are mathematics in early learning, and inclusive education policy to practice. She is actively involved in three research projects around these topics
Christopher Young	One of two members who represents the interests of employers Mr Christopher Young is Chief Executive of the Chamber of Commerce NT, the largest business representative association in the Territory with over 1250 members representing all manner of business activity in all regions of the Territory. In a career spanning more than thirty years, Mr Young has worked in and managed staff in industries as diverse as manufacturing, oil and gas exploration, chartered accounting, electronics and IT, defence contracting and coastal and international shipping.

The NTBOS is a statutory body consisting of an independent Chairperson and 15 members appointed by the Administrator of the Northern Territory from nominations received for the above categories.