OUR INSTITUTE

Our Board

Read about our board members. 

Holmesglen’s Board is accountable to the Minister for Training and Skills and Higher Education for the governance of the Institute and achievement of its strategic objectives.

Our Board comprises 12 directors, who represent our diverse community and bring significant expertise and experience.

Michael is an experienced commercial lawyer and is currently Principal and Partner at Russell Kennedy Lawyers. He holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Commerce and has over 35 years’ experience in legal practice, mainly focussed on the health sector. He publishes widely in health and legal association journals and is often asked to address public and private companies, government and non-government organisations.

Michael has extensive governance experience. He currently chairs the boards of Monash Health and Wellways Australia and is a board member of Latrobe Regional Hospital. He also chairs the Mental Health and Wellbeing Act Expert Advisory Group for the Victorian Department of Health.

Previously, he has been a board member of a range of health and human rights agencies, professional associations and community organisations and has served as chair of major committees and expert panels. Michael is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and the Taxation Institute of Australia and is an Honorary Fellow of Royal Australasian College of Surgeons and the Australian and New Zealand College of Anaesthetists. He was made a Member in the Order of Australia in 2004.

Michael joined Holmesglen’s Board in August 2017 and commenced as Chair in March 2023. He is a member of all the Board’s committees.

Janelle is an Emeritus Professor at the University of Tasmania and is an experienced academic and researcher within the fields of geography, regional planning and community development.

She holds a Doctor of Philosophy, Master of Regional Science, Graduate Diploma of Library and Information Systems and a Bachelor of Arts. Janelle was awarded an honorary Doctorate of Letters for her services to education by the University of Tasmania in 2018.

Janelle has held leadership and professorial roles at a range of Australian universities and has also served as the director of numerous research centres. She has worked with regional communities and in regional development in Australia, as well as overseas in Africa and Asia.

Prior to joining Holmesglen’s Board, she was the founding Principal of the University College at the University of Tasmania and was a director of Tas TAFE and the Tasmania Development Board. Janelle currently serves on the academic and corporate boards of a number of Australian private higher education providers, is an Associate with Wells Advisory and a Fellow of the Australian National University.

Janelle joined Holmesglen’s Board in 2020, chairs its Quality Committee and is a member of the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee.

Kathryn is an executive HR practitioner and people leader. She practised law early in her career, before moving into a number of senior HR leadership roles within professional services, banking and medical and health research.  She brings extensive HR and employee relations expertise, people leadership and understanding of the different facets and interworking of organisations and how the people who work within them can perform successfully and in line with organisational values.

In addition to her non-Executive Director role with Holmesglen, Kathryn is also part of Cancer Councils Victoria and Australia. Her prior governance experience includes her role as Deputy President of University College, where she was also Chair of the Scholarship Committee and member of the Governance Committee. She also previously chaired the Professional Development Committee of the Australasian Research Management Society. 

Kathryn joined Holmesglen's Board in February 2021 and chairs its People, Culture and Remuneration Committee. She holds a Master of Commerce, Master of Business (HR and IR), Bachelor of Laws, Bachelor of Arts and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

Kashif (Kash) Bouns is an accomplished executive with extensive experience across education, business, sport, and community sectors. Currently serving as the Director of Strategy and Operations at the Victorian Multicultural Commission, Kash plays a pivotal role in promoting multiculturalism and fostering social cohesion in Victoria.

In his previous role with the Western Bulldogs Football Club, Kash elevated the Western Bulldogs Community Foundation’s profile and expanded its impact as a leading community development organisation in Melbourne’s west. His leadership helped broaden the Foundation's focus on youth engagement, health programs, and social inclusion. His influence in the sports sector also includes senior roles with the AFL, Essendon Football Club, and Cricket Victoria.

As a former international student in Melbourne and passionate advocate for social inclusion, Kash brings a unique perspective to the Holmesglen Board. His commitment to community leadership and governance experience includes roles as Board member, specialist advisor and committee member for a range of government agencies and community associations. He has also represented Australia on international exchange programs with Indonesia and Malaysia through DFAT, enriching his perspective on cultural diplomacy and social cohesion.

Kash holds a Master of Business Administration from Victoria University, a Bachelor of Commerce from Swinburne University and a Certificate in Executive Management from the University of New South Wales. He joined Holmesglen’s Board in November 2024 and is a member of the Asset and Infrastructure Committee.

Maryum is an experienced leader in strengthening communities and building purposeful connections to promote social inclusion and diversity. She has more than 15 years’ experience in positions of leadership, program management, strategic stakeholder engagement and fundraising to address dynamic and complex public policy challenges. Maryum has worked across numerous public sector, advocacy and social service agencies.

Maryum is currently the Deputy Chair of Centre for Muslim Wellbeing and President of the Sanad Foundation (Scholarships) board. Her governance and community roles have ranged from Women’s Legal Service of Victoria, Victorian Multicultural Commission, Islamic Council of Victoria, Fund Advisory Committee (Inner North Community Foundation), Multicultural Museums Victoria to serving as the AFL Multicultural Community Ambassador.|

Maryum holds a Bachelor of Business from RMIT University and an Executive Master of Arts from the University of Melbourne. She joined Holmesglen’s Board in July 2022 and is a member of its People, Culture and Remuneration Committee and Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee.

Anita has extensive experience across business management, strategy, finance, risk and governance across a wide range of industries. She is currently the Chief Financial Officer of Acusensus Limited. Prior to this she held various roles at Iress Limited including Interim Chief Financial Officer and Group Financial Controller and Ansell Limited as Head of Investor Relations and Treasury. She commenced her career in Investment Banking advising companies on M&A and capital raisings.

She holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Hons)/Science from The University of Melbourne. Anita is also a Fellow Certified Practising Accountant (FCPA) and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Her previous Non-Executive Director roles have included Unison Housing Limited and VincentCare Victoria.

Anita joined the Board of Holmesglen in October 2023. She chairs the Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee and is a member of the Asset and Infrastructure Committee.

As Holmesglen’s Chief Executive, Mary is also a director of its board. She commenced at Holmesglen in mid-2003 and became the institute’s Chief Executive in October 2013.

Prior to joining Holmesglen, Mary worked extensively with industry, Registered Training Organisations and TAFEs in various roles. Under her leadership, the institute has secured a reputation for innovation, financial sustainability and industry collaboration. It also continues to deliver on its mission to provide quality education and training, support community diversity, inclusion and cohesion and engage with businesses to develop their workforces.

Mary holds a Bachelor of Arts, Diploma of Education and post-graduate studies in media, and is a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She currently chairs TAFE Directors Australia and is a board member of the World Federation of Colleges and Polytechnics and WorldSkills Australia. Mary is also a member of Jobs and Skills Australia’s Consultative Forum.  

Mary is an ex-officio member of the board’s committees and is a director of the two controlled entities – Glenuc Pty Ltd and Holmesglen International Training Services Pty Ltd.

 

Alyssa is the Dean of the Faculty of Education and Foundation Studies at Holmesglen and coordinates the delivery of senior-secondary and VET programs to over two-thousand students each year. She was elected by the Institute’s staff to our Board in July 2024.

Following an initial stint as accountant, Alyssa found a passion working as a teacher. With a particular interest in adult literacy and numeracy development, Alyssa specialised in programs targeted disengaged youth, students with specific learning challenges and teaching other teachers.

Alyssa has held senior leadership roles in education, including overseeing initiatives to develop inclusive education and employment opportunities for all. During her time heading the Community Services Department at Holmesglen, Alyssa oversaw the development and reaccreditation of numerous programs focused on social welfare and wellbeing. 

Alyssa’s qualifications include a Bachelor of Accounting, Bachelor of Education Studies, and a Bachelor of Teaching (Secondary), as well as a Master of Arts. She also holds current HDR candidature with Griffith University for her research into competency-based training models.

 

A Yorta Yorta man, Ian has extensive government and community sector experience, particularly at executive and governance levels. Ian has overseen major policy and strategic reforms for government and community organisations.

Ian was CEO of a major Aboriginal community organisation in 2018, after twenty years in senior positions in Victorian and Commonwealth government departments and agencies. He is now devoting himself to improving the representation of Aboriginal people on boards and other high level governance roles, through strategic action, advocacy and mentoring.

Ian currently chairs the Indigenous Sea and Land Corporation, First Nations Foundation, Koorie Heritage Trust and Connecting Home and is deputy chair of Aboriginal Housing Victoria.

His current directorships are extensive across the health sector and within indigenous, community and cultural heritage agencies and organisations. He also serves as a member of numerous associated governance committees and taskforces.

Ian is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and fellow of the Institute of Public Administration Australia (Victoria). He joined Holmesglen’s Board in October 2019 and chairs its Asset and Infrastructure Committee.

David is an experienced public and corporate affairs professional. For almost 25 years, he has advised leaders across the public, corporate and not for profit sectors, on communications, strategy and advocacy.

David has held senior leadership roles in communications and public relations, and is currently Principal of David Imber Advisory where he specialises in crisis and issues management, and in designing and implementing communications strategies to protect and build organisational reputation.

David’s governance experience includes director roles with social justice and advocacy organisations and professional bodies. He is currently a Director of the Victorian Pride Centre and Immediate Past President of the Victorian chapter of the International Association of Business Communicators. David previously served as director of the Australian Communities Foundation and Youth Empowerment Against HIV/AIDS (YEAH).

David holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from Monash University and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He joined Holmesglen’s Board in July 2022 and is a member of its Finance, Audit and Risk Management Committee.