Endeavour Academy alumnus Hayden Charles (pictured front row, far left) joined Year 11 Clontarf academy members from the Greater Sydney region at a recent leadership camp. A decade after graduating from high school while enrolled in Endeavour Clontarf Academy (Caringbah, NSW), Hayden Charles returned to spend time with the next group of young men preparing […]
Hayden Gives Back to Next Generation Read More »
Cooper Thompson — Endeavour Academy, Class of 2022 Cooper Finn Thompson, a proud Wiradjuri man, was part of the Endeavour Clontarf Academy from Year 8 through to Year 12. During that time he navigated injury, brain surgery and the disruption of COVID, while remaining committed to school, football and his future. Now in his second
From Adversity to Achievement: Cooper’s Story of Determination Read More »
Sheldon Kitto addresses Federal Ministers and Members at Parliament House in 2025. Sheldon Kitto — Girrawheen Academy, Class of 2015 When Sheldon Kitto joined the newly established Girrawheen Academy in 2014, he was close to being expelled and on the verge of leaving school altogether. Two years later he graduated Year 12 and walked straight
Mark Weston — Warrnambool Academy, 2010 Graduate When Mark entered Year 12 at Brauer College, his family was confronted with his mum’s cancer diagnosis and a sudden relocation to Melbourne for treatment. At the same time, Clontarf launched its first Victorian academies — and Mark became one of the first participants. With three academy mentors
Caleb Taylor graduated from Year 12 in 2025 — an achievement that reflects years of commitment, steady effort and an extraordinary journey. Caleb joined the James Fallon Academy in 2022, the year it opened, when he was in Year 9. From the outset, he was a familiar presence around the Academy space, engaging in activities
Caleb Taylor’s Road to Graduation Read More »
Perth-based Clontarf alumni came together in late December for an end-of-year ‘Alumni Dinner and Yarn’ at the Clontarf Zone Office in Bentley. There was a strong turnout on the night, with plenty of familiar faces coming together to reconnect, catch up and share a few laughs. Over dinner, alumni swapped stories from the year that
WA Alumni Come Together for End-of-Year Dinner Read More »
Harristown Academy (Toowoomba, QLD) member Anakin Hooke finished 2025 having secured a highly competitive apprenticeship with Clontarf partner Energy Queensland, earning his place among a small number of successful applicants from across the state. Throughout his time at Harristown, Anakin was known for his quiet consistency. He approached school and academy activities with reliability and
Anakin Begins His Apprenticeship Journey Read More »
Written By Warwick Jones, Orara Academy Director I’d like to share a short success story about one of our young men — Dominic Robertson — who graduated from Year 12 this year through the power of persistence, support and belief. When I first met this young man at the start of 2021, he was in
Dominic’s Graduation a Family First Read More »
Nine senior academy members from across Australia travelled to the remote township of Yulara in the Northern Territory in early December to take part in a four-day hospitality camp designed to give them first-hand exposure to life and work in the Uluru tourism industry. Participants included Wyatt Martinovich (Northam, WA), Tyler Dhu (Girrawheen, WA), Lincoln
Uluru Experience Opens Pathways in Hospitality Read More »
Tristan Cole — Yule Brook & Sevenoaks Academy, Class of 2005 Tristan is one of many alumni who have chosen to stay connected with Clontarf long after finishing school. His journey spans trade qualifications, 16 years in FIFO, business ownership and now a return to Clontarf, at Northam Academy, supporting young men in the same
From FIFO to business owner to mentor: Tristan’s journey comes full circle Read More »
Mr McLeod is an Indigenous Territorian of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent, his people are from the Katherine & Victoria River District and Wagedagam clan, Mabuiag Island. Mr McLeod has more than 34 years of experience across government and Commonwealth statutory authorities. He is currently Branch Head, Kakadu National Park at the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water. Before this, Mr McLeod was Deputy Chief Executive Officer at the Northern Land Council where he was responsible for managing regional development for more than a decade.
Kerry was appointed as General Manager – Human Resources in November 2025 and is a professionally qualified HR generalist with a masters in industrial relations. Kerry brings significant HR and IR leadership expertise gained from her experience in the mining, construction and health industries.
Joel is a proud Yuin man from the NSW South Coast and commenced employment with the Clontarf Foundation in 2016, following a 10-year career with the NSW Police Force. Since Joining the Foundation Joel has held a multitude of roles which includes, Academy Director, Development Officer, Regional Manager and NSW Operations Manager. Joel was appointed to the General Manager – Development position in 2025.
General Manager – Partnerships & Communications
Nick was appointed as General Manager – Partnerships and Communications in December 2024. Prior to this, Nick’ s roles included National Partnerships Manager, National Recruitment Manager and Academy Director at Coodanup Academy. Nick has an education management background with a Bachelor of Education degree.
Ms Collard is a highly experienced executive with strong leadership skills and deep commitment to Indigenous communities. She has over 25 years of senior executive experience in government policy, strategy, and operational management. As a descendant of the Yadhiagana/Wuthathi and Guringji peoples and married to a Noongar Man with four children and three grandchildren, Ms Collard have a deep connection to Indigenous communities and has dedicated her career to advocating for equal opportunities for all Aboriginal people, from access to services to employment and cultural understanding. As a senior executive in both state and federal governments, she have a proven track record of making a positive impact in the lives of Indigenous communities. As a General Manager for Rio Tinto, she continues to put her leadership skills and passion for equality into practice, supporting the company’s performance through Group Internal Audits while staying true to your commitment to Indigenous communities.
Mr Gibbs is a proud Yuwalaraay man from Goodooga in North Western NSW. Mr Gibbs is the General Counsel & Company Secretary of Volkswagen Group Australia Pty Ltd, and is responsible for the legal affairs of the VW, AUDI, SKODA and CUPRA brands in Australia. Prior to working in the motor industry, Mr Gibbs worked as a practising lawyer for top tier law firms in Sydney and Perth. In that time, Mr Gibbs has also devoted his time to helping pro bono clients on a range of legal issues. Mr Gibbs is passionate about helping to deliver better educational and life outcomes for Indigenous Australians.
Lee was appointed as GM – Human Resources in September 2020. Prior to this, Lee was the Foundation’s HR Manager, an Employment Officer in Cairns, Queensland and an Academy Director at Gunbalanya in the Northern Territory. Lee has a degree in Human Resources and has extensive experience working in remote communities.
Mr McCormack’s career has been in energy infrastructure, having led ASX listed APA Group between 2005-2019. During this time, enterprise value grew from $1b to over $24b, which included investments in gas pipelines and distribution, gas processing and storage, gas fired power generation, renewables (wind and solar) and electricity transmission across Australia. Mr McCormack is a Director of Origin Energy Limited, Whitehaven Coal Limited and Qube Holdings Limited. He is also Chair of the Australian Brandenburg Orchestra Foundation and a Director of the Origin Energy Foundation. He is also the Patron of the Australian Ice Hockey League. Mr McCormack has been a long-term supporter of the Clontarf Foundation.
Zone Manager – Victoria & South Australia
Chief Operations Officer
Brad was appointed Zone Manager – Western Australian in January 2024. He was previously Regional Manager for the South-Central Region and the North-West Region in Western Australia. Prior to that, Brad was an Academy Director in Karratha and Perth. Brad is a qualified teacher who taught in a number of schools across Western Australia, China and the United Kingdom.
Mr Gillam is a professional Company Director, serving currently as Chairman of CSR Limited, Chairman of Nufarm Limited and Chairman of Bluefit Pty Ltd, as well as a Board Member of the Heartwell Foundation. He worked for 20 years within the Wesfarmers Group where he was the CEO of Bunnings from 2004 to 2016 and the Chairman of Officeworks from 2008 to 2016. Other roles during Mr Gillam’s Wesfarmers career included Managing Director of CSBP and Company Secretary. Prior to Wesfarmers, Mr Gillam was General Manager of Medical Corporation Australia Ltd and he started his career working in KPMG’s corporate recovery and corporate finance areas.
Brian is the Chairman of SEC Newgate Australia, having previously served as its founding Managing Partner since its establishment in 2013. He is head of APAC region and Global Deputy Chief Executive Officer of SEC Newgate S.p.A, the parent company of SEC Newgate Australia. He is also a co-founder of SEC Newgate Research.
Brian is regarded as one of Australia’s leading communications practitioners with expertise in strategic crisis and issues management, financial transactions, government relations, media management and community campaigns.
Brian is also a Director of the Committee for Sydney, SEC Newgate S.p.A and the Sydney Swans AFL club. Prior to his career in consulting, Brian was a school teacher, journalist for The Land newspaper and a political and media adviser to the NSW Government.
Mr Stavrianou is Managing Partner of Poynton Stavrianou, an independent corporate advisory firm. He has over twenty years of experience in mergers and acquisitions with Macquarie Capital in London and UBS in Sydney and was previously a member of the Australian Treasury senior executive. Chris is an Adjunct Professor at the Business School of the University of Western Australia, is Chair of Council of Christ Church Grammar School and is a member of the Australian Takeovers Panel.
Karen Jones is a proud Anaiwin woman who was born and raised in Sydney. She has built a life, surrounded by her family on the traditional lands of the Darkinjung people (Central Coast of NSW).
Karen worked for the NSW Department of Education since she commenced teaching in the area of special education in 1982 in south-western Sydney. She has a strong passion and commitment to the importance of public education as the single most powerful vehicle to deliver a socially just Australian society. Karen was awarded the inaugural Central Coast Pathways Award for Leadership in Aboriginal education” in 2004 whilst Principal at Wyoming Public School. Complementing this she was also named the NSW P&C Association’s Primary Principal of the Year, also in 2004. Karen has also been Principal at Terrigal Public School and Director, Educational Leadership for the Maitland, Cessnock and Kurri Kurri area as well as across the Central Coast.
In 2019 Karen was appointed as the Executive Director, Aboriginal Outcomes and Partnerships (previously Aboriginal Education and Communities) for the NSW Department of Education. She embraces working in partnership with the broader Department including our more 2200 public schools, the NSW Aboriginal Education Consultative Group Incorporated (NSWAECG), the NSW Secondary Principals Council, the NSW Primary Principals Association, the NSW Public Service Association and the NSW Teachers Federation., Karen greatly enjoyed working with a broad range of community groups to promote equitable life opportunities for Aboriginal people across NSW through our strong Public Education family.
In 2021 Karen was awarded a Public Service Medal and was named the Central Coast Ambassador for 2022.
At the start of 2024 Karen retired from full time work and is now a volunteer for many groups on the Central Coast including Kuriwa Local AECG and Brooke Avenue Public School’s P&C as well as a Board member for the Clontarf Foundation.
