Board of Directors
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The David Scott School is governed by the Board of Directors of David Scott School Limited, the not-for-profit entity responsible for the oversight and stewardship of the School.
The Board is responsible for:
- setting the strategic direction of the School
- overseeing financial sustainability and risk management
- ensuring appropriate governance structures and policies are in place
- monitoring compliance with legal, regulatory and registration obligations
- supporting and overseeing the performance of the Principal, while delegating daytoday operations to school leadership
The Board acts in the best interests of the School and the students it serves, maintaining clear separation between governance and operational management.
The Board operates under a Board Charter, which outlines:
- the Board’s powers, responsibilities and duties
- governance standards and accountability arrangements
- the roles of the Chair, Directors and Principal
- committee structures and decisionmaking processes
Board members bring a range of skills, experience and expertise relevant to education, governance, finance, risk, community services and organisational leadership.
To support effective governance, the Board is assisted by a number of committees, which may include:
- Finance, Audit and Risk
- Strategy & Governance
- Community & Partnerships
- Property Committee
- Research Committee
Committees operate under Boardapproved terms of reference and report regularly to the Board.
The Board is accountable to the School’s proprietor and broader community. It ensures that appropriate records are maintained and that key governance documents, including policies and Annual Reports, are made publicly available.
Information about the School’s governance arrangements is published to support transparency and confidence in how the School is governed.
Margaret Webb AM
AM, B. ED., POSTGRAD DIP. BUSINESS MGT., DIP. PHYS. ED.
Margaret Webb is currently the Chair of the Davis Scott School Board, a position she has held since 2023. Since retiring as Principal of Toorak College, Mt Eliza, Margaret currently serves as a director on the Melbourne Indigenous Transition School (MITS) and is Acting Chair of Outdoor Education Foundation. She enjoys mentoring in the education area.
She recently completed service on the Councils of Kingswood College and the Mac.Robertson Girls High School and that school’s Foundation. She was President of the Mac.Rob Alumnae Association.
She chaired the Girls Sport Victoria (GSV) and served first as a director of the Outdoor Education Group (OEG) then as Chair.
She was awarded an inaugural Life membership of The Invergowrie Foundation in 2023.
Her AM (Member of the Order of Australia) was awarded in the Australia Day Honours in 2023 for significant service to education governance, to indigenous education and to mentoring.
Stephen Newton AO
AO, B.A., B.Ed., FACE, FACEL, FIML
Stephen Newton serves as Chair of the Board of the Brotherhood of St Laurence, Chair of the Hugh D.T. Williamson Foundation, Director of the Epworth Medical Foundation, and mentors current School Principals.
He was a School Principal for twenty-five years and is a Past Chair of the boards of the peak bodies for the Independent School sector in Victoria, and then also across Australia.
He holds Arts and Education Degrees, is a Fellow of both the Australian College of Educators and the Australian Council for Educational Leaders and has been appointed an Officer of the Order of Australia – in part for his “distinguished service to education in the independent schools sector”.
In his view, the David Scott School is demonstrating new approaches to educating and empowering students, which create better outcomes for our community – and which then, in turn, help Victoria and Australia to improve our education systems across the nation.
Paul Hicks
BA (Hons), MEd, PhD, PGCE
Paul has worked in education for over 35 years, including 20 years as a School Principal. He has been active in the sector at a State and National level, sitting on the Boards of The Association of Heads of Independent Schools; The Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria; and The Centre for Strategic Education. He is now retired from full time employment.
Paul has a Bachelor of Arts (Hons), a Masters in Education and a PhD from The University of Melbourne, and a Post Graduate Certificate of Education from Cambridge University.
He is drawn to the vision of the David Scott School and its innovative and courageous ambition to provide an alternative model of education to students in need.
Melinda Moore
BSocWk, MSocWk
Melinda joined BSL in 2013 and has worked in a variety of leadership roles including Project Lead in the Home Integration Program for Parents and Youngsters, General Manager of Work Economic Security and Social Inclusion and as Director Children, Youth and Inclusion. Melinda is currently the Strategic Advisor Services.
For 25 years prior to joining BSL Melinda worked directly with children, young people and their families who were experiencing challenges to achieving their aspirations.
Melinda has a long term commitment to innovative practice and service models that engage and sustain young people in education, training and employment.
Pippa Stockfeld
BA LLB, GradCertProjMgt
Pippa began her career as a lawyer, enjoying advocacy but disliking the commercial side. Transitioning to project management, she leveraged her skills in problem-solving and communication.
Over 12 years, she advanced to Associate Director, leading successful projects like the Melbourne School of Design. Pippa excels in building strong relationships and facilitating teamwork, focusing on understanding and influencing stakeholders rather than directing them. A mother of two, she balances work and family, advocating for flexibility.
Known for her vibrant style, Pippa brings passion and a commitment to quality in all her endeavours.
Shane Kamsner
Shane Kamsner is an experienced educational leader and psychologist with extensive expertise in supporting young people with neurodevelopmental and wellbeing needs. He recently served as Principal and CEO of Rossbourne School, an independent secondary school specialising in the education of students with neurodevelopmental challenges, where he had oversight of all aspects of school operations including teaching and learning, child safety, governance, finance, risk, compliance, and student and staff wellbeing.
Prior to this, Shane spent twelve years at Carey Baptist Grammar School as Head of Student Development, leading a multidisciplinary wellbeing team and developing an integrated student support model recognised with the 2018 Australian Education Award for Best Wellbeing Program. A registered teacher and psychologist, Shane brings a clinical background in child and adolescent anxiety and neurodevelopmental issues, alongside significant governance experience.
He currently serves as Chair of the Centre for Strategic Education and is a former Board member of Berengarra School. Shane believes that schools have a unique opportunity to create environments where young people feel understood, connected, and empowered to succeed. His combination of specialist-school leadership, psychological expertise, and governance experience aligns closely with the David Scott School’s mission of supporting students to thrive both in education and in life.