The Geelong Grammar Foundation is governed by a Board of Directors – each one dedicated to investing in life-changing opportunities and the advancement of our living and learning spaces.
At any one time, the Board comprises between seven and 18 directors, including the Principal of the School, the Chairman of the School Council, and the Executive Director of the Foundation. Directors serve up to three terms of three years, with a third of the Board retiring each year.
Vanessa is a current and past parent and joined the Foundation Board in 2021 and was appointed Chair in 2024.
Vanessa has been practising for 10 years in Community and Commercial Law after a successful and ongoing commercial career in private investment. She is especially interested in matters relating to women and children experiencing disadvantage and has a Master of Human Rights Law and Juris Doctor from Monash University.
Vanessa has worked on a variety of matters in the Federal Court, Federal Circuit Court Of Australia, County Court and Magistrates’ Court Of Victoria – Family Violence Court.
Vanessa is also a Director of a private family investment company.
Mary is an Old Geelong Grammarian and past parent and joined the Foundation Board in 2017. Mary was appointed as Deputy Chair in 2020.
Mary was President of the Old Geelong Grammarians Association from June 2000 to May 2002. She is on the Marcus Oldham College Foundation Executive and is the owner/co-founder of PR and marketing agency, ID Collective.
Mary has served on the Biddlecombe Society Committee since 2019 and is currently Co-President of the Society.
Michael is an Old Geelong Grammarian, current and past parent. Michael joined the Foundation Board in 2021 and was appointed Deputy Chair in 2024.
Michael s a Managing Partner of FSSA Investment Managers, part of First Sentier Investors and has more than 23 years of experience in the investments industry. He joined FSSA Investment Managers in 2015 after being part of First Sentier’s global business for more than 19 years and holds a Bachelor of Economics from Monash University. He is also a CFA charterholder.
Michael and has served as an Allocations and Investments Committee since 2021 and was appointed Chair of the Committee in 2024.
Rebecca was appointed Principal of Geelong Grammar School in 2018. She is a current parent and an ex-officio member of the Foundation Board. Rebecca is a School Council Member.
Elissa was appointed the Head of Advancement at Geelong Grammar School in 2021 and is currently the Executive Director of the Geelong Grammar Foundation in an ex officio capacity.
She has spent most of her career in University Advancement. She relocated from Sydney in 2016 to join the Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences at the University of Melbourne, following roles with Western Sydney University and the University of Wollongong.
Andrew is a past parent and joined the Foundation Board in 2018. Andrew has a background in design, architecture and sustainable development and has worked in the property industry for over 20 years, more recently at the intersection of the environment and wellbeing.
Andrew is the founder of Decodeu a Workplace Culture and Employee Engagement firm.
Andrea is a past parent and former Director of Development at Geelong Grammar School. She joined the Foundation Board in 2025.
Andrea was a member of the Victorian Legislative Council from 1999 to 2014 and held senior positions including Deputy Leader of the Opposition, Manager of Opposition Business, and Shadow Minister for Environment, Housing, Community Services and Aged Care. From 2010 to 2014 she was the Parliamentary Secretary for Families and Communities.
Andrea was a Member of the influential joint Parliamentary Committee which investigated Child Abuse in non-government institutions and was responsible for the historical Betrayal of Trust Report in 2013.
Andrea is currently Chair of the Sir Jack Brockhoff Foundation and Director of the Deakin University Politics, Philosophy and Economics Degree. She was previously Chair of the Aged Care regulator, the Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission, Chair of the National Aged Care Advisory Council for the Federal Government and a Member of the Australian Health Principal Policy Committee (AHPPC) advising on COVID in Aged Care.
Jacinda is a past parent and joined the Foundation Board in 2022. Jacinda has a unique advisory perspective: her extensive experience in portfolio construction and deep knowledge of financial markets is coupled with a background in tax; she holds a Masters of Law (Taxation) from Melbourne University.
For over 20 years Jacinda has advised some of Australia’s most interesting family groups and for-purpose organisations on the responsible stewardship of their resources.
Jacinda has served as an Allocations and Investments Committee since 2020.
Jim is an Old Geelong Grammarian and past parent and joined the Foundation Board in 2023.
Jim is the Chief Executive Officer at RB Sellars. Jim is an experienced leader and entrepreneur having founded the highly successful Redhanded Agency, which was acquired by Clemenger Group in 2012. Jim also runs his families agricultural enterprise business.
Paddy is an Old Geelong Grammarian and a past parent. Paddy was Chair of the Foundation Board from 2003 to 2007. Paddy was re-elected to Council in 2018, was appointed Chair of Council in 2020 and is an ex-officio member of the Foundation Board.
Jin is a current parent and joined the Foundation Board in 2023.
Jin is a current Director of the Golden Age Group which operates in the property development, financial capital and hospitality industries.
