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Peter Nelson, President of the Ruyton Girls' School Board

Peter Nelson

President of the Ruyton Board

Peter Nelson

President of the Ruyton Board

BEng (Hons), BCom 

Peter brings a strong professional and financial skill set to the Ruyton Board, with over 20 years’ experience as an investment banker in Australia and the UK. A Founding Partner of financial services company Barrenjoey, Peter specialises in advisory and capital market transactions. Prior to this role, he was an Executive Director at UBS. 

Peter has been a member of the Ruyton Board since 2019, joined The Ruyton Foundation Committee in 2017 (Foundation Chair since 2021) and was appointed to the role of Board President in 2023.

Fiona Griffiths, member of the Ruyton Girls' School Board

Fiona Griffiths

Deputy President of the Ruyton Board

Fiona Griffiths

Deputy President of the Ruyton Board

Member of the Ruyton Foundation Committee
Old Ruytonian (1987) 
LLB, BCom 

With many years of professional experience in commercial law practice, three years as Auburn Primary School’s Council President and time on the Melbourne Theatre Company Foundation Board, Fiona brings an understanding of policy, governance, school finances, building projects and strategies for fundraising and nurturing a culture of philanthropy to Ruyton. 

Fiona has been a member of the Ruyton Board since 2016 and served as The Ruyton Foundation Chair for four years.

Bruce Bayley, member of the Ruyton Girls' School Board

Bruce Bayley

Chair of Finance Committee

Bruce Bayley

Chair of Finance Committee

MBA (Hons), BEng 

Bruce is a partner with SPP, a high-impact management consultancy firm with market leading capabilities in the education, government and private sector. A former strategy consultant with the Boston Consulting Group, Bruce was Chief Operating Officer for the ASX listed Skilled Group and worked in R&D and ran manufacturing facilities for Kraft Food. Bruce has also held several senior executive roles at the University of Melbourne, including leading the University's international and domestic recruiting through the successful implementation of the Melbourne Model. 

With more than 20 years’ consulting and operational capabilities in education, Bruce has commercial expertise in developing increasing student engagement and outcomes through research and innovation, with specialised knowledge in the interface between digital opportunities and data. 

Bruce has been a member of the Ruyton Board since 2017.

David Bidmead, member of the Ruyton Girls' School Board

David Bidmead

Chair of Governance Committee

David Bidmead

Chair of Governance Committee

GAICD

David Bidmead is CEO (United States) of Marsh, a global insurance broker and risk advisor company. A proven leader and visionary change agent with global experience in insurance brokerage, risk advisory management and corporate governance skills, David’s record of accomplishments includes two years as Marsh's US West Zone Leader and four years as Marsh's Pacific Region Head and CEO of Australia. 

Joining the Ruyton Board in 2022, David is a member of the Governance Committee.

Chris Chapman, member of the Ruyton Girls' School Board

Chris Chapman

Chair of Project Control Group

Chris Chapman

Chair of Project Control Group

GAICD, LLB, BA

Chris is currently the Executive General Counsel and Company Secretary for Service Stream Limited (an ASX200 utilities and telecommunications contractor). In his role, Chris works closely with the Board, Managing Director and the Executive Management team on legal, compliance, risk and governance related matters. 

With over 20 years’ professional experience, Chris has previously held senior legal positions in the construction industry and worked in the construction and projects divisions of leading private practice international law firms in Australia and the Middle East. 

Chris has been a member of the Ruyton Board since 2019.

Linda Douglas, Principal of Ruyton Girls' School

Linda Douglas

Principal

Linda Douglas

Principal

MEd, BEd

A recognised leader in education within Australia and internationally, Linda has been Principal of Ruyton since 2011. With a focus on developing a holistic student-centred approach, Linda leads a culture at Ruyton where students excel academically, creatively, and socially. Her unwavering commitment to empowering girls is evident in the School’s student leadership and global citizenship initiatives. Linda has held educational leadership roles at independent schools in Adelaide and Melbourne and contributed to Boards and Educational Committees nationally and globally. Linda is currently a Governing Director of the International Coalition of Girls Schools.

Melanie Higgins, member of the Ruyton Girls' School Board

Melanie Higgins

Melanie Higgins

Old Ruytonian (Blomquist, 1992) 
BA

Melanie has more than 20 years’ experience working at Accenture in senior consulting roles for blue chip financial services clients and sales, strategy and operations. She has experienced first-hand the rapid pace of technological change and how there is a need to prepare future workers to be adaptable, technologically capable and astute learners to acquire new skills and navigate multiple career paths. This insight led to an interest in the education and future of younger generations. With her corporate experience and personal acumen derived from voluntary roles, such as the President of West Hawthorn Pre-School, Melanie offers a wide range of relevant expertise to Ruyton. 

Melanie has been a member of the Ruyton Board since 2016.

Cameron Price, member of the Ruyton Girls' School Board

Cameron Price

Cameron Price

LLB (Hons), BEc 

As General Counsel and Chief Risk Officer at Future Fund (Australia's sovereign wealth fund), Cameron advises the Chair and senior management personnel on legal, governance and governmental matters. 

Previously a Partner and Board Member at law firm Allens Linklaters, Cameron has 25 years’ experience in corporate law, with particular expertise in mergers and acquisitions, private equity, equity capital markets and corporate governance. 

Cameron has been a member of the Ruyton Board since 2016.

Caroline Bennet, member of the Ruyton Girls' School Board

Caroline Bennet

Caroline Bennet

MBA, BCom

Caroline is the national leader of the Deloitte Actuaries and Consultants practice, the financial services sector leader for Consulting and a member of the Deloitte Consulting Executive team in Australia. She has over 20 years’ experience in the Australian financial services industry, including M&A, Appointed Actuary roles, capital management, product development and pricing. 

On top of her role in Australia, Caroline is also the Deloitte Asia Pacific Actuarial leader and brings experience in actuarial and financial services consulting, mergers and acquisitions, risk and capital management and insurance to the Board. 

Joining the Ruyton Board in 2022, Caroline is also a member of the Finance Committee.

Sascha Thiel, member of the Ruyton Girls' School Board

Sascha Thiel

Sascha Thiel

Old Ruytonian (Dickenson, 1998)
GAICD, MBA, BCom

Sascha is an experienced digital, technology and business executive with strong customer focus and excellent stakeholder management skills. A result orientated leader, Sascha is experienced in leading and managing multidisciplinary teams onshore and offshore to deliver innovative solutions. 

With expertise in developing and contributing to strategic business planning and change management in complex regulated environments, Sascha has held senior management positions in technology at ANZ as the business technology partner and is currently Executive, Head of Business Platform Services.

Sascha was appointed to the Board in 2023. 

Tim Rowler, Director of Business and Company Secretary at Ruyton Girls' School

Tim Rowler

Company Secretary – The Ruyton Board

Tim Rowler

Company Secretary – The Ruyton Board

MAICD, EMBA, GradCertNFPMgmt, BCom

An education management executive with expertise in accounting, risk, finance, administration, management, information and communications technology, and property, Tim has over 20 years’ professional experience and a passion for working in education.

A collaborative leader who empowers the individuals and teams in his care, Tim has a reputation for improving the efficiency, raising the profile, and achieving strategic targets whilst simultaneously minimising risk exposure.

Having held Business Manager positions over the last decade at Loreto Mandeville Hall and St Joseph’s Catholic College, Tim has also been President of the Catholic Education Business Administrators (CEBA) association.

Tim joined Ruyton as Director of Business and Company Secretary in January 2022.