Our Board

David Rennick (Chair)

B Econ, LLB

David brings over 30 years’ experience in the professional services and property industries to his role as a Chair of Hester Hornbrook Academy, which he joined in August 2016. He is a Director on the Melbourne City Mission board. 

David is also a Director of Melbourne Football Club, a board adviser to Proximity and Carr Design and a senior advisor to Inspired Companies.

Previously he was a director of an ASX 200 company, board member of international law firm Pinsent Masons and CEO of Maddocks. David’s legal expertise includes property development, corporate real estate and retail property. 

Dr Greg Trainor (Deputy Chair)

DBA, MBA, Bachelor of Business Studies, Grad.Dip. Business Studies

Greg has over 35 years’ experience in the private and public sector having held leadership roles in the areas of strategy, logistics, software development and consulting. He has worked in a number of public utilities before joining organisations like GE, Accenture, Sensis and Engie.

Greg has been involved as an Advisory Board Member on a number of start-ups and small to medium enterprises and has also been on Faculty in MBA programs at Melbourne Business School, RMIT and Latrobe Business School.

Dr Ros Otzen

BA (Hons), BEd, PhD, ASDA

Ros is a passionate supporter of education for all and has chaired the Hester Hornbrook Academy Board since May 2016. Ros was Principal of Korowa Anglican Girls’ School from 1991–2003 and was instrumental in establishing the Alliance of Girls' Schools of Australia, which has now become a major member of the International Coalition of Girls Schools. 

Ros was the inaugural President of the Alumni Council of the University of Melbourne and is the former Deputy Chair of the Melbourne City Mission Board. Ros is also an author and historian and is currently writing a biography of Hester Hornbrook, the remarkable founder of the nine ‘ragged schools’ in Melbourne between 1859 and 1862.

Di McDonald

B AppSc (Speech Pathology), Grad Dip Ed, Grad Dip Rehab, Grad Dip Bus Mgt, MMgt (Organisational Systems), MAICD

Di has an extensive background in healthcare, disability, management, and occupational health and safety, and has held a wide range of senior leadership roles including at a CEO level.

Di is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has broad experience in executive and non-executive board positions across privately-owned and not-for-profit organisations.

Di is Chair of MCM Housing, Non-Executive Director of Hester Hornbrook Academy; Chair of the Law and Advocacy Centre for Women (LACW); a member of the Cabrini Foundation Board; Non-Executive Director of Aged Care Justice; Advisory member of Psychology Melbourne; and past Chair of the Melbourne City Mission Board.

Elida Brereton

BA, DipEd, FACE, FACEL

Elida has extensive experience as a teacher, principal and educational leader. Elida was a principal in government schools for over 17 years and was National President of the Australian College of Education. In addition to her role on the Hester Hornbrook Academy Board from August 2016, Elida is a member of MLC Kew Foundation, and is an executive member of various state bodies including the Victorian Secondary Past Principals Association (President), and the National Council of Women of Victoria (Vice-President).

David Wild 

MSW, BSW, FGLF, GAICD

With a clinical background in mental health, David has made significant contributions across the education, health, and community sectors. His extensive experience includes forging partnerships to enhance health and wellbeing outcomes for vulnerable communities, including refugees, asylum seekers, Indigenous communities, and youth.

David is committed to driving positive change and fostering inclusive environments, aiming to inspire and lead the way to a brighter future for our community.

David has held the positions of Board Director and Chair for the Survivors of Torture and Trauma Assistance and Rehabilitation Service (STTARS) and served as CEO of the Specialised Assistance School for Youth (SASY). He currently holds the role of CEO at Sunbury and Cobaw Community Health and serves as a Non-Executive Director on the Adult and Community Further Education Board of Victoria

Sarah Rogers

BA, BAppSc-OT, MPH

Sarah is a passionate public health professional with a strong focus on children and young people’s health, wellbeing and development, particularly the intersection of evidence, theory and practice. Sarah is an Occupational Therapist with a Master of Public Health, and has held multiple roles across the education, health, government and not-for-profit sector. Sarah is currently employed as Evidence and Implementation Lead at Orange Compass. Sarah joined the Hester Hornbrook Academy Board in 2020.

Garry Wilkes

MBBS, FACEM, AFRACMA, GIACD, GCert Hlth Prof Ed, PRiMed, CMC

Garry is an experienced Medical Administrator, Emergency Medicine Specialist and Clinical Associate Professor with m ore than 30 years experience at a Specialist level in public and private hospitals across Australia. Garry is a keen educator in a variety of areas including the Australasian College for Emergency Medicine (ACEM) and the Royal Australasian College of Surgeons (RACS). Garry's interest include leadership development, clinical governance and redesign, clinical communication skills, conflict management and coaching. 

Nate Keily

CPA, CGMA, GAICD, B Int Bus, B Int Std

Nate is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA), Chartered Global Management Accountant (CGMA) and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) with over 14 years Senior Finance and Commercial Leadership experience at General Electric spanning many industries including Software, Energy, Healthcare and Financial Services.

With Commercial Leadership responsibility across 19 countries within the Asia Pacific region, as an integral member of the APAC senior executive team, Nate motivates and manages commercially oriented teams to meet organisational goals and objectives with a focus on growth and value creation for customers and shareholders alike. Nate is a company director for GE’s Australian software business unit.