Our Board
Meet The Essington School's Board Members
Nathan joined the Moore Stephens (formerly Hayes Knight) South Australian team in 2007 and has since been exposed to a diverse range of accounting and advisory disciplines. With his experience and unique skill set, Nathan moved to the Northern Territory in 2009 and is now the Director of Moore Stephens NT.
Nathan prides himself on being more of an extension of his client’s businesses than your everyday accountant. He acts as a business coach to his clients to ensure the successful implementation of the strategies he devises. Nathan and his wife Paula have three children at Essington.
Nathan joined the School Board in May 2018 and was elected as Chairman in June 2018.
Vicki Bridge joined the Essington board in April 2021.
Vicki holds a degree in International Business, with a minor in Marketing. She attended a university in Tokyo for this portion of her degree, on a Japanese Government scholarship.
Vicki has resided in the Northern Territory for over 17 years and has two boys with her husband Michael, who have both attended Essington since they were in Preschool.
Currently working for Golf NT, Vicki also dedicates time to supporting her local community as Secretary of the Port Darwin Soccer Club and donating her free time to supporting junior soccer in the Northern Territory.
Carol has been a part of the Essington community since 2019. Carol and her husband Rhys have 2 children attending Essington with their youngest joining Essington this year.
Carol holds a degree in social work and has over 17 years’ experience with extensive Indigenous Affairs knowledge, operating across State and Federal Governments. She is an active member of the community and is looking forward to joining the Board as a dedicated volunteer who takes pride in the Essington brand.
Carol was appointed to fill a casual vacancy on the Board in December 2022.
Maria was appointed as a Director of the Board at the 2022 AGM.
Maria is born and bred in Darwin and joined the Essington community in 2015. Maria and her husband have three children, three of which currently attend Essington.
Maria is an experienced pharmacist and has vast experience providing clinical knowledge and program service delivery to various community pharmacies and government agencies. Maria holds a Bachelor of Pharmacy, obtained through Charles Darwin University in 2008, has a diverse background in education, health and IT and is eager to learn new skills and further her education on the Board of Essington.
Ashley has over 20 years leadership experience working in the education and community services sectors, supporting children, young people, and their families in a variety of employed positions including roles in two independent schools in Western Australia. Ashley is currently a Chief Operating Officer at Somerville Community Services. Ashley has previously held appointments on the Board of Corpus Christi College in Western Australia, YMCA Perth, YMCA Australia, Youth Affairs Council of Victoria and NT Shelter. He is currently a member of the Board of YMCA of the Northern Territory.
As parents, Ashley and his wife Jemma feel there is a close alignment between their family and personal values and Essington and have an active interest in the education of their daughters, who are students in the Junior and Middle School.
Ashley holds a Combined Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Commerce Degree from Edith Cowan University, a Master of Social Science (Policy and Human Services) from RMIT, a Graduate Certificate in Business from the Queensland University of Technology. Ashley is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders (FIML).
Ashley was elected to the Board in June 2020.
John McLaren has worked for the NT Government for over 40 years. He is an accountant, a Fellow of CPA Australia and a former NT Branch President. He has ongoing experience in property development and management. As a past Chairman of the Uniting Church Northern Synod Property Trust he was instrumental in the development of a major Darwin shopping complex.
John is a Past District Governor of Rotary International and is currently on the Board of Rotary Australia World Community Service Limited.
John is a Life Member of the Company and has previously served for 10 years on The Essington School Board, eight of which were as Chairman. He re-joined the Board on 29 October 2018.
Fredrick and his wife Jade currently have 2 children attending Essington.
Fredrick graduated with a 1st honour degree in Social Science in 2003 and then pursued his studies to a Master Degree of Economics on full scholarship in Hong Kong. Having worked as a Chartered Accountant for more than 10 years, he applied his post-qualification experience in cross-border capital markets in his doctorate degree research and obtained a Doctor of Economics degree. He is enthusiastic about the educational development globally and the interaction of social and economic aspects.
Fredrick is now a practising accountant in Australia and Hong Kong and a chartered financial analyst in the US.
Being a Chartered Accountant and an Investor Relations Specialist in Deloitte, KPMG, and a listed technology company for the past 17 years, Fredrick has accumulated vast experience in the accounting and finance profession through various positions. He is looking forward to bringing a wealth of professional knowledge and international experience to the board directorship.
Fredrick was appointed to fill a casual vacancy on the Board in December 2022.
Minh holds a Bachelor of Electrical Engineering, Masters of Engineering Management and Diploma in Project Management. He also holds a Masters in Applied Finance and is currently undertaking the Company Directors Course through the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Minh has been employed at Territory Generation since 2014 where he is currently the General Manager, Assets and Engineering. Prior to his appointment to this role, he held positions as Project Governance and Technology Manager, ICT Manager and Project Manager. He is a highly qualified and experienced engineering leader in the power generation industry and has been recognised as a Fellow of Engineers Australia.
Minh and his wife Truc have one child currently attending Essington with their youngest child due to commence in Preschool this year.
Jocelyn Cull is the Managing Director at Ochre Blue Group. She specialises in advocacy, strategy and governance, and is highly experienced in stakeholder engagement and community relations.
She has a practical perspective but is innovative by nature to deliver the best possible outcomes. She has worked with government, the private sector and not-for-profit organisations. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and is currently the President of the St Vincent de Paul Society (NT). She has degree qualifications in Arts, Commerce (Hons) and Law. She has a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice and has been admitted to the Supreme Court of the Northern Territory.
A long-term Territorian, Jocelyn and her family have lived in Darwin for over 12 years. She has children currently attending the Junior School, Middle School and Senior School. Jocelyn and her family are active within the Darwin community and she also sits on a number of Boards and Committees. She was appointed to fill a Board vacancy in October 2023.