Glen Education is an incorporated association governed by a board as required under the Rules of the Association.
Board members are accountable to the Department of Education (DE) and are responsible for setting the strategic direction of the organisation, risk management and overall governance. Glen Education’s board consists of representatives that are skills-based professionals, with an interest in the local community and early childhood sector.
David Willersdorf AM
Board Chair
David has contributed to sectors including manufacturing, public transport provision, corporate investment, education (primary school and TAFE), disability services, philanthropic foundations and charities. In these roles David has led significant growth, either naturally or by acquisition, while ensuring the ongoing financial sustainability for the entities he has supported.
David is regarded as a major contributor to the local community. He values equal opportunity in education and brings experience in ensuring organisations are well managed and sustainable while continuing to thrive and meet their strategic objectives.
David is a Fellow of CPA Australia and his service to the community earned him the award Corporate Citizen of Dandenong in 2016.
Maxine Jacona
Company Secretary and Board Member
A proven leader with a range of corporate skills, Maxine demonstrates a key ability to provide both strategic guidance and thinking to improve performance and create sustainable value. These abilities translate across both corporate and community organisations with ease.
Maxine has volunteered on management committees of community-based organisations, including a local kindergarten as well as sporting and educational groups. She has also mentored refugees and vulnerable students one-on-one through work placements to assist them to develop vocational, employability and industry skills whilst also improving personal and social skills.
Believing that organisations can and should take responsibility to help create a positive and transformational experience, Maxine enjoys connecting with people to build a vibrant and inclusive community.
Dirk Gierlach
Board Member
Dirk has a passion for Early Childhood Education as a father of four children and has been involved in community organisations for many years. He is a multi-talented musician with interests in travel, food, sports and the arts.
Dirk has been a member of the Board of Glen Education since November 2019. He is a member of the Finance Committee. He brings an “outside in” client perspective to the Board and is dedicated to helping the Glen Education board and management team to further improve the organisation towards a sustainable and successful future.
Amanda Sapolu
Board Member
A practicing solicitor, she has served as in-house counsel for several local governments in Queensland and Victoria working across a range of different areas of law, as well as within private practice. She has also worked extensively within the governance and compliance space of local government, developing good governance frameworks, policies and procedures.
In addition to this, Amanda has worked in the tertiary space as a sessional lecturer with the University of Southern Queensland for several years as well as in the secondary sector as a legal and business studies high school teacher. Although she no longer works in the education space, it left an indelible impact on her and her perspective.
This experience, coupled with her lifelong personal pursuit of further education and learning and development, has made Amanda passionate about the role and value of good quality education. Outside of her work within local government, Amanda lives with her husband and two girls (both of whom attended child care) an elderly mother and two spoiled dogs.
Emma Sakellaris
Board Member
Her career has included senior executive positions in banking, trustee companies, mutual societies and for-purpose organisations – entities built on trust, where she worked with clients and their families to protect established legacies, across generations. She commenced her career as an English Literature teacher, prior to transitioning to the corporate sector. She has now established her own business, providing concierge and private consulting services for individuals seeking lifestyle assistance.
Emma has a strong passion for impact philanthropy and the critical importance of high quality and accessible early years education. Her expertise is supported by Masters-level qualifications across business, law and philanthropy.
Emma joined the Glen Education board in February 2025 and is highly committed to contributing to the ongoing development and strategic growth of Glen Education.
Stephen Byrnes
Board Member
With a strong track record of guiding organisations through complex legislative landscapes, Stephen is committed to fostering sustainable growth, sound financial stewardship, and a culture of integrity. In addition to his role at Glen Education, he serves on the Service and Enterprise Risk Advisory Committee for Windermere Child & Family Services and is the Director of Risk & Compliance at Haileybury. Stephen brings his expertise in risk-based decision-making and strategic planning to help drive Glen Education’s mission to provide inclusive, high-quality early childhood education that supports children, families, and communities.
Conor Healy
Board Member
Originally from Ireland, Conor started his career as a public sector audit specialist with Deloitte in Scotland, primarily working with the NHS, local authorities, education providers and other government bodies. In Australia, Conor continued this specialism with a focus on the education and healthcare sectors in Grant Thornton, before moving into executive finance positions with Victorian Clinical Genetics Services and the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.
Conor’s experience includes performing assessments of financial sustainability, financial management, governance and leadership, transparency, and value for money. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Conor was seconded to the UK Government to lead on the establishment of testing centres and the systems required to run them in Scotland.
Conor is also a Board member of the Irish Australian Chamber of Commerce and a member of the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee of the College of Intensive Care Medicine for Australia and New Zealand.
