Teachers
When a student attends Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School, he or she receives the benefit of an education from teachers distinguished by dedication and expertise. The high quality of our teachers is reflected in the school being admitted to the prestigious University of Melbourne Network of Schools.
Our teachers are as inquisitive as our students, constantly updating their knowledge and skills to refine their wisdom for today’s classroom. A network of expert department heads and support staff, from the library to IT, ensures the academic year is planned and executed to provide the best possible learning experience for every student.
The promotion of professional development is a core value of the school. We encourage the professional learning of our teachers to enhance our culture of thinking and our commitment to supporting student wellbeing.
Since 2014, our teachers have been working on inquiry-action projects with Ron Ritchhart, Senior Research Associate of Project Zero at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, to develop greater understandings and educational strategies associated with Harvard’s well known culture of thinking.
School Leadership
The management structure of Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School is headed by the Principal and the Vice Principal who oversee the various Heads of Section, senior management and staff. The Heads of Section supervise the day to day running of each section, as well as dedicated teams who are responsible for individual areas of study, co-curricular activities and student wellbeing.
This structure ensures that students benefit from personal care at every level, with the support of a small school environment as well as the resources of a large and diverse school community.
Governance
The Board of Management provides sound expertise for effective governance. Not only do the Chair and Directors of the Board bring a range of invaluable skills and experience, they all have a longstanding affiliation with the school as either former students, or current or former parents, or grandparents.
The Board is charged with the responsibility of overseeing the financial management of the school, providing its physical facilities and supporting the work of the Principal and staff in the provision of exemplary education, student wellbeing and community values.
Prospective Board Committee Volunteers
For more information, please click on the link:
Information for Prospective Board Committee Volunteers
THE BOARD OF MANAGEMENT
CHRIS CLAUSEN (past parent)
Chris is recently retired from a position as General Manager for a mid-sized international architectural firm. Prior to that he held an Executive Director position in the Victorian State Government for five years, and before that was the CEO of a large Industry Superannuation Fund, Health Super, for over six years and Chair of a corporate superannuation fund board up until July 2019. Chris spent many years in the early part of his career working in banking and finance and was the previous Chair of the Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School Audit and Risk Committee.
Chris is the Chairman of the Board of Management. He and his wife, Lesley, have two adult children who are both past students of Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School. After his family, his personal interests include farming, tennis, and following the Essendon Football Club.
GREGORY APLIN (past student and past parent)
Greg is a semi-retired civil engineer and town planner with interests in urban development and the environment. Greg spent 30 years in the public sector and is now a Director of Applied Urban Solutions providing planning, development and Government liaison advice to both public and private sector clients.
Greg has been a member of several boards in the Government, development, environment and education sectors.
Greg now spends part of his time assisting people with disabilities improve their literacy, social skills and employability. This is a welcome addition to his planning work and a rewarding challenge.
Greg is a past student of the school and his two daughters attended Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School from ELC to Year 12.
DOMENIC CERANTONIO (past student)
A registered architect in Victoria, New South Wales, Tasmania, South Australia, and Queensland, Domenic is a founding partner of Cera Stribley and Managing Principal of the practice, providing leadership across design, business development and corporate governance.
Since graduating with a Master of Architecture from University of Melbourne in 2008, Domenic has established a reputation for his keen expertise in architectural design and property development across a diverse range of sectors, including multi-residential, hotel, hospitality, retail, and private residential.
Domenic was a student at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School for the entirety of his schooling from 1989 through to 2002, and is passionate about his continued involvement in the school at the Board level. An active contributor to both the business and alumni communities, Domenic is also a member of several committees and organisations, such as SONA which supports emerging Architects, often attending events, and acting as a guest critic for The University of Melbourne’s capstone units.
Domenic is heavily involved in the Penleigh and Essendon Grammar Business Network to support former students in the business community and is the current Vice-President of the Former Students Association.
ELIZABETH DAPIRAN (past student and current parent)
Elizabeth attended Penleigh and Essendon Grammar from the Early Learning Centre to Year 12 and is a parent of a son and daughter in the Junior Schools. She is a specialist physician and works in the public and private health sectors.
Elizabeth was appointed to the Board in 2008. She represents the third generation of her family to attend the school and values this long association. Elizabeth brings to the Board a keen sense of the school’s history and is alert to the consideration of both tradition and innovation in the Board’s actions to guide the education of the next generation of Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School students.
ROBERT GOTTLIEBSEN (past student, past parent and current grandparent)
School Captain and Dux of Essendon Grammar School in 1957 and 1958, Robert was appointed to the Essendon Grammar School Board in 1973 and is a former Chairman of the Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School Board of Management.
In 2018 he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for ‘significant services to the print media as a journalist, editor and business analyst, and to education through school governance roles.’ Robert writes daily business and investment commentary for The Australian newspaper’s digital and print editions. He was the original Chanticleer Columnist with the Australian Financial Review; Founding Editor of BRW magazine and his commentary has extended into ABC TV and 3AW radio. He was executive chairman of BRW Media which included publications based in Hong Kong, London and New Zealand. He was co-founder of the businessspectator.com.au – a digital publishing operation which was purchased by News Corp in 2012. Robert is a member of The Australian Media Hall of Fame and an Australian Journalist of the Year.
A member of Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School Ex-student Hockey Team of the half century, Robert and his wife, Barbara, are also active in the Essendon Presbyterian Church of which he is Treasurer.
BIANCA MAZZARELLA (former student and current parent)
Bianca is an employment and workplace relations lawyer (Special Counsel) in private practice. Bianca undertakes a variety of leadership roles at her workplace including heading up the employment/litigation team and being a member and active participant of the firm’s Social Committee, Mentoring Program and Women’s Association. Bianca also often presents seminars on topical employment law issues internally and externally.
Bianca was appointed to the Board in 2024 and attended PEGS from Junior School until Year Twelve. Bianca is married to Stefan, also a former PEGS student, has two children and is the parent of a son in Junior School.
Bianca brings a unique blend of legal experience, personal experience and current insight to the Board and is committed to enhancing the educational experience for all students.
PAUL PHELAN (past parent)
Paul has over 30 years in leadership positions in the Digital Health arena and he is currently the Managing Director of Cognitive Health Solutions, a business that provides software solutions to global Health market. Paul was the founder and Managing Director of Health IQ Pty Ltd, a company providing software to hospitals throughout Australia and New Zealand for more than twenty years and is now a wholly owned subsidiary of Telstra Corporation Ltd. Paul is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Paul has two children, both of whom attended Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School from Prep through to Year 12, his daughter graduating in 2013 and his son in 2016. He has been on the school’s Board of Management since 2005 and is a member of the Board’s Audit and Risk Committee.
ANDREW SMITH (current parent)
Andrew is the CEO of Education Services Australia, an education technology company owned by Australia's Education Ministers and has over 20 years of leadership experience in education and training. Prior to this he was Vice President at Swinburne University and has held leadership roles with Independent Schools Victoria and in vocational education and training. Andrew's first career was as a secondary school teacher.
In addition to being a member of the Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School Board of Management, Andrew is the Board Chair of not-for-profit youth employment agency Y Careers and is past Chairman of the Board of YMCA Australia.
Andrew brings expertise in business, education and governance to the Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School Board and is committed to ensuring that Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School continues its strong tradition of supporting students to realise their potential by providing the knowledge, skills and dispositions they need to thrive and contributing to every aspect of their wellbeing.
Andrew and his wife, Leeanne, have a daughter in Year 12 and two older children who graduated from Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School in 2015 and 2017.
DAVID WHITING (past parent)
David is a lawyer with a general commercial practice and is currently the principal lawyer at his own firm. Beyond the law and the school, David’s main community involvement has been via Rotary where he was (for five years) the Director of Governance for Rotary District 9800, which supports some 60 Clubs in Victoria. He retains roles at both District and Club level. He supports a number of charities as pro bona legal advisor, principally the National Heart Foundation. He is a regular contributor to Virginia Trioli’s program on ABC Radio Melbourne.
David is the Chair of the Audit and Risk Committee. David’s daughter attended Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School throughout her school years.
TOM WILSON (past student)
Tom has fifteen years’ experience within banking and financial services. He is currently a Corporate Finance Director within Corporate and Institutional Banking at National Australia Bank (NAB). Prior to joining NAB, Tom commenced his career as a Chartered Accountant at KPMG.
Tom attended Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School and is a former player of the Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School Football Club. He is married and has one daughter and one son. He has been on the school’s Board of Management since 2021 and is a member of the Board’s Audit and Risk Committee.
THE DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION
DAVID KINTON (current parent, past student)
David’s mother attended Penleigh, and together with his two siblings, David spent his school life at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School. This is a tradition that David has continued with his daughter now a current student. David is very familiar with the history of Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School, as well as an active and involved parent within the school community and the daily experience of school life.
David holds a Bachelor of Applied Science in Physical Education, a Graduate Diploma of Education in Physical Education and Outdoor Education and a Graduate Diploma in Compliance. He has been a committee member (since 2016) and until recently (2022) held the role of President of the Friends of Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School. In addition to this, David is an active member of the Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School Hockey Club, currently as the goalkeeper in the Open and Master’s Competition, and a state representative at the Masters’ Level.
David joined the Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School Development Foundation in September 2023 and is the current Chair of the Development Foundation.
REV PAUL BLACKER (past parent)
Paul Blacker is a retired Minister of the Uniting Church. He holds Bachelor of Theology and Master of Ministry degrees. Paul has had responsibilities as Director of Mission and Resourcing at the Synod level, he has been a Presbytery Minister and Chairperson of the Presbytery of Port Phillip West and has led four congregations.
Prior to his life in ministry, Paul owned and operated a printing and secretarial business. Currently he is a serving as Chairperson of Dadirri Melton Counselling Services. He was a member of the Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School Board of Management for twenty years before resigning and taking up a position on the Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School Development Foundation. His daughter attended Penleigh and Essendon Grammar as did his brother.
MR DEAN MULCAHY
Dean grew up in northern Victoria near Kyabram and had a passion to go into the building industry which led him to undertake a Bachelor of Construction Management at RMIT’s Melbourne CBD campus. Upon completion of this degree, Dean secured a full-time role as a Project Coordinator with Harris HMC working on diverse projects including Trinity College Student Accommodation (100 rooms), apartments, schools, recreation reserves and residence clubs. Throughout his time with Harris HMC, he enhanced his skill and experience in the diverse roles and aspects of construction management dealing with a range of stakeholders on the projects and intricacies involved in construction management. Dean’s current role is Senior Contract Administrator, working on the northside Preston Crossing project.
Prior to moving to Melbourne, Dean was avidly involved in local sporting endeavours, and upon moving to Melbourne he was introduced to the Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School Hockey and Cricket Clubs where he has been involved as a player, a coach, committee member, Club President (2019-2020) and is currently a member of the sporting clubs’ executive board, responsible for facilities.
Dean joined the Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School Development Foundation in April 2023. He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience in the construction industry to this role.