Governance
Our Governance
From the outset of operations in 1981, Foundation Learning Centre has been managed as an incorporated body under the provisions of the Associations Incorporation Act of 1981.
The control of the organisation was vested in a Committee of Management by the members. In the year 2000, the committee changed to a Board of Management with a governance charter.
The members of the board are elected by FLC members at the Annual General Meeting and appointed for a term of three years.
In their capacity, they have responsibility for the sound and proper governance of the organisation through delegated lines of command and responsibility with the Chief Executive Officer.
The Board elects members for the following roles subsequent to the Annual General Meeting each year. This group forms the Board Executive.
We currently have positions available on our Board…
General Board Member>
FLC Membership
Membership is an important part of how we operate.
Members of FLC help decide important changes to our Organisation, through their participation in General Meetings and the ability to cast their vote.
FLC Members are also invited to attend FLC functions.
To Apply…
Applicants must familiarise themselves with the below policies prior to application:
FLC Board Members
Helen Storr
Chairperson
Helen is a born and bred Melbournian and a City of Casey resident for 34 years. She has been involved in many Casey community organisations, including the very early days with Foundation Learning Centre. She has both lived and worked in Casey over the years and has passionately committed herself to assisting and supporting the community to grow.
Helen is a life-long educator, having worked in the Victorian Education Department for 37 years including in School Principal, Regional Leader and Central contributor roles throughout her career. She has been involved in opening new schools, merging schools and closing schools, all requiring extensive skills in both strategic and people focused communication.
In 2010 Helen decided to reinvent herself as an Executive Consultant and Professional Coach. Helen is now recognised as an internationally accredited coach (PCC) with the International Coach Federation (ICF) holding a number of leadership roles over the years, including President of the ICF Victorian Branch for 8 years. Most of her work is in Government bodies such as Health, Education, DWELP and numerous Vocational Education settings.
In her spare time she volunteers for a number of organisations including Foundation Learning Centre, Women Making It Work, 9th Division Sappers Association, ICF Mentoring and Supervision. She loves to travel when able, supporting her children and their families, and spends lots of her time playing with her grandchildren.
Michelle McCormack
Vice Chairperson
Michelle joined the Australian Army in 1994 and was fortunate to have built a career that combined seamlessly with her passion of helping others. This has included humanitarian engineering work in Timor Leste and Aceh Indonesia, environmental health construction in Australian indigenous communities and many South Pacific countries, and education and youth development.
Her time in the Army has given her extensive experience in leadership, planning and executing, risk management, governance and compliance, and financial management. Throughout this, Michelle has also been fortunate to have held a number of positions where she led, instructed or worked alongside adult students, adult volunteers and high-school students from diverse socio-demographic backgrounds; experiences that enriched her understanding of what is required to create an organisation and its people to thrive.
Michelle has a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil)(Honours) and a Master of Engineering Science. She is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Fellow of Engineers Australia, an accredited Engineering Executive and Chartered Professional Engineer in both the Leadership and Management and Civil Colleges.
Michelle is now an Army Reservist and Director within Career Management – Army. She has also held other non-executive Board and volunteer appointments in the not-for-profit and Education sectors, and lives in Melbourne with her husband and two sons.
Ken Wood
Treasurer
Ken is a Chartered Accountant, holds a Master of Finance from Melbourne University is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (MAICD) and a member of the AFLPA Agent Accreditation Board.
For more than two decades, Ken held a critical compliance and integrity role at the AFL, and was responsible for the compliance of AFL Clubs and Players with the AFL Player Rules and Collective Bargaining Agreement. This role encompassed compliance with the Total Player Payments Limit including investigations, approval of all Player agreements, management of the Football Department Soft Cap and management of the movement of Players through the Trade Period, Free Agency and the National Draft.
Prior to the AFL Ken was with international Chartered Accounting firm, Ernst & Young where he held various positions including Manager Corporate Audit, Director Corporate Finance as well as a range of other high level management positions including National General Manager Corporate Finance and General Manager of the Melbourne Office.
In his spare time Ken is a keen follower of the AFL, Cricket, enjoys snow skiing and spending time with family and friends.
Kara Norton-Jones
Secretary
Kara has a Bachelor in Business Management through Federation University and an Advance Diploma in Accounting through Chisholm. Throughout her career, Kara has developed a wide range of skills and knowledge from working within a number of different industries, from the hardware industry to hospitality. Kara is passionate about the sharing of knowledge and skills, and this was a driving force behind her starting her own business in 2020 as an Online Business Manager, working with small businesses to help them grow.
Kara has lived, worked and studied within the City of Casey for over 20 years. She believes strongly in the benefits of lifelong education, and the importance of providing the community with the opportunity to learn in a safe and inclusive environment.
Being a part of the Foundation Learning Centre board provides Kara with the opportunity to champion these ideas and be involved in the education and development of her community.
Tushar Mehta
Board Member
Tushar specialises in growing and managing business for large commercial enterprises. He has worked with Australian and global organisations across multiple industries in Asia Pacific, China, Japan and USA.
Tushar has deep experience in business development and growth by helping boards and senior management of large enterprises with ways to unlock business value from emerging technology. He thrives in helping organisations balance the industry headwinds; with the needs of responsible innovative growth, governance, compliance and risk management.
Tushar holds other positions as non-executive Board member in the not-for-profit sector. He enjoys being an active participant in social enterprises such as multi-cultural community organisations in Australia and grass root level programs such as “Save our Daughters, Educate our Daughters” in India.
Tushar has a Masters’ degree in Electrical Engineering; and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Ben Clissold
Board Member
After completing 2 terms as a Casey Councillor, Ben received many requests from local organisations to share his wealth of experience and join their Board. Instead, Ben chose to join the Board of Foundation Learning Centre (then known as Narre Community Learning Centre), as it was his favourite local organisation. Ben is so enthusiastic about how FLC helps so many people in so many ways – especially by helping people achieve their best through learning.
As our longest serving Board Member, joining us in 2006, Ben has held a number of positions including President for more than a decade, as well as Vice President.
Ben brings a wealth of experience in the local community, politics, marketing and strategic management to the Board, as well as providing insights into what has happened across the Organisation over time.
When he’s not working or volunteering, Ben enjoys coaching junior netball and football, and has chaired many other community organisations.
Craig Nicholls
Board Member
Craig is a passionate educator with almost 25 years of classroom experience across the state and independent sectors. Throughout that time he has specialised in the effective use of Digital Technologies across the K – 12 curriculum and is currently the Director of Digital Learning at Melbourne Girls Grammar. He holds a Master of Education from Monash and has recently completed a Certificate in School Management and Leadership through Harvard Business School.
Craig has lived in Narre Warren with his family for over 20 years and has been involved with several community groups in that time. Joining the board of FLC gives Craig the opportunity to help shape the future direction of this Organisation.
When not at work Craig enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, menagerie of pets, and enjoys a good coffee.
Mary Jensen
Board Member
Mary is an award winning Human Behaviour Specialist, Mindset Master and professional keynote speaker who has designed, built and lead teams for over three decades.
Mary is passionate about empowering people and driving change, and works extensively with CEOs and Senior Leadership Teams to guide them through challenges. Through her experiences during a long-term career in finance with ASX-listed companies, Mary identified the urgent need for specialists in Human Behaviour skills, and retrained to meet this gap.
Mary dedicates much of her time to supporting a range of charities and not-for-profits, and has given back to the community over the last 30 years through a range of positions with these organisation.
Mary brings a wide range of skills to the FLC Board, including Process, Procedure, Systems and Structures in addition to the newly acquired softer skills in People, Culture, Communication and Growth.
When Mary moved out of home at 15, she put herself through night school in Accounting to survive. She is from the South East herself and knows how impactful the sentence one person who believes in you, can be the thing that changes your life can be. Mary believes that Foundation Learning Centre is full of these life changing people and she is passionate about being part of this change.
When Mary is not out helping to change the world, you will find her with her family and grandchildren, playing and having fun – living what truly makes her happy!
