Our People
Leadership Team
Michael joined Christian Brothers Lewisham in 2021, bringing extensive leadership experience in Catholic education. Prior to this, he served as Senior Regional Consultant for Sydney Catholic Schools, overseeing 16 secondary schools. His leadership journey includes roles as Principal of St Patrick’s College Sutherland and Marist College Eastwood, as well as Assistant Principal positions at Marist College Kogarah and Parramatta Marist High School. In addition to his leadership experience, Michael has an impressive academic background. He holds a Master of Education, a Bachelor of Arts, and a Diploma of Education (Hons.) from the University of New South Wales, along with a Graduate Diploma of Religious Education from the Catholic College of Education. He also earned a Doctorate in Education from the Australian Catholic University, specializing in secondary school improvement.
Mark supports the Principal in the overall leadership and management of the school, working to ensure a dynamic and nurturing learning environment. Alongside the Principal, he provides religious and educational leadership, guiding the spiritual, social, academic, and personal development of students. A dedicated educator and leader, Mark has been part of the School Leadership Team since 2010. He previously served as Assistant Principal – Primary at Christian Brothers’ Lewisham and Acting Assistant Principal at St Joseph’s Catholic Primary School, Enfield. With a strong commitment to student growth and school excellence, he brings valuable experience to his role. Mark holds a Bachelor of Education from the Australian Catholic University.
Keith is responsible for delivering a high-quality Catholic education that supports and challenges students academically. He works closely with teaching staff, Heads of Departments, and the Diverse Learning team to develop and implement a curriculum that fosters critical thinking, academic rigor, and personal growth. Keith plays a key role in ensuring that all students are engaged in a dynamic and inclusive learning environment that meets their individual needs. Keith joined the School in 2015 as the Head of History and Geography before being appointed to his current role. He demonstrates a strong commitment to educational excellence, student achievement, and continuous academic improvement. He holds a Bachelor of Arts and a Master of Teaching from the University of Sydney, as well as a Master of Education (Leadership) from Charles Sturt University.
Natalie is responsible for advancing a teaching and learning program that raises student achievement and ensures quality educational practices across the school. She works closely with staff and leaders to foster a culture of continuous improvement and excellence in teaching. With over two decades of experience in Catholic education, Natalie has held leadership roles including Assistant Principal, Leader of Pedagogy and Innovation, and Leader of Curriculum. Her expertise in curriculum design and evidence-based teaching practices enables her to lead transformative change. Natalie holds a Master of Education in Educational Psychology from UNSW, a Master of Education in Educational Leadership, a Graduate Diploma in Religious Education from ACU, and a Bachelor of Education from Charles Sturt University.
Dan is responsible for fostering and strengthening the School’s Catholic identity in the Edmund Rice tradition. He leads the development of liturgical, spiritual, and formation experiences for students, staff, and families while supporting Justice and Peace initiatives. Dan joined our community in 2014 as the Religious Education Coordinator and brings 25 years of teaching experience across various EREA and LaSallian schools in Sydney. His leadership has spanned multiple curriculum areas, including roles as Visual Arts Coordinator, CAPA Coordinator, and REC at Oakhill College, Castle Hill. He holds a Bachelor of Education in Visual Arts and Religious Education from the Australian Catholic University.
Chris oversees the wellbeing and pastoral care of our students. He works closely with the Pastoral Team, which includes eight House Pastoral Coordinators and the School Counselling Team, to create a supportive environment where all students are known, valued, and cared for. Under his leadership, the team fosters a school culture built on right and respectful relationships, ensuring a positive and inclusive student experience. With two decades of experience in both sporting and educational settings, Chris has been a dedicated member of the CBHS community since 2009. He was appointed Assistant Principal – Pastoral in 2019, bringing a deep commitment to student wellbeing. He holds a Bachelor of Teaching/Bachelor of Arts from the Australian Catholic University and a Master of Education, specialising in Educational Wellbeing, from Southern Cross University.
Ann-Marie leads the strategic and operational direction of the School’s HR functions and oversees our risk and compliance obligations. She works closely with the leadership and teaching staff to ensure that risk management is integrated into the school’s overall strategy and daily operations. With over 15 years of experience in Catholic education, Ann-Marie has provided expert support to schools in areas including employment, recruitment, safeguarding, change management, investigations, and wellbeing. Ann-Marie also brings valuable experience from the government and private sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Economics from the University of Sydney.
Michael is responsible for the daily operations and administration of the school. He plays a key role in the development and implementation of the school timetable, and works to ensure smooth and efficient operations. Through strategic planning he contributes to fostering a well-organised and positive school environment. His extensive experience as a Mechanical Engineer provides valuable insights into industry-relevant education, particularly in the context of boys’ education. He has held various leadership roles in education including Year Coordinator, Head of Mathematics, and Administration Coordinator. Michael holds a Bachelor of Engineering with Honours from the University of Sydney, an Associate Diploma in Applied Science, and a Diploma of Teaching from UNSW.
Darren is responsible for overseeing the financial management of the school, ensuring efficient resource management, budget planning and strategic financial decision making to support the school’s objectives. His role oversees managing our facilities and compliance with regulatory requirements, as well as capital works projects. Darren brings extensive experience in financial management, having previously served as the Accountant for National Disability Services and held roles as Management Accountant and Assistant Accountant across various sectors since 2011. He holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting & Business Law) from the University of Wollongong, is a Certified Practising Accountant (CPA), and in 2023, completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from The Australian Institute of Business.
Advisory Council
The school was established by the Christian Brothers and was governed by the St Mary’s Province Leadership Team (New South Wales) until October 2007 when governance of the school transitioned to Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA). Today, the school operates as an independent Catholic school that is governed and owned by The Trustees of Edmund Rice Education Australia.
The school is supported by an Advisory Council that collaborates closely with the Principal and the School Leadership Team in key areas of leadership, including compliance, budget management and development of long term goals. Their role is to provide expertise and support the effective governance of the school.
Advisory Council members
David has extensive accounting, taxation and business expertise. David is a Chartered Accountant, registered auditor and partner of ESV Accountants and Advisers based in Sydney. He has over 30 years of experience as a non-executive director of listed public companies, private companies and not-for-profit entities. He was an inaugural Trustee of Mary Aikenhead Ministries. In addition to his ongoing professional roles, David is currently a director of Catholic Schools NSW Limited, Catholic Employment Relations Limited and a Trustee of Calvary Ministries.
Janine Hannigan has been an integral part of the Christian Brothers’ Lewisham community for over 15 years as a parent, and was the CBHS Lewisham Parent and Friends Association President from 2018 – 2022. She is married to Kieran and has three children which include two CBHS Lewisham Old Boys. Having worked for Sydney Catholic Schools and as the Family Educator at St Francis Xavier Primary Catholic School Ashbury, Janine continues her service to Catholic education. Janine is excited to share her experience with the advisory board and continue her service to the school.
Antoinette McGahan is the current serving Principal of Domremy College Five Dock, a Sydney Catholic School (SCS) Secondary Girls school. Prior to this appointment, Antoinette has held Principal positions at St Clare’s College Waverley and All Saints Catholic Girls’ College Liverpool. Additionally, she has also held the positions of Deputy Principal at Brigidine College Randwick and Our Lady of Mercy College Burraneer Bay. She is married to Pat and her son is also a Lewisham old boy.
Anne attended Domremy College and then Bethlehem College. After school Anne joined the Reserve Bank of Australia where over a 22 year career she worked up through a number of departments to the position of financial accountant. Anne’s second career saw a move into the education sector. For 15 years she was the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director of the Catholic Education Commission NSW (now Catholic Schools NSW). A truly enriching and humbling experience to work with colleagues devoted to improving the quality of education, maximising enrolment availability and optimising the opportunities, curricular and non-curricular of those attending and those wishing to attend Catholic schools. Anne was a member of St Pius X Finance Committee in 2021.
Lucy is a data and evaluation expert with over 20 years’ experience across government and the not-for-profit sector, using analysis to drive evidence-informed policy, program delivery, and decision-making. She is passionate about using measurement and data-driven solutions to achieve equitable outcomes, especially for vulnerable communities. Since June 2021, Lucy has served as the Data and Youth Insights Director at Raise Foundation, leading program evaluation and ensuring youth perspectives shape the organisation’s work. Her previous roles include senior evaluation and research positions at the NSW Department of Education and the Bureau of Crime Statistics and Research. Lucy holds a Master’s in Statistics, an honours degree in Economics, and is currently completing a PhD in Economics.
As a CBHS Lewisham Old Boy, Ben Wilding returns to Lewisham to serve on the Advisory Council. After leaving Lewisham Ben completed his studies and taught for 12 years prior to retraining and becoming a Solicitor. He has worked in private practice as a Commercial Lawyer and joined Catholic Schools NSW in 2021 as their Senior Legal Counsel where he supported Catholic Schools, providing advice on education, family, privacy, immigration, intellectual property and administrative law issues.
