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Forestville Montessori School is an independent, non-denomination school operated by The Peninsula Montessori Association Ltd (PMAL), a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee of its members, which was incorporated under the Companies Act in 1980.

The Board of Directors oversees the direction of the School. The Board works with the CEO and the Leadership Team to determine the School’s strategic objectives and key strategic initiatives. The Board monitors financial performance and risk and approves key policy changes and the annual budget. The CEO reports to the Board of Governors and is responsible for all operational decisions related to the day to day management of the School and its staff and students.

The Board of Directors

Chairperson

Idette Warburton – Director

Idette Warburton

Idette Warburton, BA Communications, majoring in public relations. Over the last 22 years, Idette has worked both in Australia and overseas as a learning specialist, including as a technical writer, instructional designer, project manager and senior project manager.

Idette has experience across a large number of industries including banking, retail, finance, IT, mining, government, transport, media, pharmaceutical, education, manufacturing, telecommunications, publishing and not-for-profit.

For the last 5 years Idette has been running a small business with annual turnover of $2million+ demonstrating strong operational and financial management skills.

Director

Ian Howe

Ian Howe, BE (Electrical) has built a career in software development that includes work at Scentregroup, Channel 9 and Amadeus. He currently runs his own small business.

Ian has been a parent at FMS since 2015 and currently has 2 children attending.

Director

Bill Conway

Bill has forty years’ experience in the education sector, primarily in school leadership positions. His post graduate work has been in the areas of Bilingual education, Counseling, and ethical Business practice. Bill commenced a leadership position in Montessori in 2007 and retired from that position in 2020. He is currently conducting courses for Montessori administrators around the world under the Association Montessori Internationale (AMI). Bill also serves as a board director for Montessori Schools and Centres Australia (MSCA) and regularly consults with schools in Australasia and SE Asia. 

Director

Genevieve Lang

Genevieve Lang (BMus Performance) has built a successful 25-year career working across the arts, initially as a professional freelance harpist performing with major ensembles and orchestras around Australia. More recently, Genevieve has branched out into music journalism and arts administration. You might know her voice from listening to ABC Classic, Australia’s national classical music radio station, where she’s a regular presenter throughout the week, or the (very) occasional TV appearance for ABC Television.

Genevieve joined the Forestville Montessori parent community in 2016 when her son joined the toddle program. Since then, he’s been joined by his sister at the school, where both kids have thrived. Though discovering Montessori was a happy accident, Genevieve is a passionate believer in the foundational principles of following the child, and allowing kids to grow, develop and learn at a rate most appropriate to them.

Director

Shy Bastianpillai

Shy is a Finance Executive with over 25 years of experience in Multinational Organisations and in the Not For Profit sector.

A foundation in 2 of the ‘Big 4’ professional services firms complemented her transition into Commerce, Industry and NFP. Success has been through formulating financial strategy to drive efficiency into business operations. Shy has a proven track record in business transformation and change management as businesses grew organically, as well as through mergers & acquisitions.

Shy’s passion is to impart knowledge and experience through leading teams, coaching and mentoring.

Ex Officio CEO/Principal

Denice Scala

Company Secretary

Irina Namroud

Learn More

Under 3

Birth – 3 Years

Pre-Primary

3 – 6 Years

Lower Primary

6 – 9 Years

Upper Primary

9 – 12 Years

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