I am also a Board member with a philanthropic trust set up to assist students from disadvantaged backgrounds, including refugees, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders and homeless children, access educational opportunities. It is a great privilege to be involved at the Board level at Woodleigh and to Chair such a dynamic, cohesive and forward-thinking Board. Woodleigh is well placed to meet the challenges that our students face in the future. It embraces change which enables it to continue to be a leader in education.

An ‘Adventurous Mind’ is not afraid to stand out. It is a mind that is willing to take journeys, follow new paths, that are sometimes unchartered but always lead to discovery and possibility. It can swim against the tide and strive to achieve goals that at times seem unattainable. It is innovative, willing to explore, lateral thinking but above all is happy in its own skin.

I have had close ties with Woodleigh, with Peta, my wife who is a past student and an active member of the PFG, as well as sending our three children to Woodleigh over the last ten years. I joined the Board just over a year ago and was motivated to join because our children have received so much from their time at Woodleigh that I wanted to give something back. I am thoroughly enjoying the opportunity of serving the Woodleigh community and participating in the Board activities, and particularly looking forward to some of the exciting initiatives that the school is putting into place.

Curiosity and passion ignite the ‘Adventurous Mind’ to explore in areas previously undiscovered, enabling vigorous learning and growth.

My three children were destined for “traditional” private school education until my wife and I discovered Woodleigh and thought about how best to equip our two daughters and son with the values, energy and skills they will need for an exciting, but uncertain future. It is a pleasure to be involved with the passionate and skilled team on the Woodleigh Board as we manage the present, chart the way forward and continue to develop and deliver the best possible academic, social and experiential education for our children’s futures.

An ‘Adventurous Mind’ is energetic, not bounded by convention, courageous, strategic, passionate, analytical and collegiate. Change is not a threat, it is stimulating and an opportunity.

Despite a traditional education, I was broadminded enough to marry a Woodleigh girl (Louise Mace, class of ’89) and am now fully converted, with three children growing up at Woodleigh.

An ‘Adventurous Mind’ looks beyond what is to what could be, has the vision and drive to explore those possibilities and is willing to experiment, learn and enjoy the journey.

After working for several property development and management consulting companies for most of my career, I formed my own business at the beginning of 2016.

I have had two sons and a daughter who completed Year 12 at Woodleigh School and another daughter currently at Minimbah. We are a committed Woodleigh family who enjoys being a part of the community in various ways. As a Board member and father, I feel proud to be involved in a school that develops its educational ideas in new and innovative ways.

An ‘Adventurous Mind’ finds new ways to tackle problems and find solutions, pushes the boundaries to explore different pathways and grows as a learner while doing so. They are not afraid to challenge normal conventions.

My work is extremely fulfilling as it allows me to assist clients work towards their goals and reach their potentials.

My husband Brad and I have two children who have been extremely fortunate to attend Woodleigh since three year old ECC, with our eldest finishing Year 12 in 2018. A private school education was something we were aspiring to for our children’s secondary schooling, but after a tour of Minimbah we changed our minds and enrolled both children for ECC and primary at Woodleigh.

The association we have had with Woodleigh has lived up to all we could have hoped for and much, much more. Woodleigh is incredibly special to our family and is a place where the staff know and understand our children. It is a place where young people can work hard and stretch themselves in a supported and positive environment that provides individuals the self esteem and confidence to try new things, make mistakes and try again.

Woodleigh is a place of thinking outside the square, doing things differently, keeping people interested and inspired – the perfect place to nurture Adventurous Minds.

For our family, Woodleigh is not just a school, it has been a way of life. Being able to serve the Woodleigh community through my position on the Board is a huge honour and a way in which I can give back to this very special community.

I have two boys who have thoroughly enjoyed the Woodleigh experience with one just completing VCE in 2020 and the other in 2021. There has never been a time during their period at Woodleigh where we have questioned: "Is this the right school?" There has only been thanks for having the privilege of being able to experience such a special school – from its environment, to its students, staff and community.

An Adventurous Mind is one of curiosity with awareness, flexibility and looking for opportunities. One that is prepared to take risks and will answer with "When?" not "Why?"

These schools all offered IB programmes so I am very familiar with these. I am now a part-time consultant leading Senior Leadership searches for international schools in Africa. It is an honour to return to Woodleigh as a Board member.

To me, an “Adventurous Mind”, is an open and interested outlook on life. It involves taking risks and being resilient.

Melanie’s vision and passion was, and still is, to help people feel better, and in turn, live more fulfilled lives. The ethos of the endota brand was fueled by her personal belief in the power of connection. 20 years on, endota is an iconic Australian brand, with more than 100 day spas nationwide, over 2000 employees, 3 training campuses with 300 students per annum, distribution in overseas markets, manufacturing in Australia and New Zealand and online wellbeing platform.

The values Melanie built the business on were Intent, Connect, Truth and Balance.

Melanie believes in cause and effect and that there must be balance with nature and humanity within our own relationships. We need to connect with the community, with each other and importantly with our own needs.

As a recognised wellness entrepreneur, Melanie is regularly featured in print and broadcast media. Melanie’s profile in Australia and overseas has contributed greatly to the growth and success of the endota Group.

Melanie is a regular speaker and contributor to knowledge in the wellness industry and on heart-led leadership. Melanie holds board positions in numerous businesses in the wellness industry.

Melanie is a proud ex-Woodleigh student who holds the 3Rs close, her two boys are current students.

An ‘Adventurous Mind’ is a mind that questions everything and understands it can shape its own way in this world.

An adventurous mind loves learning and is not afraid to ask questions. Adventurous minds are innovative, dreaming new solutions for the future, with the agency to challenge conventional thinking and effect change.