Our People

Aaron Mackinnon

Principal

Aaron is a values-led educator and Principal of Preshil, with experience across independent and government education in Australia and internationally. He believes leadership is about creating the conditions for young people to be trusted, to take ownership, and to shape their own learning. For Aaron, real learning is grounded in strong relationships, shared purpose, and the courage to rethink systems that no longer serve young people. At Preshil, he works alongside educators, students, and families to protect what makes the school distinctive, while continuing to evolve learning in ways that are deeply human, relevant, and connected to the world beyond the campus.

Cressida Batterham-Wilson

Head of Campus - Primary

Cressida is Head of Preshil’s Arlington Campus and a deeply connected member of the Preshil community. She began her journey at Preshil as a student and now brings her lived understanding of the school as an educator, leader, parent and alumna. Cressida has played a pivotal role in shaping the primary school and is recognised for her leadership in education that breaks the mould for young learners. She leads with warmth, clarity and conviction, building a campus grounded in mutual regard, agency and learning shaped around each child.

Brendan Murray

Head of Campus - Secondary

Brendan is Head of Campus for the Secondary School at Preshil, guided by a belief that education should give young people hope, direction and the confidence to question the world around them. He is an advocate for learning as a force for social change—one that invites curiosity, responsibility and engagement rather than compliance. At Preshil, Brendan works alongside educators and students to shape a secondary experience built on trust, intellectual challenge and learning that matters beyond the classroom. He leads with the conviction that when young people are known, stretched and supported, they leave school ready to navigate complexity and shape their own futures.

Lewis Kingston

Assistant Head of Campus - Secondary

Lewis is Assistant Head of Campus at Preshil’s Secondary School, where he provides leadership across curriculum, operations and the design of school life. As a trained architect and educator, he brings a systems perspective to schooling, with a particular interest in how spaces, systems and relationships support agency, belonging and deep learning. He is passionate about supporting young people to develop a lifelong love of learning, to feel seen and heard, and have agency over their schooling experience and pathways. He believes schools should prepare students to navigate complexity and contribute to the world with purpose. At Preshil, Lewis works alongside students and colleagues to shape a secondary experience grounded in trust, curiosity and possibility.

Sylvia Tossoun

Business Manager & Company Secretary

Sylvia Tossoun is Preshil’s Business Manager and Company Secretary, bringing extensive experience across finance, governance, strategy and organisational transformation. With a decade at Ernst & Young and Deloitte, and senior executive experience as a Chief Financial Officer, Chief Operating Officer and Director of Business, Sylvia has strategically led organisations through complex financial and operational change with clarity and confidence. At Preshil, Sylvia oversees Finance, ICT, Property, Governance, Risk and Compliance, working closely with the Principal, leadership team and Board to align resources, systems and long-term planning with the School’s vision and values. Her role includes guiding financial strategy, major property negotiations and capital projects, while strengthening systems and processes to support a sustainable future. Sylvia believes education has the power to transform lives, families and communities. She is passionate about building strong foundations behind the scenes so educators and students can focus on meaningful learning, creativity and possibility.

Lucy Lam-Po-Tang

Marketing, Communication Engagement & Advancement Manager

Lucy is an experienced education leader working across marketing, admissions, community engagement and advancement. As a senior executive, she helps shape how the school connects with families, students and the wider community. Lucy previously led student admissions at a top 100 International Baccalaureate school in London and has held Operations Director roles supporting founders in design and consulting firms. With degrees in design, business and a Master of Education (Leadership and Learning), she brings operational expertise, marketing insight and an international perspective to education.

Troy Davis

Human Resource Leader

Troy is Preshil’s Human Resources Leader, contributing calm, considered people leadership and a strong grasp of how systems shape culture. Drawing on work across people strategy, organisational development and change, he is committed to building workplaces grounded in trust, respect and shared responsibility. Troy works alongside educators and staff to ensure structures strengthen real relationships, enabling people to do their best work in service of young people. Partnering with leadership teams, he supports cultural growth, wellbeing and thoughtful change, helping ensure the way we work together reflects what we believe about learning: that trust matters, individuality counts, and purpose makes people thrive.

Emma Zipper

School Council President

• Member of School Council since 2018
• Member of Audit & Risk Committee
• Council President

I have been a member of Council since my daughter, llana, started at Preshil in Year 9. I am a lawyer with a background in corporate law, regulatory (particularly in the health and technology sectors) and governance. Having been a General Counsel and Company Secretary in an international health care group for 15 years, I felt that my experience in the Boardroom could be helpful, by bringing my exposure to best practice corporate governance and understanding of risk management in the context of a regulated sector.

I was motivated to join by a desire to make a difference to a school that embraced innovation in education. I was inspired by the ethos and history of the School as a leader in progressive education and the focus of the school on the education and the wellbeing of every student, encouraging them to become creative and courageous lifelong learners in a rapidly changing world.

I have really enjoyed this time on Council.

Contact Council President Here

Daniel Ingvarson

School Council Board Member

Daniel’ qualifications in philosophy, comp-science,  thesis in technology policy and masters subjects in psychometrics, measurement and learning analytics. Daniel grew up in a family where education was central, he was keenly engaged in Preshil as a student, undertook a thesis on this new thing called the internet in 1991, built the first Education Internet Service business in Australia in 1993, 2000 Dan went won the National AIIA software innovation award for software to help student and schools called MyClasses, in 2009 he founded NSIP and interoperability standard SIF in Australia, in 2014 moved to New York and built RICOne a 700 district, 120 systems, interoperability marketplace for New York education, in 2017 founded the k-12 Federation for the Gates Foundation. 

Daniel Ingvarson is now a leading expert in the integration of AI within education, writing papers in 2019 which predicted AI's rise and authored both the snapshot of Gen AI principles for the Australian government and AESOC papers on AI. His work has seen him collaborate with influential figures such as Rose Luckin and John Hattie, delivering keynote addresses at prominent international conferences. His appointment to boards, such as Google's Gen AI Advisory board, founding advisor to the international US EdSafe AI Alliance, TeachAI policy group, and the (AERO) AI and educational technology advisory board,  further underscores his leadership in shaping AI policies and practices in education. 

Daniel’s portfolio also includes the development of AI-driven educational tools that empower educators. He has pioneered innovative solutions such as AI agent systems, curriculum-aligned content generation tools, and assessment-driven content creation technologies. Daniel’s contributions have significantly advanced the practical application of AI in education, enhancing accessibility, effectiveness, and alignment with evidence-based pedagogical practices.

Daniel’s IAMAI framework simplifies and organises a schools approach to AI helping to empower teachers to be able to apply their own professional judgements into the new, sometimes scary sometimes exiting area of AI for Learning

Karolina Karon

School Council Board Member

Karolina is a Senior Marketing and CX Leader with over 18 years of international business experience garnered in ASX-listed companies, agencies, and for-purpose organisations. Known for empowering high-performing teams to drive transformational change, Karolina excels in building compelling brands, creating insight-driven strategies, distinctive customer value propositions, and the CX initiatives that enable them. She has significant experience in complex regulatory environments, including finance, health insurance, education, and technology.

Karolina holds a Senior Executive MBA from Melbourne Business School. She is deeply committed to social justice and the power of education to transform lives and the social fabric, leveraging her expertise to create positive change. Passionate about the arts and culture, she is also an avid reader, amateur Latin dancer, art enthusiast, and foodie adventurer.

Liam Keegan

School Council Board Member

Liam is a strategic leader with over a decade of experience advising Boards, executives, and institutional stakeholders across complex organisational environments. He specialises in governance, stakeholder engagement, and long-term strategic planning within large-scale public and institutional contexts, bringing a thoughtful, governance-focused approach to financial oversight, strategic direction, and sustainable organisational growth.

Doug McCurry

School Council Board Member

• Member of School Council since 2015
• Principal's Appointment 2015 - current
• Member of Remuneration & Nominations Comittee

Between 1988 and 2021 l was an educational researcher at the Australian Council for Educational Research specialising in testing and assessment. As a researcher my main interests are: concepts of and the assessment of generic and work-related skills; the assessment of socio-cultural and interpersonal reasoning; and the assessment of writing as reasoning. I have a PhD concerned with collective teacher judgement of generic skills.

I have always been interested in progressive education. I taught for two years in the late 1970s at ERA, the school formed by Preshil parents because there was then no secondary Preshil. I taught for three years at Blackhall before being offered a job at ACER in 1988. I have been in contact with various Preshil staff, and have been aware of developments at the School over past thirty years.

When I resigned from Preshil at the end of 1987 Margaret Lyttle called me at home and said her curse would pursue me down the generations.

On the day of my last Preshil staff meeting I was for the first and only time quite incapacitated by a migraine headache. Margaret sent me a parting gift of one of her favourite books and wrote on the inside cover that I would return. I have been very happy to do so, even if in a small way, as a member of the School Council.

Since retiring from ACER in 2021 I have joined my partner's educational publishing company and am producing curriculum and assessment materials for the VCE Englishes.

Katherine O'Brien

School Council Board Member

Katherine is a Preshil alumna who brings a blend of legal leadership and corporate governance experience to the School, alongside a commitment to ethical, student-centred education.

Professionally, Katherine has over 15 years’ experience in corporate law and banking. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce and a Bachelor of Arts (Media and Communications) from the University of Melbourne, and a Master of Laws (Juris Doctor) from Monash University.

In her most recent role, Katherine served as Senior Legal Counsel at a global technology company, where she led corporate structuring, regulatory compliance, and commercial contracting initiatives, and managed a number of offshore investments and acquisitions. She has shaped enterprise-level legal frameworks that support innovation while ensuring resilience in regulated environments.

Throughout her career, Katherine has guided complex negotiations, drafted and operationalised governance policies, and supported executive teams in establishing clear, sustainable decision-making structures. Her approach to governance emphasises clarity, accountability, and long-term organisational health.

As a former student, Katherine has been a beneficiary of Preshil’s ethos of courageous, independent thinking and holistic wellbeing. She values the School’s commitment to nurturing each student’s potential, curiosity, and sense of agency.

In joining the School Council, Katherine seeks to support Preshil’s mission by contributing strategic governance insight, legal expertise, and principled stewardship of the School’s unique learning community.

Courtney Pitcher

School Council Board Member

Courtney is a dedicated parent of two young boys-both beginning their educational journey at Preshil's kindergarten. Having relocated from London to Melbourne in 2022, Courtney and her family feel privileged to have discovered Preshil and its unique approach to learning.

Professionally, Courtney has over a decade of experience in financial services. She holds a Master's degree in Mathematical & Computational Finance from the University of Oxford and has earned the Chartered Financial Analyst designation. In her most recent role, she served as a Senior Trader on the Active Rates team at one of the world's leading asset management firms. Her expertise encompasses a deep understanding of financial markets, investment management, and risk assessment. Additionally, Courtney is proficient in computer programming and has considerable experience leveraging technology to automate trading processes.

Courtney's governance experience is substantial. As a Risk Officer, she ensured that the Active Rates desk operated in compliance with firm policies and regulations. She also participated in the Investment Management Group's Council for Best Execution, contributing to the establishment of industry-leading practices. Committed to the development of others, Courtney has been actively involved in training new traders and mentoring junior colleagues.

With her diverse background and commitment to innovative education, Courtney is enthusiastic about contributing to the Preshil School Council, supporting the school's mission to help foster a community that supports students to forge their own pathways informed by their passions and talents.

Ann Pocock

School Council Board Member

Ann joined the Preshil School Council in June 2025 and brings more than two decades of experience across education, marketing, communications and leadership. She has worked extensively in education settings, including senior leadership roles across technology, independent schooling, educational publishing and tertiary sectors, with a particular focus on enrolments, community engagement, brand positioning and growth during periods of change.

Previously, Ann was Director of Marketing, Advancement and Enrolments at an independent girls’ school in South Australia, where she led a major brand and enrolment turnaround and worked closely with the school’s board. Her broader career includes senior marketing and strategy roles with organisations such as Accenture and Oxford University Press, where she supported the transition from traditional publishing to digital and SaaS education services, alongside work across not-for-profit, research and technology-led environments.

Ann now works as an executive leadership coach and founder of Kinetic Effect Co, partnering with leaders and teams across high growth and purpose-driven organisations. Her work centres on strengthening leadership capability, strategic clarity and sustainable growth, with a strong emphasis on values-led decision making and connection and positive change.

Ann was drawn to Preshil at a time of growth and transformation, and is motivated to contribute her experience in education marketing, leadership and governance to support the school’s evolution while protecting what makes Preshil distinctive. She is particularly interested in helping the school communicate its purpose with confidence, strengthen community engagement, and navigate change in a way that stays true to its progressive educational philosophy.

June Steward

School Council Board Member

June Steward is a member of the Preshil Board and a parent of a teenager in the Senior School. She is a fundraising consultant and copywriter at Creagivity, where she partners with charities and purpose-driven organisations to design sustainable individual giving programs and strengthen donor relationships. Her work is grounded in evidence, ethics and a steady belief that long-term success comes from genuine connection rather than quick wins.

At Preshil, June is focused on helping the school build the foundations for a sustainable fundraising program—one that supports its educational vision while nurturing meaningful, long-term donor engagement. As she became more involved in the community, she discovered she was far more progressive than she’d previously thought; Preshil’s commitment to independence, curiosity and social awareness felt remarkably aligned with her own instincts about how young people learn best.

June is deeply interested in the future of work and the kind of education that will prepare students for a world where agility, creativity and entrepreneurial thinking are essential. She is energised by the way young people today think about impact—valuing social and community capital alongside financial outcomes.

Louise Wright

School Council Board Member

Louise Wright (PhD) is a director of Baracco+Wright Architects (est. 2004) and a Practice Professor of Architecture at Monash University. She is a panel member of the Office of Victorian Government Design Review Panel and a Fellow of the Royal Australian Institute of Architects (RAIA). Baracco+Wright Architects have received numerous awards including RAIA Winner Residential Architecture , RAIA Kevin Borland Award for Small Architecture and the Architect's Registration Board Client Services Award. In 2018 she was appointed the curator in collaboration with Mauro Baracco and Linda Tegg as the curator of the Australian Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale.