Meet the Dedicated Team Behind EREA NSW Colleges

Peter Pearce brings to this role over four decades of leadership and governance experience across the health, education, community services, and faith-based sectors. He has served as Chair and Director of numerous Catholic and not-for-profit organisations, including Mater Misericordiae Ltd, Mercy Partners Ltd, and Common Ground Queensland. His executive background includes senior appointments within the Anglican Church of Southern Queensland and LifeFlight Retrieval Medicine Ltd, where he led significant organisational transformation and service development. Mr Pearce holds postgraduate qualifications in Ethics and Legal Studies and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Mr Pearce’s deep understanding of governance within Catholic ministries and his commitment to mission, inclusion, and ethical leadership will serve the EREA NSW Colleges Board well as it continues to support the flourishing of our schools in the Edmund Rice tradition.

Virginia Ryan (MEd, MA, BA, Grad Dip REd, Dip Ed) is currently the CEO of the Catholic Leadership Foundation. She previously held positions as Assistant Director Evangelisation and Catechesis Catholic and Acting Assistant Director Learning Improvement Program for Catholic schools Broken Bay, Executive Leadership Coach Canberra/Goulburn Catholic Schools and various Leadership roles at BBI- TAITE and Catholic secondary schools. Virginia’s current governance positions include Board Director EREA NSW Colleges Ltd and Chair, Safeguarding Committee. She was previously Chair of the Board, The Educational Centre for Christian Spirituality, founding Member of Good Samaritan Education (MPJP); Member/Chair Mount St Benedict College Board; Member/Chair Stella Maris College Board; Founding Member and Chair of BBI-TAITE.

Dr Mark J Askew served as Head of Educational Services in the Diocese of Broken Bay for 20 years, leading its transformation into a high-performing school system. He began as an English and History teacher and held curriculum and program management roles with Sydney Catholic schools and the NSW Catholic Education Commission. In 2010, he was seconded to ACARA to oversee Australian Curriculum development in History, Geography, and the Arts. Mark has contributed to various state and national education committees and supported religious congregations in school governance. He currently teaches at Australian Catholic University and works as an educational consultant, specialising in school and system reviews, curriculum development, and staff growth.