Board of Directors

Frank Hannigan brings to the Board over 46 years of legal expertise as an Australian Legal Practitioner, admitted to practice in all courts, including the High Court of Australia and the NSW Supreme Court. His extensive experience spans commercial litigation, trust law, advocacy, criminal and civil jurisdictions, succession planning, and tax law. He has advised clients across a wide geographic area from Melbourne to Mackay and inland.    Beyond his legal practice, Frank has a deep commitment to community service. He served as Diocesan Legal Advisor for the Lismore Diocese for an impressive 40 years, advising four Bishops and numerous Parish Priests. He has also held significant leadership positions, including Director and Chair of St Vincent's Hospital Board for 34 years, and served as Chair various Diocesan financial bodies. His attributes include business acumen and prudent financial management.  He is a Papal Knight of the Catholic Church, reflecting his dedication to his faith and community.

Ian is a Senior Research Fellow with CSNSW and former Secretary of the Catholic Secondary Schools Association NSW. He is a member of the Dunlea Centre Engadine School Board (Boys’ Town). Ian is a Barrister on the Roll of the Supreme Court NSW. Ian commenced his teaching career with Catholic schools in 1975 at Mary Immaculate College, Sutherland. He is former Director of Policy & Programs, Catholic Education Commission NSW, former member NSW BOS & BOSTES, Ministerial Not for Profit (Schools) Advisory Council and the Australian Education Council, Copyright Advisory Committee. He has held NSW representative roles with NSW Education Standards Authority and NSW Ministerial Education Act Section 83C Non-Government Schools Not-for-Profit Advisory Committee. Ian is married with two adult daughters both of whom were educated in Catholic schools. Ian and his family have been active members of Holy Cross Parish Helensburgh, Diocese of Wollongong since 1979.

Pam was born and grew up in Brisbane attending primary school at St Elizabeth’s School, Tarragindi and then Our Lady’s College, Annerley for secondary school. On leaving school she attended Griffith University and completed Bachelor of Science and then went on to complete her Diploma in Education at University of Queensland, Masters of Education Leadership; Master of Religious Education at Australian Catholic University and Master of Theology, University of Newcastle.

She is currently engaged in part-time work as a consultant after retiring as Executive Director, Brisbane Catholic Education at the end of 2021. She is a member of the panel that conducted a review of the Catholic Education Commission Victoria and previously a member of the panel to review CSNSW. She is also in the process of completing a review of the Broome Regional Office for CEWA.

Jim Longley lives on the northern beaches of Sydney with his wife Sally who is a Spiritual Director, Giver of the Ignatian Exercises, and regularly leads Retreats including for Marist Schools Australia Formators. He does strategic consulting in disability and aged care and finance, as well as mentoring, while also co-pastoring at Avalon Baptist Peace church. His qualifications include B.Ec., M.Ec., M.Div., FCPA, FAICD, FIML, having worked in the banking industry, Parliament, the NFP sector, and government. Jim enjoys music especially violin and recorder, swimming at local beaches, and is an avid reader.

Mary-Ann is the Parish Business Manager for Sacred Heart Parish Murwillumbah.

Mary-Ann grew up in Murwillumbah and attended the local Parish schools with her siblings. Her son also received his catholic education at our parish schools. Mary-Ann is a strong supporter of Catholic education and a firm believer in the partnership between our Catholic schools and our Parishes. Mary-Ann has been an active member of School Parent Forum groups and the Parent Assembly and is currently a member of the Diocesan Schools Review Commission.

Upon completing studies at Griffith University and Canberra College of Advanced Education, Mary-Ann pursued a career in international finance and business administration before returning to Murwillumbah in the mid 1990s to raise her son.

She is a life member of Murwillumbah Swimming Club - swam with the club as a child and has now been involved in the management of the Club for almost 20 years. Mary-Ann is also an active member of the Rotary Club of Mt Warning AM (Murwillumbah).

Anne commenced her career in Catholic education in 1979 at St John's Lakemba and in 1981 she moved to the Diocese of Lismore. Anne has held several leadership roles across Curriculum and Pastoral Care as well as Assistant Principal, and Campus Principal. Anne was the Inaugural Principal of St Joseph's Regional College Port Macquarie.

In 2013 Anne commenced a term as the School Evangelisation and Catechetical Services Consultant with the Catholic Schools Office before her return to MacKillop College Port Macquarie as Principal. Anne holds a Bachelor of Education and a Master of Educational Leadership and Theology.

Anne currently holds the position of Deputy Chief Executive Officer; Mission and People, St Agnes' Catholic Parish, Port Macquarie where she has been an active parishioner for 40 years. Anne has four children all who attended Catholic Schools in the Parish of Port Macquarie.

Fr Felix was ordained in 2005 and has held several Parish appointments including his current appointment as Parish Administrator for Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Parish Wauchope, Diocese of Lismore since 2016.

Fr Paul has been a priest of the Lismore Diocese for 42 years and holds a Bachelor of Theology.

He is Vicar General of the Diocese and Parish Priest of St Anthony’s, Kingscliff and also a Trustee and Consultor in the Diocese.

He is a former Chair of St Vincent’s Hospital, Lismore.

Fr Paul is also a member and orchestral player with the Lismore Symphony Orchestra.

Ross is an experienced educator who has worked in various Catholic schools and organisations and is deeply committed to Catholic education. Since completing his most recent appointment at St Joseph’s College in 2021, Hunters Hill, Ross has worked as a freelance consultant providing services to several organisations while enjoying semi-retirement.

Before this, he worked as a Project Consultant for the Diocese of Lismore, supporting the development of a new corporate structure for the governance of the 45 schools of the Diocese of Lismore. This followed his appointment as the Diocesan Director — Strategy & Governance for the Diocese of Lismore. Ross undertook this role after he was appointed the Regional Director (QLD, NT & Northern NSW) for Marist Schools Australia.

This followed his appointment as the first lay Headmaster of St Joseph’s College, Hunters Hill (2006- 2017) where he was also the longest-serving Headmaster in the history of the College, founded in 1881. He was also the first lay Headmaster of Marist College Canberra (2001-2005).

Ross has been heavily involved in diocesan and broader state-based appointments within Catholic education. These include: Commissioner, NSW Catholic Education Commission (1997-2000); Chair, Catholic Education Commission of NSW: Standing Committee on Education Policy (1997-2000); Deputy Director of Schools — Diocese of Lismore (1997-2000); Deputy Chair, Catholic Independent Schools Employment Relations Standing Committee of the Catholic Church Employment Relations Commission (2002-2008); Secondary Schools Consultant, Diocese of Lismore (1990-1996); Past Principal of Mount St Patrick Regional High School, Murwillumbah (1993) and St Joseph’s College, Banora Point (1996); Member of the Parramatta Catholic Schools Council (2011-2014); Chair, GPS Headmasters Standing Committee (2013-2015); National Professional Standards Committee: Marist Schools Australia; Member of the NSW Ministerial Committee - Committee of School Education Leaders (2016-2017); Member of the NSW Bar Association Professional Standards Committee (2017- 2018).

Ross is also a Director of Marist Schools Australia Ltd (MSA) and the current chair of the MSA Finance, Risk & Audit Committee.

In 2018, Ross was awarded the Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours for services to education.

Ross and Lorna are parishioners in St Francis Xavier’s parish in Ballina. They have three adult children, all of whom follow their respective professions.

Cathy moved to Lismore 35 years ago and has been an active member of South Lismore and St Carthage’s Cathedral Parishes. Cathy is currently a member of the Parish Pastoral Council, Parish Pastoral Commission, and the Renewal Journey Team. Cathy attended Southern Cross University and completed a Bachelor of Business degree majoring in Accounting and then went on to complete a Graduate Diploma in Management and a Professional Diploma in HR. Cathy Donnelly was a member of the Care Services Advisory Board for St Carthage’s Community Care prior to accepting the position as General Manager for St Carthage’s Community Care 2022. Cathy previously worked with The Coca-Cola Company for 10 years as a Global Mobility Consultant, and prior to that role, she worked as an Accountant, Practice Manager and HR Manager for a local accounting firm.

Adam has been in the Diocese of Lismore for 25 years and has also worked in private enterprise and with Catholic Education Western Australia. His early roles in the Diocese of Lismore were in Catholic Education (including 10 years as Principal) before moving into broader roles in Aged Care, Community Services and other Ministries.

In recent years Adam has held the role of Chief Executive Officer of two Port Macquarie Parish Companies being St Agnes’ Assist Ltd and St Agnes’ Care and Lifestyle Ltd.

Adam holds qualifications from the University of Queensland and Australian Catholic University respectively, a Masters of Business Administration from the University of Melbourne and training in “Building Strategic Innovation Capability” from the University of California, Berkeley and “Strategy and Innovation” from the WHU – Otto Beisheim School of Management in Germany. Adam is also a graduate member of Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Adam has been a member of the Diocesan Catholic Schools Council, President of the Diocese of Lismore Principals’ Association, Executive Committee member of National Technical Colleges Association and is currently an Executive Director of St Agnes’ Assist and St Agnes’ Care and Lifestyle.

Emma has over 15 years of legal, governance, compliance and risk management experience across both the public and private sectors, including education and local government. Emma holds a Bachelor of Laws (LLB) and a Graduate Diploma (Legal Practice) and worked for many years as an in-house lawyer and legal consultant before enhancing her career as a governance specialist, taking on leadership roles in corporate compliance and enterprise risk management. Emma also holds a Graduate Diploma (Applied Corporate Governance) with the Governance Institute of Australia and has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Course.