Sharonika Camplin - Board Chair

This is Sharonika’s second term on the Board of Directors and second as Board Chair. She brings more than 20 years’ experience working in marketing, communications and stakeholder management in senior corporate roles working with government, education, and corporate sectors.

Sharonika’s professional experience includes helping start-ups to global organisations with strategy, brand, marketing, digital campaigns and communications as well as numerous people, culture and philanthropic projects within these organisations and across diverse countries.

With two children at the school, Sharonika brings not only her professional experience, but also a parent voice on to the Board and is invested in ensuring its continued growth and success. 

Alison Whitmill - Director

Alison has been involved with the school since its conception in Stratford. Starting as a teacher aide and parent, now she is heavily involved in the therapeutic space of the school. She has trained as an Extra Lesson Practitioner which supports the physical and spiritual development of the child helping them to feel more at home in their body. She works closely with the teachers and students in supporting well-being to help create a harmonious learning space at the school.

Alison has almost completed her training as an anthroposophical Art Therapist at the Sienna Academy in the Sunshine Coast Hinterland.

Alison brings a wealth of experience and wisdom as a colleague but also as a long-term parent of her three daughters who were founding students of the school. Alison embraces Anthroposophy and brings this to all aspects of her life.

Mark Mather - Director

Mark is our current HPE and Bothmer gymnastics teacher who manages our rich range of camp, excursion and incursion experiences for students across all grades.  He is also class guardian for the current 9/10 class cohort, as well as an esteemed mountain bike rider and trainer, having placed 14th in the world at Masters level.

Mark is a long standing parent and teacher at the school, and brings to the Board a diverse range of skills and experience in risk management, IT and governance frameworks, much of this developed through his career in the Navy and Reserves.

Sarah Slater - Director

A parent at the school since 2016, Sarah is passionate about the positive impact Steiner education has had on their children. With a professional background in archaeology, she is currently completing a PhD at James Cook University and has held various academic roles including Research Manager, Laboratory Manager, and Sessional Tutor. Sarah's experience also spans consulting with local communities, as well as prior roles in logistics and production planning. Sarah brings a strong commitment to the school’s values and a deep appreciation for the importance of offering an alternative to mainstream education in the region.

Polly Grace - Director

Polly Grace is a strategic advisor with over a decade of experience in environmental and climate change law, nature-based solutions, and First Nations advocacy. She currently serves as Advisor, Climate Change and Nature-Based Solutions at The Nature Conservancy, where she supports innovative approaches to conservation and environmental markets.

Polly’s career spans government, not-for-profit, and consultancy roles, including serving as a negotiator for the Australian Government to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and leading legal and policy work on conservation land management at the Kimberley Land Council. She played a key role in establishing the Indigenous Carbon Industry Network and supporting the first native title-owned carbon projects under the ACCU Scheme.

With a Master of Law in Environment and Natural Resources from the University of Oregon and a Bachelor of Law from the University of Queensland, Polly brings deep expertise in legal frameworks, policy development, and stakeholder engagement. Her work is grounded in a commitment to inclusive and culturally informed environmental stewardship, and she continues to advocate for First Nations leadership in climate and conservation initiatives.

Annabel Brown - Director (Skills-based appointment)

Annabel Brown is the Principal of Ghilgai Steiner School and brings over a decade of experience as a Steiner educator and school leader. In 2023, she served as Acting Principal at CHSS, contributing energy and insight to the role. Annabel has a strong background in child development, academic leadership, and operational management, including enrolments and curriculum compliance. She is deeply committed to fostering a love of learning, building strong relationships, and collaborating meaningfully with colleagues and the wider school community.

Smitha Mallya

Prior to her current role as Business Manager at Orana Steiner School in the ACT, Smitha held a similar position at Samford Valley Steiner School (SVSS) in Brisbane and was previously the Co-Founder of Bangalore Steiner School in India. She has also served on the Board of SVSS, contributing to governance and strategic development.

Smitha’s career in business management spans a wide range of sectors, including a multinational corporation, a Japanese bank, a UN-ECOSOC partner NGO in peace education, and a community legal centre. Her professional journey has taken her across India, Japan, and Australia, giving her a unique global perspective. With experience in both commercial and not-for-profit environments, Smitha brings a strong financial acumen, sound business management skills, and a leadership style grounded in discernment and empathy.

Rudolf Steiner’s philosophy has been a guiding force in her family life since 2006, with her child attending Steiner education from Playgroup through to Year 12, across four schools in Australia and overseas. This personal connection enriches her professional contribution to Steiner education, deepening her commitment to fostering both organisational integrity and human-centred leadership.

Ellen Free - Company Secretary