Board Director Profiles

The above photo of the Board was taken on Tuesday 23 January, 2024.
Back row L-R: Mr Terrence Harney (Chair), Bishop Paul Bird, Mr Barry Bennett, Mr Stephen McArdle, Fr John Fitzgerald, Monsignor Glynn Murphy
Front row L-R: Ms Kathleen Donnellon (commencing July 2024), Ms Vicki Clark, Dr Berenice Kerr rsm (Deputy Chair), Ms Anne Pekin

Bishop Paul Bird

Mr Terrence Harney

Board Director and Chair
E: tharney@dobcel.catholic.edu.au

Terry is a former principal of St Thomas’ School Terang. Now retired, Terry brings extensive practical knowledge of the realities faced by principals and of the education ministry in rural and regional areas.

Dr Berenice Kerr rsm

Board Director and Deputy Chair
E: bkerr@dobcel.catholic.edu.au

Berenice came to Ballarat as the Leader of the Sisters of Mercy Community in Western Victoria. Her main ministry has been in education in secondary schools. She has also been a consultant with Catholic Education in the Diocese of Lismore, a member of the Education Committee of the Conference of Leaders of Religious Institutes, and a member of the New South Wales Catholic Education Commission. Currently she is involved with writing and research.

Mr Stephen McArdle CA/CPA

Board Director
E: smcardle@dobcel.catholic.edu.au

Stephen has practised in Ballarat as a public accountant for forty years. He is a former chair of the CEOB Audit & Risk Committee and the Loreto College Ballarat Finance Committee, and is a member of the Diocesan Finance Committee.

Monsignor Glynn Murphy OAM

Board Director
E: gmurphy@dobcel.catholic.edu.au

Glynn is a priest of the Ballarat Diocese, having been ordained in 1983. He has also supported Army Chaplaincy in Reservist and full-time duties since 1986, recently completing service as Director General – Chaplaincy for the Australian Army. He is a canon lawyer, having gained his qualifications from St Paul Pontifical University, Ottawa, Canada in 1989.

Ms Anne Pekin

Board Director
E: apekin@dobcel.catholic.edu.au

Anne is a Senior Nurse working at Western District Health Services in Hamilton. Anne is an outgoing member of the BDSAC and has a son who formerly attended Monivae College, Hamilton.

Fr John Fitzgerald

Board Director
E: jfitzgerald@dobcel.catholic.edu.au

John was ordained a priest for the Ballarat Diocese in 1978. He has served in a number of parishes in the Diocese and following his studies at Fordham University, New York, where he graduated with a Master of Arts, John became the Director of Religious Education in the Diocese. He was appointed Parish Priest of St Joseph’s Warrnambool in 2004 and is now the Moderator of the new Star of the Sea Parish (South West Coast) since its formation.

 Mr Barry Bennett

Board Director
E: bbennett@dobcel.catholic.edu.au

Barry has an extensive background in risk, assurance and compliance. Now retired, his career started in law enforcement where he was a member of the Corporate Fraud Squad in the South Australian Police Force. This was followed by over 25 years experience in senior executive risk and assurance positions with national corporates. He was also the principal of his own risk management consultancy, focusing on corporate and strategic risk management.

Ms Vicki Clark

Board Director
E: vclark@dobcel.catholic.edu.au

Vicki has led the way within the Catholic communities in Victoria, helping all to develop a consciousness of Aboriginal culture and spirituality. From this, she has won countless awards for her commitment to the Aboriginal community and to Reconciliation, including the Order of Australia Medal. Vicki’s commitment for reconciliation and justice is also largely reflected in her role as Coordinator of the Aboriginal Catholic Ministry (ACM) in Victoria, that she held for 25 years. Currently, Vicki is a director of Yingadi Aboriginal Corporation and has also taken a leading role in the national Reconciliation Process as a member of Reconciliation Victoria after being co-chair for several years.