Meet the Board
Chair Carmel Gregan-Ford | Carmel is a registered nurse and has spent many years working in a variety of educational and leadership positions in healthcare and NGOs. Carmel has a son and two daughters, her youngest daughter is in her final year at Marian College. Carmel has more than ten years of governance experience and has been on the Marian College Board for six years.
Proprietor's Representatives
Sr Eleanor Capper rsj | Sr Eleanor has been a Proprietor's Representative on the Marian College Board of Trustees since 2007. She has been Assistant Congregational Leader, Sisters of St Joseph in Sydney and has a long association with the Catholic Education Office. Sr Eleanor was McKillop College Principal for three years and Marian College Principal from 1982-1995.
Terry Naylor | Terry is a registered valuer and has been a director of FordBaker Valuation for more than 25 years. He is a trustee on the Valuers Education and Integrity Foundation and sits on the New Zealand High Court Land Valuation Tribunal. Terry’s daughter is a graduate of Marian College.
Deputy Chair Danny Nicholls | Danny is the Principal of Te Matauru Primary in Rangiora and is in his 17th year of Principalship, 12 of these being in Catholic education in the North Island. He also serves as a Proprietor's Representative on the St Patrick's Kaiapoi board. Danny brings a strong background of educational experience alongside a genuine commitment to Catholic Special Character. Danny and his wife have three children.
Parent Trustees
Maria van der Plas | Maria is Plunket’s South Island Clinical Services Manager. She is a past student of Marian College and Maria’s daughter is a graduate.
Debby Rosevear | Debby is an administration manager for Kōtuku investments and has one son and two daughters – one graduated and another currently at Marian College.
Chelsea Houghton | Chelsea has a wealth of governance experience, serving on the Board of Directors for Kidsfirst Kindergartens and as the chair of the Takahē Collective Trust. She runs a communications company, Grow Creative, specialisng in education, arts, business and technology sectors and is particularly passionate about encouraging women in these sectors. Chelsea has five children, including three daughters whom she is excited to see come through Marian College within the next decade.
Louise MacKay | Louise is a teacher and DRS at St Francis of Assisi Catholic School where her three children attend. She has served on boards at both the preschool and primary school levels and is committed to ensuring Marian College is a supportive, inclusive, challenging, and happy school environment where students can achieve their full potential.
Matthew Malone | Matthew is the deputy principal at St Joseph’s School in Rangiora after spending 15 years as a teacher and head of faculty at St Bede’s College. Matthew has previous board experience as the proprietor’s representative and as a board chair. He is committed to the mission of Catholic education to provide every student with the opportunity to know Christ and achieve their true potential.
Staff Trustee Clare Kelly | Clare has taught at Marian College for six years. She teaches Mathematics and Commerce and is the Year 13 Dean.
Student Trustee Tessa Jamieson-Timo | Tessa has been elected for 2022-23, and is in Year 11 this year.
Principal Mary-Lou Davidson | Mary-Lou has taught at Marian College for 24 years and has been Principal for seven years. As Principal of our College, Mary-Lou acts as the Board's chief executive and manages the school according to the Board's direction and policies.
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