The Ruyton Reporter - Spring 2016

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3 spring 2016
Community Matters
The end of 2016 ushers in a new era for
the Ruyton Board. President Ms Kathryn
Watt has announced she will be stepping
down from the Board at the end of the
year in order to pursue a new career
direction. Kathryn has served on the
Board since 2009 and as President since
2012. The School is indebted to Kathryn
for her astute leadership, in particular
her involvement in the development and
implementation of the School 10-year
Masterplan, approved in 2013, the
Strategic Plan in 2011 and 2016, and the
recruitment of Principal, Ms Linda
Douglas, in 2010.
Kathryn’s legacy includes the depth
and breadth of the Ruyton Board. She
brought best practice governance
principles to Ruyton, including refining
the skills matrix to clearly identify skills
gaps at the Board table and she opened
up the Board application process to the
entire School community and beyond,
to ensure greater diversity and
inclusiveness.
‘We are privileged at Ruyton to have
such a connected and supportive
community,’ said Kathryn. ‘We have
been overwhelmed by the generosity
and expertise of those who have offered
to serve on the Board.’
Kathryn has contributed enormously to
the School and established a strong
culture of governance that will stand the
School in good stead in the future. Her
familiar and smiling face will still be seen
around the School, as she will continue
as a member of the Ruyton Foundation,
supporting and further developing
philanthropy at Ruyton.
NEW BOARD ROLES
Mr Peter Kanat will take on the role of
President of the Board from 1 January
2017. Peter, husband of Old Ruytonian,
Robyn Kanat (Bate ’80) and father of two
Old Ruytonians, Zoe (’11) and Sarah (’14)
has had a long history of supporting
Ruyton. Peter has been on the Board and
also has been the President of the
Ruyton Foundation since 2007, where he
has spearheaded the School’s fundraising
efforts. Board member Ms Kylie Taylor
will take on the role of Deputy President
from 1 January 2017, to fill the role
previously carried out by Peter. Kylie has
been a Board member since January 2013,
and currently has a daughter in the
Junior School.
WELCOME TO NEW BOARD MEMBERS
In 2016 Ruyton welcomed four new
directors to the Board:
Ms Fiona Griffiths (’87) brings her
expertise as a commercial lawyer and
her experience with the Melbourne
Theatre Company Foundation Board and
Auburn Primary as School Council
President. She currently has a daughter
in the Junior School. Fiona has been
appointed to Chair the Ruyton
Foundation, replacing Peter.
Ms Melanie Higgins (Blomquist ’92) is
passionate about the need to prepare
future workers to be adaptable,
technologically capable and astute
learners able to acquire new skills and
navigate multiple career paths. She has
over 17 years of experience in senior
consulting roles for blue chip financial
services clients and sales, strategy and
operations. Melanie has daughters
enrolled to attend Ruyton in future years.
Mr Bruce Bayley has over 18 years’
experience in the education sector and is
an entrepreneurial business strategist
with experience across a range of
sectors, including technology, health,
staffing services, consumer goods and
financial services. He has two daughters
in the Senior School.
Mr Cameron Price will be known to some
members of the community already as
the Vice-President of the Henty Rowing
Club, in which his daughter is involved.
After 25 years as a corporate lawyer at a
leading law firm, Cameron is currently
General Counsel at the Future Fund
(Australia’s sovereign wealth fund),
where he advises on legal, governance
and governmental matters. Cameron
is Chairman of the Board’s new
Governance Committee.
We are delighted to welcome these
new appointments to the Board. The
expertise and passion they bring to their
roles is invaluable to the School and,
as a community, we are grateful for
their generosity in giving their time and
energy.
FAREWELL TO DEPARTING BOARD
MEMBERS
In 2016 two members of the Board
completed their term of office. Mrs Fleur
Coldwell (Summons ’90) served for over
nine years and Ms Freya Marsden (’89),
served for four years. Both are Old
Ruytonians with strong connections to
the School, who have invested their time
and professional skills to benefit Ruyton.
No one embodies the culture and values
of Ruyton better than past students.
We are fortunate to have had Fleur and
Freya bringing their unique perspective
to the Board. We are sincerely grateful
to both of them and look forward to
having them always be part of our
School community.
During the year, education specialist
Ms Margery Evans stepped down from
the Board to take up a new professional
role in Paris. We thank Margery for her
contribution to the School community.
APPRECIATION TO ALL OUR BOARD
Mr Bruce Meehan, Chair of Finance and
Audit Committee, Mr Tim Hogg, Chair
of Property and Building Committee,
and Mr John Gillam all continue in their
Board roles into 2017 and we express
our appreciation to all our ongoing
Board members.
Ms Fiona Griffiths Mr Bruce Bayley Ms Melanie Higgins Mr Cameron Price
A New Era for the Ruyton Board
Teachers Across Borders – the Ruyton Luncheon
Mrs Susie Lachal, former Ruyton teacher, past parent, and member of the Ruyton
community, was the guest speaker at the Ruyton Luncheon this year. Susie spoke
about her work with Teachers Across Borders Australia (TAB), an organisation she
has been involved with since its formation ten years ago. It was through the
influence of Mr John Bate, a very special individual who made a significant
contribution to the growth of Ruyton, that Susie sought a project where she could
use her skills and talents, and indulge her passion for teaching to gift to others.
Working with Australian teachers to teach educators in Cambodia has become both
her passion and her gift. Susie talks about gifting rather than charity or
philanthropy, as she believes it reduces the expectation that you will receive
anything in return. What you do receive from gifting to others is personal growth,
the worth of which is often immeasurable. For more information please visit
The Parents of Ruyton (POR) are pleased to announce a donation of $1500 was
made to this charity, Teachers Across Borders, from funds raised at the luncheon.
Our sincere thanks go to Susie for sharing her experiences and wisdom with us.
Particular thanks, as well, go to Mrs Paula Issa, Mrs Rebecca Schultz and Mrs Sarah
Van Gerrevink, the 2016 Ruyton Luncheon Committee, for their hard work and
organisation. We should also like to acknowledge the skills of Mr Ian Robson, Master
of Ceremony; the Flute Ensemble, Florrie McKay, Roshica Ponnampalam, Anna
Rabinowicz and Mrs Jacinta Power, who performed on the day; and Vocalists Annie
Gleisner and Alice Pryor, with accompanist Mr Shaun Jones. We are also grateful for
the generosity of the Ruyton community and local businesses who supported the
Ruyton Luncheon 2016.