Our board OF TRUSTEES
In 2020 VicSRC incorporated as a charitable Company Limited by Guarantee. The Board of Trustees was formed to provide oversight, risk management and advice to the Student Executive Advisory Committee. The adults who make up the board represent the experience needed to assist and support the Student Executive Advisory Committee in making strategic organisational decisions.
Tim Warwick (he/him) - Treasurer
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Tim is the Founder of the Education Equity Alliance, an organisation focused on empowering students and teachers to realise a more equitable education system. Previously, he has been a secondary school teacher, a primary school Principal and a Consultant for the Department of Education. Tim is passionate about putting the lived experiences of students and teachers at the centre of decision-making, and about ensuring there are opportunities for them to meaningfully collaborate to improve education. Outside of work, Tim enjoys a good book, an indie movie or a rom com, and catching up with friends and family.
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Simone Gianelli (she/her) - Chair
Simone is a seasoned policy and strategy executive, passionate about making sure that everyone - particularly children and young people - have a say in decisions that affect them. Leading Strategy & Partnerships at 54 reasons (Save the Children’s Australian service delivery and advocacy arm), Simone drives strategy, business planning, government engagement and partnership development. This, along with executive roles in Northern Territory and Victorian chief minister's departments, have shaped her understanding of what it takes to make whole-of-system reform real on the ground. An AICD graduate, Simone is also a proud Rainbow mum, a volunteer netball coach and a total nerd for policy, politics and democracy.
Danai (Dee) Harawa (she/her)
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Danai is an experienced community practitioner with a passion for creating equitable, healthier and more positive outcomes for communities, with a particular focus on young people and marginalised groups. She brings a unique background in crafting safe, user-centred digital experiences alongside more than a decade of involvement in community organisations that support the wellbeing of young people, particularly within African and multicultural communities. Currently studying psychology and neuroscience, Danai is deepening her practice at the intersection of mental health, brain science and community wellbeing. Outside of work and study, Danai enjoys brain puzzles, strength training and getting lost in a good historical fiction novel.
Grace McCoy (she/her)
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Grace is a policy nerd who is passionate about amplifying student voice to transform big messy systems. Grace has experience leading policy development within Commonwealth and Victorian Government agencies, with a particular focus on mental health and education. Grace also holds experience in the not-for-profit sector, she was previously Head of Policy and Advocacy at national mental health charity SANE Australia. She currently works for North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network focussed on suicide prevention and Aboriginal health and wellbeing. In her spare time, Grace enjoys hiking, yoga and live music (not at the same time).
Darren Sawyer (he/him)
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Darren is a senior finance leader and child rights advocate, currently Head of Finance across global and domestic portfolios at Save the Children Australia.
With 20 years' experience across commercial, not-for-profit and international development sectors, Darren has worked in Australia and overseas to strengthen financial performance, partnerships and impact for community-focused organisations.
He is passionate about advancing outcomes for children and young people, bringing a strong focus on sustainable impact, collaboration and effective governance. This is combined with a love for all things coffee, mountain biking, snowboarding, travel and old cars.
Sarah McNicol (she/her)
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Sarah is a senior executive at the Victorian Department of Education and has spent the last decade developing education policies in areas such as teacher workforce supply, initial teacher education and graduate teacher training. Sarah is also a member of the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) Accreditation Committee. Sarah is passionate about improving the education system and making it a place where all students can thrive. Sarah holds a masters of laws from the Free University of Berlin and a masters of public policy from the University of Melbourne, she is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In her free time, Sarah likes to attend VicSRC board meetings, or go swimming with her young family.