Margaret Shepherd - President
Margaret has worked for 6 years as Science Adviser at Sydney Catholic Schools.  Her expertise is in the field of adult learning, working with teachers to support professional learning in areas of Physics, Chemistry and Biology. She is also the lecturer in charge of Science Curriculum and Teaching at The Australian Catholic University supporting pre-service science teachers. She is very passionate about using inquiry in the classroom, assessment for learning, feedback, PEEL and engaging students in their learning. Margaret is a long standing member of Council, having been involved since 2001 working in a range of positions including Councillor, Secretary, Vice-President and Treasurer and is our current President.

Julie Rogers - Vice President
Julie is relieving Deputy Principal and substantive head of science/careers at Lucas Heights community school a DET K-12 school in southern Sydney. She has benefited from quality professional learning provided by STANSW since her initial year of teaching and that is now 30 years ago. Julie joined the Council to give back to the profession, to pass on her extensive knowledge and contribute to the development of teachers. She is passionate about creating a legacy of effective practice, leading and developing teacher efficacy and assisting colleagues to continually develop as professionals. She has held the office of councillor 2016, Treasurer 2017-2019 and Vice President 2020 and recently received an outstanding service award from the Professional Teaching Council for this service to STANSW.

Ashish Rao - Treasurer
Ashish is a Qualified Accountant currently employed as a Finance Manager for a large manufacturing company and has broad finance knowledge and skills. His key attributes include budgetary, financial management, management reporting and cost analytics. Ashish has been appointed to the position of Treasurer and looks forward to providing assistance in relation to our finance related activities.

Deborah de Ridder - Marketing Committee
Deb is Director of Research at Trinity Grammar School where she also teaches science in the Senior school. She previously worked as an Education Consultant with the Association of Independent Schools and has worked at NESA as a Senior Education Officer during the writing of the Stage 6 Science syllabuses. She has extensive science teaching experience and continues to  keenly support innovation and curiosity in Science and STEM teaching and learning. She is currently completing Doctoral Studies at University of Technology Sydney focusing on Inquiry Based Learning in Stage 6 Science and is focusing specifically on the Depth Study requirement of the NSW syllabuses. Deb recently received an outstanding service award from the Professional Teaching Council for her service to STANSW.

Oriana Miano - Marketing Committee
Oriana is currently the Science Coordinator at De La Salle College Revesby and also works with pre-service teachers as course convenor for Stage 6 science method courses at the School of Education, UNSW. As a chemistry specialist, she has a passion for teaching this to all ages, with a particular interest in identifying and addressing misconceptions.

Susan Filan - Marketing Committee
Susan has worked in public and independent schools as a secondary science teacher. In addition to teaching science, she ran a campus environment centre for pre-K - year 12 students. She has experience in textbook writing, HSC marking and running teacher professional development. Susan is currently employed as an Education Officer with Australian Earth Science Education.

Ashley Mulcahy - Teaching and Learning Committee
Ashley Mulcahy has been a science teacher in NSW Public Schools since 2008. He has been an active member of STANSW since 2013 and a member of Council since 2019. Ash is currently STEAM Coordinator at Glenmore Park High School, is passionate about environmental education and is currently studying Masters of Zoology. His educational philosophy is not everyone will be a scientist but everyone should have the opportunity to learn how a scientist thinks.

Lauren McKnight - Teaching and Learning Committee
Dr Lauren McKnight is a science educator in the Garvan Institute’s Kinghorn Centre for Clinical Genomics, exploring and facilitating genetics education in school and community settings. Lauren completed her PhD in the faculty of Medicine at Sydney University and has experience and a passion for supporting scientific literacy in learners of all ages.

Jacqueline McCarthy - Teaching and Learning Committee 
Jacqueline is currently primary school science specialist at Abbotsleigh, having transferred there from Sydney Grammar. She is a qualified primary and secondary teacher specialising in agriculture. Prior to specialising in Primary Teaching Jac was engaged by the Royal Agricultural Society as their Education manager. She is passionate about nurturing the curiosity of primary aged students.