Four new directors were voted in at last night’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) for SCEA, with four existing Directors closing out their seasons on the SCEA Board with thanks, gratitude and optimism for the future.
Mr Jordan Thyer, Dr Thelma Perso, Mr Rod White and Dr Natalie Leitao were all voted in as new Directors for the SCEA Board on a night that celebrated blessings, opportunities and the provision of godly men and women to lead SCEA in the next chapter of its history.
Exiting Director Mr Don Warner remarked during his brief farewell speech, ‘There are more people leaving tonight than Dunkirk!’ – a British reference to the failed landing on French soil during World War Two, resulting in a hasty retreat and a sense of deep regret for the English nation.
However, Mr Warner was comfortable making such jovial jests as last night’s exit of four Directors (Mr Rob Edkins, Mr Jeff Miller, Mr Steve McAlpine and Mr Don Warner) and Company Secretary (Ms Charlene Woodbine) was more of a triumphant finale than anything the Dunkirk returners felt back in 1940.
Each of the Directors received tokens of appreciation from Acting Board Chair Mr Craig Clark, who gave an update on the Governance 2.0 project before allowing Chief Executive Officer Dr Graeme Cross to speak on the highlights of the last financial year, the fiscal situation that SCEA currently enjoys and many blessings that God has bestowed upon the SCEA schools in 2023.
All the Grievance Committee nominees (Mr Simon Creek, Mr Andrew Johnston and Mrs Shelley Forbes) were voted in, as was the single nominee for the Board Recruitment Committee (Dr Martin Bent).
The second half of the evening, often referred to as the ‘President’s Reception’, allowed Mr Clark to celebrate outgoing Principal Mr Mike Pitman and unite the Association members present with some worship music extolling God’s goodness.
The new Directors took time to converse with SCEA Association members and operational staff while Ellenbrook Christian College (ECC) provided excellent hospitality courtesy of staffer extraordinaire Mrs Marisa Streeton.
A few photos from the night can be found below:
