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PLC Governance

Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Melbourne was founded in 1875 as a girls’ school and was incorporated in 1980. Under the College’s Constitution, PLC is a not-for-profit public company limited by guarantee which is established in connection with the Presbyterian Church of Victoria as a charity with educational purposes.
 

Download a copy of the College Constitution 

 

The Role of Council

The Council is responsible for providing a sustainable future for PLC by adopting sound, ethical and legal governance and financial management. It appoints the Principal who is responsible to the Council for the day-to-day management of the College. Working with the Principal, the Council also ensures that PLC develops and implements strategies, policies, processes and risk assessments to fulfil the objectives set out in the Constitution, and to comply with regulatory and government requirements.

If you have any questions about PLC’s governance, please email the Chair of Council, Rev Mark Chew: chair@plc.vic.edu.au.

PLC’s Mission

As a Christian Independent girls’ school, Presbyterian Ladies’ College aims to provide breadth, strength, balance and quality of education in both the national and international context for the purpose of encouraging leadership, service and life-long personal development and learning.

PLC’s Motto

‘Lex dei vitae lampas’ – The law of God is the lamp of life.

PLC’s Commitment to Democratic Principles

PLC is committed to the principles of a liberal democracy.

The Structure of Council

According to the Constitution, PLC Council has seventeen voluntary members appointed in the following
manner:

  • Group A: five members are appointed by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria
  • Group B: five members are nominated by the Group B Selection Committee whose members represent the Old Collegians Association and the Parents Association. The nominees are then automatically appointed by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria
  • Group C: seven members are nominated by the College Council, and approved and appointed by the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church of Victoria
             

Sub-committees of Council

Currently there are five sub-committees:

  • Governance and Leadership
  • Executive and Strategy
  • Finance, Risk, Audit and Compliance
  • Property and Planning
  • Remuneration Committee

Members of Council

Chair of Council

Rev Mark Chew
B.Comm (Hons) GradDipInvFin GradDipDiv MDiv MAICD
Minister of Religion, Current Parent
 
Mr Wing-Sheng Chang
BEng MBA MAICD
Retired IT Professional, Past Parent
 
Ms Mui Chun Chew
BEc CPA MAICD
Accountant, Past Parent
 
Mr Ben de Waard
BSocSci MUP
Sustainability Consultant, Director, Past Parent
 
Ms Sze Lin Foong
LLB(Hons) BCom Cert IV TAE GAICD
Lawyer and mentor, Current Parent, Old Collegian, Past Boarder
 
Mr Daniel Gregor
BEng(Civ) BBus
Civil Engineer
 


Mrs Fiona Hare
BDes(IndDes)
Medical Administration, Graphic Designer, Current Parent

Mrs Christine Hopper
BSc FIA FIAA
Actuary, Past Parent, Old Collegian

Rev Ben Johnson
BSc MND BTh DipTh
Minister of Religion, Past Parent
 
Mrs Kate Sampson
LLB(Hons) BCom(Hons) GAICD
Deputy Chair, Old Collegian

Mrs Andrea Sim
BBus(Acc) CPA MBA
Finance Manager, Past Parent
 
Dr Peter Yong
MBBS FRCOG FRANZCOG
Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Past Parent
 
Mr Adrian Spencer
BSc (Hons)
CEO, Researcher and Current Parent
 
Ms Debbie Barbour
LLM, LLB (Hons), BA
Lawyer, Current Parent, Old Collegian
 

Dr Deborah Seifert AM
BSc(Hons) DipEd  MEdSt  DEd
Education Leadership, Old Collegian, Past Staff Member

Ex Officio (non-voting)

Principal
 
Mrs Cheryl Penberthy
B.Ed M.Ed, MACE
 
Business Manager/Company Secretary
 
Mr Matthew Duke 
B.Comm(Acc), B.Comp, MBA, CA, MAICD