National Team

Unit 123, 20 Anzac Park, Campbell ACT 2612 | +61 2 6247 7300

Beth Blackwood AM
Chief Executive Officer
Beth has been CEO for AHISA since 2016. Her connection with the independent sector follows 30 years as a teacher of History and Psychology, and 19 years as Principal of Presbyterian Ladies’ College, Perth (1997-2015).
Her areas of professional interest and initiatives have been the education of indigenous students, International Baccalaureate programs, positive psychology, technology as an educational tool and women’s leadership.

Kira Grantham
Operations Manager
Kira has been with AHISA since 2016 and initially managed our national conferences as well as our forums and roadshows. She now looks after the administration of memberships, the national board, corporate partnerships and supports the national office.
Kira is on maternity leave until February 2023.

Tanya Cunningham
Acting Operations Manager
Tanya began working at AHISA in March 2021 in a Corporate Support Role, and now looks after memberships and the AHISA Board as the Acting Operations Manager.
Her experience includes administration roles in business and various ministries of the Lutheran Church of Australia.

Nicola Hart
Events Manager
Nicola joined the AHISA national team in June 2021.Her focus is to manage the national calendar of events, working with the various committees and State branches to promote collegiality and learning opportunities for our members.
Having worked in the event industry for over 18 years, she is passionate about providing interesting, exciting, and innovative opportunities for AHISA members to gather.

Lorraine Rae
Accounts Manager
Lorraine joined the AHISA National team in August 2022.
She comes with over 30 years’ experience as a finance officer, assistant accountant and bookkeeping roles within various associations and accounting firms in Canberra.
Her role includes reporting to government agencies and the financial management aspects for both the National Office and the branches.

Vani Mittal
Communications Officer
Youngest member of our team, Vani came on board in the autumn of 2022. She designs our bulletins, manages our website content and social media presence.

Lyndal Wilson
Senior Consultant
Lyndal began working for AHISA in 2007 as editor of AHISA's Independence journal. Lyndal has worked in the independent schools sector for 25 years.
The main focus of her work is now in research and policy analysis.

Robyn Collins
Editor
Robyn is the editor of AHISA's Independence journal and writes monthly articles for aspirant leaders.
Before joining AHISA, Robyn was a senior teacher of English, school principal, consultant to Independent Schools Queensland and a Visiting Fellow at Griffith University, Queensland.

For media enquiries please email Beth Blackwood at [email protected]
For everything else please email us at [email protected]