Sue Sukkar is the chair of Catholic School Parents Victoria (CSPV). She is the mother of two children, who both attend a Catholic primary school. For Sue, being part of a Catholic school community means belonging to a welcoming, kind, and supportive environment where each child is recognised and nurtured. She values the holistic nature of Catholic education, which fosters humanity, compassion, and faith alongside academic growth.

Sue is the Director of Town Planning at a firm where she works alongside her family to deliver purposeful residential, commercial, and community-focused projects. With a master’s degree in urban planning from the University of Melbourne, she brings strong expertise in advocacy, policy, and project management to her role as chair of CSPV.

An active member of her school community and School Advisory Board, Sue values connection, inclusion, and the shared mission of Catholic education to nurture the whole child. Her passion for wellbeing and diversity, particularly advocating for neurodiverse students, underpins her commitment to ensuring all children feel safe, supported, and valued in their school environment.

David Wilkins is the deputy chair of CSPV. He is a father of three, with his children currently attending Catholic schools. He values the compassion, positivity, and continuous improvement that define Catholic education and is deeply committed to strengthening the partnership between parents and schools.

An experienced strategic and operational leader, David holds an MBA from the Australian Institute of Business and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Throughout his career, he has led teams and partnerships across healthcare, academia, technology, and agriculture. He is currently the portfolio manager for healthcare and education at a leading University, where he leads business development and partnerships for executive education.

As chair of the School Advisory Council at his children’s school, David contributes to the school’s strategic direction and works to enhance family engagement within the community. He brings to CSPV strong governance skills, stakeholder engagement expertise and a collaborative approach to strategic leadership that supports effective advocacy for parents across Catholic education in Victoria.

Michael Torpey, from Melbourne’s north-west, is a father of three boys and a passionate advocate for Catholic education. He deeply values the role Catholic schools play in nurturing community and fostering meaningful family–school partnerships, recognising the importance of these trusting and supportive relationships in shaping the lives of children in Catholic education.

A dedicated Catholic educator with more than two decades of experience, Michael has served across a range of Catholic schools and brings extensive insight into both the operational and philosophical dimensions of Catholic education. He holds a Bachelor of Education, a Bachelor of Arts, a Master of Education Policy (International), and a Master of Religious Education. Currently working in a large Catholic secondary school, Michael has extensive leadership experience and a proven commitment to faith-informed learning and inclusive practice.

Michael contributes a broad educational perspective and advocates for Catholic schools that are inclusive, inspiring, and deeply connected to their communities. Michael is committed to fostering close collaboration between parents and schools, ensuring that all voices are heard and that young people are supported to become positive, caring, and values-driven members of Australian society.

Michelle El Khoury is a dedicated parent leader and active member of her Catholic school community. Together with her husband, she is raising two children who attend a Catholic primary school. Michelle values the inclusive, faith-centred environment of Catholic education and the strong sense of community it builds between families, students, and teachers. She believes Catholic schools play a vital role in nurturing the whole child, spiritually, academically, and emotionally, and in helping young people grow into compassionate and confident members of society.

With over 14 years of professional experience in the finance sector, Michelle currently leads the internal audit function for a specialist bank. A certified compliance and risk professional, she is completing postgraduate studies in internal auditing to further strengthen her expertise in governance and accountability. She is passionate about ensuring that decisions are transparent, well-informed, and grounded in integrity.

As chair of the School Advisory Council at her children’s school, Michelle has supported strong school leadership and collaboration between families, staff, and the parish community. Through her role on the CSPV Council, she hopes to bring a grounded parent perspective to key areas such as wellbeing, learning support, and community connection, helping to strengthen Catholic education across Victoria.

Rebecca Newman lives in north-east Victoria, with her husband and their two young daughters, with the elder attending  a Catholic primary school and the younger one due to start shortly. As both a parent and an educator, she values the strong sense of belonging within Catholic schools and the way faith is lived out through everyday actions that nurture kindness, compassion, and community.

Rebecca is a secondary school teacher specialising in Junior Science and VCE Biology. As a data coach and member of her school’s leadership team, she brings experience in collating and interpreting data to inform evidence-based educational change. Her focus is on supporting teachers to reflect on practice and improve student outcomes.

Rebecca joined the CSPV Council to combine her experience as a parent and educator in advocating for families across regional and rural Victoria. She is passionate about promoting the value of a Catholic education for all families and helping parents feel informed and confident in supporting their children’s learning. As a member of CSPV, she is interested in informing and advocating for parents in the areas of neurodiversity, regional and rural education, and strengthening parents’ understanding of current educational priorities.

Ruwan Perera is a proud father of two daughters, one in primary school and the other in secondary school. Being part of a Catholic school community is deeply meaningful to him, providing a nurturing environment where faith, learning, and values come together. Ruwan believes Catholic education plays a vital role in helping young people grow into compassionate, responsible individuals grounded in the teachings of Christ.

A director of a family printing company based in Melbourne, Ruwan represents the third generation of his family in the industry. His career has given him a deep understanding of leadership, collaboration, and long-term commitment. With a background in Printing Technology and Management from RMIT University, he brings strong communication, project management, and problem-solving skills to his professional and community roles.

Ruwan has been an active member of his school community for nearly five years and currently serves as chair of the School Advisory Council at his children’s school. He enjoys contributing to the decision-making process from a parent’s perspective and values the sense of unity that comes from being involved in school life. Through his role on the CSPV Council, Ruwan hopes to strengthen the presence of Catholic faith within schools and ensure that faith formation remains central to Catholic education in Victoria.

Ruth Appleyard is a parent of two young boys. Her eldest began prep in 2025, and her youngest will join him at school in the coming years. For Ruth, being part of a Catholic school community means belonging to a place where values, faith and genuine care for others are lived out each day. She values knowing her children are growing not only academically but also in kindness, empathy and respect.

Ruth works in marketing and communications. Her professional background includes strategic communication, stakeholder engagement and advocacy. Ruth holds tertiary qualifications in marketing and communications and has completed development in leadership, public relations and digital content creation.  Ruth hopes to utilise these skills to help strengthen the voice of Catholic school parents across Victoria.

As a new parent in her school community, Ruth has enjoyed connecting with families and staff through events and gatherings. She is committed to helping create a welcoming environment where families feel included and supported. Ruth is passionate about student wellbeing, inclusion and strong family–school partnerships. She hopes to assist parents in navigating these important issues as a member of CSPV Council.

Nicole is a committed member of the Catholic education community and a parent of two children who attend Catholic schools. She values the strong sense of care, compassion, and community that Catholic education offers and is driven by a desire to contribute positively to school life. Over more than a decade, Nicole has supported Catholic education through service on her primary school’s Board, where she helped strengthen communication processes, refine wellbeing supports after COVID, and improve learning interventions for students.

Professionally, Nicole is an Operations Manager in a law firm, bringing extensive experience across commercial banking, professional services, financial planning compliance, the not-for-profit sector and legal operations. She offers strong skills in financial management, quality assurance and internal process improvement that support her contribution to CSPV’s governance and operational decision-making.

Nicole joined Catholic School Parents Victoria to share her experience and advocate for families across the state. She is particularly passionate about supporting student wellbeing and helping parents navigate their children’s engagement with digital and social media. Through her role on the Council, Nicole hopes to contribute to meaningful, constructive outcomes for Catholic school families and to support the Executive Officer and Council in strengthening parent voice and partnerships across Victoria.

Lee Tadic is the mother of four children, who attend a Catholic school. She values the sense of belonging, faith, and community that Catholic education fosters, where each child is known, supported, and encouraged to grow as a whole person. Lee believes Catholic schools provide students with not only academic excellence but also a deep moral and spiritual foundation that helps them flourish in all aspects of life.

With over 20 years of experience in education, predominantly within Catholic schools, Lee brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insight to her role as Executive Officer of CSPV. She holds a Bachelor of Education (Secondary)/Bachelor of Arts from Deakin University and a postgraduate qualification in wellbeing from Australian Catholic University.

Lee’s leadership is grounded in collaboration, integrity, and faith. She brings an excellent understanding of the Catholic education landscape to CSPV and is passionate about advocating for Catholic schools and the education of the whole person. She is equally dedicated to advocating for Catholic parents within the broader educational landscape, ensuring their voices are heard and their perspectives represented in key discussions that shape schooling in Victoria. Lee is also committed to providing parents with the valuable tools, insights, and information that empower families and strengthen school communities

Bruce Phillips is a father of three, with his children attending Catholic schools, giving him a strong personal connection to the mission and experience of Catholic education.

Bruce is the Deputy Chief Executive Officer and Chief Strategy Officer at the Victorian Catholic Education Authority (VCEA) and serves as the VCEA representative on the CSPV Council. In this role, he provides strategic oversight and guidance to support CSPV’s work in strengthening parent engagement across Victoria. He brings a renowned depth of knowledge and experience in national and Victorian educational funding, policy and legislative frameworks, as well as school performance analysis. Before joining VCEA, Bruce spent more than eight years at Catholic Education Melbourne and Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, where he played a significant role in shaping policy and providing strategic advice.

Bruce is deeply passionate about Catholic education and the important role it plays in shaping the lives of young people. Through his involvement on the CSPV Council, he hopes to advocate strongly for Catholic parents and carers, supporting their voices to be heard on the range of issues facing families in Catholic schools today.