Board of Directors - Lutheran Education Australia Limited
Directors
Bennett, Debbie
Vogt, Heather
Lange-Mohr, Jill
Materne, Chris
Matthias, Reid
Wiltshire, Sarah
Schmidt, Craig
Consultants
Hoff, Jodie
Crooks, Tanya
Fielke, Craig
Minke, Colin
Debbie Bennett
BT (JunPrim), GradDipThEd, GAICD
Debbie taught in Lutheran schools for 12 years after which she moved into administration and operations within the growing family business – firstly their own Almond property, moving into Almond Harvest Contracting, and then as the Australian distributors of spare parts and service and maintenance providers for three US manufacturers of nut harvesting equipment. Since ceasing teaching, she served on the local Trinity Lutheran College Council (Mildura Vic) – including 11 years as Chair, and 7 years on the Council for Lutheran Education – Vic, NSW, Tas. Debbie is an active member of Holy Trinity Lutheran Congregation, Mildura.
Heather Vogt
DipT, BEd, MEd
Heather Vogt brings 42 years of experience in education as a teacher and leader, with 35 of those in Lutheran education. Her most recent roles include Principal at Endeavour College, Mawson Lakes, SA, and Good Shepherd Lutheran College, Darwin, NT. Heather currently works as an Educational Consultant, working with schools in various capacities, including Strategic Planning. She also brings experience that includes Board representation on St Ann’s Board (higher education), Lutheran Schools Association / LESNW and the LEA National Boards and Immanuel College Board. Heather is a member of St Paul's Lutheran Church, Glenelg.
Jill Lange-Mohr OAM
MBA, Grad Cert Ed Lead, BEd, FACEL
Born in Dalby, Queensland, to devout Lutheran farming parents, Jill began her teaching career at Grace Lutheran College in 1980 and continued working full-time in education for 43 years, including 20 years in the private tertiary sector, before retiring as Head of College (CEO) of Geelong Lutheran College in December 2023. Jill has served in teaching and leadership roles in Lutheran schools, on boards in the corporate, health and Queensland government sector, and in various capacities on Lutheran boards and committees including LLL Australia and St Peters Lutheran College Indooroopilly. She was the Founding Principal of St Peters Lutheran College's second K - 12 campus at Springfield from 2008 to 2018. In 2020, Jill was honoured to receive an Order of Australia (OAM) for her contribution and services to education. Jill is an active member of Living Faith Lutheran Church, Greater Geelong.
Chris Materne
BPSych(Hons), PhD, MAHRI
Chris Materne has a wide variety of professional experience in private sector, state government, and tertiary education settings as well as recent service in the Office of The Bishop of the Lutheran Church of Australia. Chris brings a range of practical expertise to the LEA Board, including especially in human resource management. She is an active member of Faith Lutheran Church, Warradale, and a past member of the Immanuel Primary School governing council and has served as Chair in both bodies.
Reid Matthias
BA (Fin), MDiv
Reid has worked as a college pastor for the last fourteen years in three different Lutheran schools. After having moved from the United States in 2011, he was called to the Lockyer Valley to serve at Faith Lutheran College. In 2016, Reid and his family moved to South Australia where he served as Lead Pastor at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church and School at Para Vista, and in 2021, they moved to Tallebudgera where Reid currently serves as pastor at St Andrews Lutheran College. Reid is a regular contributor to the Time Out devotional series and Daily Devotions for Lutheran Communications. Reid is a member of St Andrews Lutheran Church, Tallebudgera.
Sarah Wiltshire
BA, LL.B, GDLP
Sarah is a legal practitioner with twenty years’ experience in the Supreme Court of South Australia as well as the High Court of Australia and Federal Court of Australia. She has worked in both private practice and for Government as a Senior Solicitor at the Crown Solicitor’s Office and now works as a sole practitioner. Sarah undertook her primary and secondary studies in the Lutheran system and believes that this has shaped who she is and instilled in her the qualities and values that underpin the mission of Lutheran Education. Sarah served as a member of the Board of Directors of Fullarton Lutheran Homes (now Lutheran Homes Group Fullarton) for over ten years and is an active member of St Stephen’s Lutheran Church, Adelaide.
Craig Schmidt
BHMS(Ed), MEd, MBA, MEdTheol
Inspired through his Secondary schooling at Redeemer Lutheran College, Rochedale, Qld, where he was a founding family member, Craig pursued a vocation in Mathematics and Physical Education teaching and now has more than 30 years in executive leadership experience in schools. After a decade in State education in Central and South-East Queensland, Craig served for over 11 years at Calvary Christian College, Carbrook, as Head of Secondary where his three sons attended. Craig was called to serve at St Peters Lutheran College Springfield for a decade, initially as Deputy Principal and then as Principal, before taking up the Head of College role at Westside Christian College where has served since 2022. Craig is an active member of Bethesda Lutheran Church, Beenleigh, where he is a member of the Church Council and Chair of the Governance Committee of Beenleigh Family Day Care. Craig is also a member of the Independent Schools Queensland Education Committee and of the College Council for Calvary Christian College.