2017 BOARD MEMBERS PROFILES:
STEPHEN MARGETIC
Chairperson of the Board
Steve Margetic is Managing Director and co-owner of Sitzler Pty Ltd, a large privately
owned Territory construction and development contractor with operations in the Northern
Territory, South Australia and Western Australia. A long term Fellow of the Australian
Institute of Company Directors Mr Margetic has served on numerous industry boards and
working groups, including as Chairman of the Northern Territory Land Development
Corporation from its inception in 2004, through to retiring in June 2010, and as a member of
the Territory 2030 Steering Committee.
Steve has considerable experience in delivering major infrastructure works under Public
Private Partnerships, Alliancing and Joint Ventures and maintains a keen interest and
participation in the ongoing economic development of the Territory.
Steve joined the School Board in 2013.
DAVID CANNON
Principal/CEO
David Cannon M.Ed.Studs, B.Ed., Grad.Dip.Ed.Admin, Grad.Dip.Curr.Admin, FACEL,
MACE, MAHRI
David Cannon has occupied teaching and senior administration positions in Anglican and
Catholic schools in Queensland, and Catholic and Uniting Church schools in Melbourne prior
to commencing as Principal/CEO of The Essington School Darwin in 1999. He is actively
involved in professional associations, educational organisations and advisory steering
committees and Boards in the NT and at national level including: The Association of
Independent School of the NT, the Australian Council for Education Leaders, and the National
Executive Committee of the Australian Primary Principals Association, Australian Heads of
Independent Schools Association, Council of International Schools (CIS).
CHRIS MCCABE
Community Member
Chris McCabe was a school Principal for thirty two years, the last eleven at Xavier College in
Melbourne. Whilst Principal at Mercedes College in Adelaide he introduced the International
Baccalaureate from P-12 and Mercedes was the first Australian school to become a member of
the International Schools Association. Chris is the Patron of the nationwide Learning
Assistance Programmer, a member of the St Ignatius College Board in Adelaide and a
foundation member of the Adelaide Diocesan Bishop Murphy Bequest Society.
Chris joined the School Board in 2013.
PETER PLUMMER
Community Member
Peter Plummer Hon DEd (c.s),Adv Dip AICD,GdipMgt,BSc. Chairman of Menzies School of
Health Research.
Prior to retirement Peter spent forty years working in the public service in PNG (sixteen) and
the NT (twenty five). Peter was founding Principal of Batchelor College and subsequently
Dep Sec of Primary Industries and Fisheries then Industries and Development. Then followed
appointments as CEO of Mines and Energy, Health and Community Services, and finally
Education.
Peter has served on many boards and committees including Chair of Cullen Bay Management
Committee, National Curriculum Corporation, Charles Darwin University Council, and
Charles Darwin University Strategic Positioning Project. Peter has significant experience
with the government and private sectors of Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines,
along with ‘minerals and energy sectors’ of the United States and France
Peter joined the School Board in 2013.
POMPEA SWEET
Deputy Director Migration NT with NT Department of Business. A public sector
executive with experience across operational and project management fields, policy
development, community engagement and government relations.
Pompea is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Pompea and
her husband have lived in Darwin for over 20 years.
Pompea has two teenage sons, both attended The Essington School Darwin since
preschool through to Senior College. One son is currently at the Essington
International Senior College.
Pompea joined the School Board in 2013.
CHRIS O’BRIEN
Darwin raised, Chris has more than 20 years experience in the music industry as a writer
and creative director. Chris is the Managing Director and owner of Dreamedia the largest
Production and Events Company in North Australia. One of Chris' strengths is managing
and training creative people and drawing the best out of them. He enjoys the challenge of
producing events including project management, logistics and policy.
Chris and his wife Liz have 4 children at The Essington School Darwin in Junior School,
Middle School and at The Essington International Senior College, Charles Darwin
University. Chris joined the Board in 2014.
MEGAN LAWTON
Megan is an Australian Legal Practitioner; CEO of the Law Society Northern Territory to June
2016; Bachelor of Laws; Bachelor of Arts; Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company
Directors; Director of Darwin Community Legal Service; Experienced legal practitioner, CEO
and business adviser. Megan is a Territorian who has held numerous board positions including
as a member of the NT Law Reform Committee; Law Council of Australia Professional Ethics
Committee; Relationships Australia and eight years as the Chairperson of Darwin Theatre
Company.
Megan is a parent of three children who all commenced with Essington Preschool. Megan
joined the Board in 2015.
HENDRI MENTZ
Hendri is the managing partner for Deloitte Northern Territory and has more than 19 years’
professional services experience in advisory, risk management and assurance.
Hendri is a recognised as a pre-eminent specialist in the design of risk, control and
financial management frameworks. He has been responsible for the delivery of a large
number of major internal and external audits and has led a number of significant financial
management consulting engagements, exposing him to all aspects of organisational
governance. He is a Chartered Accountant, Certified Internal Auditor and holds a Master
of Business Administration.
Hendri has two children at The Essington School Darwin. Hendri joined the Board in 2015.
MICK HANNON
Mick Hannon is a Director on the Board of the privately owned Hannon Group, which
through its associated entities employs 750 staff and runs in excess of 570 vehicles across
several bus businesses in Australia. In the Northern Territory those businesses include
Buslink NT and Buslink VIVO, who together employs around 600 Territorians.
He has vast experience over a broad range of businesses and industries in the Territory:
bus passenger transportation, property development, crocodile farming, waste management,
manufacturing, remote IT services and aviation.
With a hands on approach, and a can do attitude, Mick turns board decisions into reality,
promoting growth and change in all the businesses and projects he has been involved in
from board level down. Mick has recently been appointed to the Local Benefit Advisory
Panel which was established to review local content aspects of tenders worth more than
$5m, providing advice to NTG assessment panels. Darwin born and bred, Mick is a 3rd
generation Territorian, he is passionate about the Territory and its future.
Michael has two children at The Essington School Darwin. Michael joined the Board in 2016.
KYM CAIRNS
Kym Cairns is the Owner and Director of Cairns Industries Pty Ltd, a building and civil
construction company base in Borroloola and Darwin. The company was started in
Borroloola by Kym and her husband Shaun in 2006. They also co-own Mission Beach
Tavern in Far North Queensland. Prior to this, Kym has 10 years’ experience as a Secondary
Teacher and Principal in regional and remote schools in Queensland and Northern Territory.
Kym is involved in a number of committees and organisations, including Vice President of
Business and Professional Women Darwin, committee member of National Association of
Women in Construction NT and Territory Proud and the Careflight Top End Gala Ball
Organising committee.
Her passion lies in social responsibility and in particular positive contributions to the local
community, having been involved in various fundraising and charity events in Borroloola and
Darwin, including The Essington School Darwin ‘Pink Breakfast’ for the past 3 years. Kym has also volunteered for a number of
organisations including Starlight Foundation, Ronald McDonald Learning Charities, and is a regular volunteer for Careflight.
Kym has two children at The Essington School Darwin, and has lived in the Northern Territory for the past 12 years. Kym joined
the Board in 2017.
MICHAEL SOLOMON
Michael commenced his career in the commercial and marketing space working for one of
Australia’s largest brewers. After 7 years he moved industries to take on a Chief Operating
Officer role with International recruitment and consulting firm – Randstad. After many national
and international assignments with Randstad he joined News Corp in Melbourne, Australia, to
head up their emerging digital business portfolio as an Executive Director, looking after a
number of business units including; Fox Sporting Pulse, Foxtix, Moshtix, Getprice, Learning
Seat, Recruit Advantage & True Local. Whilst in the role as Executive Director he also served
on a number of News Corps boards as Chairman and Director.
With an absolute passion for the AFL, he jumped at the chance to be involved in the strategic
development & set up of AFL Media seeing him leave News Corp in August, 2011, to join the
AFL and set up its media division that is now the biggest sports media business in Australia.
In October 2015, Michael was appointed to the role of Chief Executive Officer of the AFL in the Northern Territory. Michael is
currently a Director of the Michael Long Foundation as well as an advisor to a number of boards across the country.
Michael has two children at The Essington School Darwin. Michael joined the Board in 2017.
RUTH O’BRIEN
(Image and Bio to follow)