Governance

St Vincent's College is under the stewardship of Mary Aikenhead Ministries. In 1993 St Vincent's College was incorporated as a Company Limited by Guarantee and the Sisters of Charity entrusted the governance of the College to a Board appointed by the Sisters.

In 2009 Mary Aikenhead Ministries (MAM) was established by the Holy See at the request of the Congregation of the Religious Sisters of Charity of Australia and the education ministry was transferred to MAM in July 2009. For more information on Mary Aikenhead Ministries and Mary Aikenhead Education Australia please visit their website.

The Directors of the St Vincent's College Board are collaborators in the MAM educational mission. They contribute their expertise, experience and creativity to sustain and continually renew the life of the College. We are inspired by those who have gone before us and we accept that the future of St Vincent’s College will be shaped by our choices and responses to current opportunities and challenges.

Current College Board Members

Board Chair
John Finneran

John Finneran is an experienced senior executive in the education and not-for-profit sectors, dedicated to the mission and vision of quality Catholic education. He is the Director of School Improvement for Marist Schools Australia (MSA) Ltd, following his tenure as Principal of Newman College in WA and Marist Catholic College Penshurst in NSW. Beyond education, John has held leadership roles at Caritas Australia and the Edmund Rice Centre for Justice and Community Education, as well as as a Trustee for the Society of St. Vincent de Paul in NSW. His extensive board experience includes founding Directorship at St. Vincent de Paul Aged Care, Chair of St. Vincent de Paul Night Patrol, membership on the Marist Mission Council and his current role as Chair of the John Berne School Foundation. Passionate about providing young people with meaningful pathways and opportunities, John brings strategic leadership, governance expertise and a deep commitment to Catholic education and social justice.

Director
Sean Rahilly

Sean Rahilly brings 30 years of experience in accounting and investment banking, having held senior leadership roles across major financial institutions. He previously served as Head of Compliance for the Investment Banking division of Société Générale, overseeing operations across Australia and Asia. He has also worked with Hambros Australia, HSBC and Price Waterhouse. His board experience includes directorships with Charingfield Aged Care and the Eastern Suburbs District Rugby Union Club. Sean is a chartered accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce from the University of NSW and a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Since joining the Board in 2021, he has played a key role in financial oversight and governance and currently serves as Chair of the Finance Committee.


Director
Justine Hughes

Justine Hughes joined the College Board in March 2022, bringing extensive corporate experience in property development and a strong commitment to education and the not-for-profit sectors. She holds a Bachelor of Economics and a Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sydney. She has a proven track record in managing transformational change, leading teams and making strategic decisions. Justine has contributed to various educational and charitable initiatives, serving on the Advisory Committee of St Margaret Mary Primary School, as a P&F Executive member at St Vincent’s College, a volunteer with the Gawura Program at St Andrew’s Cathedral School and as Secretary of Project Kindness. Her personal and professional expertise and being a current parent of the College enriches the College Board, strengthening its engagement, leadership and governance.

Director
Garry M Hogden B.Comm (Accounting & Finance) - C.A- C.T.A

Garry brings over 25 years of professional experience in accounting, specialising in the SME and personal sectors. Since joining Wynn & Bennett in 1997, he has provided expert advisory, accounting, and taxation services to SMEs, SMSFs, professionals, and investors. A Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand member, he is also a Chartered Tax Adviser, a registered SMSF Auditor, and a registered Law Practice Trust Account Examiner for NSW. His expertise spans business structuring, investment planning, mergers and acquisitions, due diligence, income tax consolidation and estate planning. With a strong financial strategy and governance background, Garry offers the College valuable insights into business growth and sustainability.

Director
Dr Craig Wattam

With nearly 25 years in Catholic education as a senior leader, Craig brings extensive expertise to the Board of St Vincent’s College Potts Point. He is passionate about empowering young women and committed to Ignatian spirituality and service to the poor, aligning closely with the College’s mission. As the former CEO of Edmund Rice Education Australia, Craig managed the governance of 55 schools nationwide, providing him with substantial experience in governance and strategic leadership. He has served on various boards and is a member of the AICD. With a robust background in school leadership and large-scale infrastructure projects, Craig is well-equipped to support the College’s mission with strategic focus. His dedication to Catholic education and fostering young women’s leadership make him a valuable Board member.

Director
Rose Reid

Rose is an experienced leader in Catholic education with a strong commitment to mission and governance. She has supported school boards and leadership teams, driving continuous improvement across Catholic and civil structures. Her career includes leadership roles in education and consultancy, with expertise in curriculum and compliance. Currently, she is the Religious Education Coordinator at an independent Catholic girls’ school in Sydney, where she offers specialist skills in Catholic formation and risk management. Her previous experience at NESA and AISNSW provides her with a solid understanding of governance and school operations. Rose holds a Master of Religious Education and has demonstrated her faith through her professional life and Eucharistic ministry. Her diverse background, including healthcare and reform projects, equips her to navigate complex environments and lead teams effectively. Rose is passionate about ensuring Catholic education remains mission-driven and seeks to contribute her skills to the board.

Director
Justin Owen

Justin joined the St Vincent’s College Board in November 2025. Justin has had a diverse career in law and business, both as a practitioner and in governance. He has worked in the corporate and not-for-profit sectors as a Board Director and Company Secretary. He has a broad portfolio of volunteer experience. He brings alongside these broad experiences significant tertiary qualifications from UTS (Bachelor of Law); University of Sydney (Bachelor of Arts); Practitioner of the High Court of Australia; Solicitor of the Supreme Court of NSW, and a Lawyer of the Supreme Court of Victoria. Justin has completed the Australian Institute of Company Directors’ Course. Justin is an alumnae of Waverley College.

Justin will join the Governance, Risk and Compliance Sub-committee.

Director
Liz Jackson

Liz brings over 15 years of senior leadership across Catholic education, government, and the not-for-profit sectors, with deep expertise in co-curricular program design, strategic planning, and governance. She is currently Head of Enrichment (Co-Curricular) at Catholic Schools Parramatta Diocese, where she leads the Captivate (Arts) and Sport portfolios across 80 schools. Prior to this, she served as Associate Director at Investment NSW (NSW Premier’s Department), managing the MVP Ventures Grant Program and other Education initiatives supporting innovation policy development. Liz has contributed to national curriculum development through ACARA and was selected as Australia’s first WISE Global Emerging Leader in Education Fellow, recognising her contribution to education innovation. Her experience spans curriculum design and evaluation, large-scale program delivery, and strategic governance across Catholic, government, and independent education systems. She is a board director of the NSW Touch Football and serves as Honorary Advisor to The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award Australia. Liz holds a Bachelor of Physical and Health Education and a Masters degree in Education, and has completed the Director Course through the Australian Institute of Company Directors. She serves on the College’s Advancement, Philanthropy and Stewardship Committee. Liz is passionate about equity in education and the role co-curricular experience in the arts, sport, and leadership plays in shaping the lives of young women.

Director
Sean Mungovan

Prof Sean Mungovan joined the St Vincent’s College Board in November 2025 and brings extensive experience across clinical practice, research, and health service leadership, underpinned by a deep appreciation of the Mission of the Mary Aikenhead Ministries and the Sisters of Charity. As Director of Allied Health at St Vincent’s Private Hospital, Sydney, he leads multidisciplinary services and a translational clinical research program, and is a Professor and active clinician-scientist with an international research profile. With qualifications in physiotherapy from the University of Sydney, postgraduate qualifications in research, and as a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Sean combines clinical, academic, and governance expertise. His experience also extends to high-performance sport, including previous roles with the NSW Swifts and the Australian Netball Diamonds, and he brings to the Board a strong commitment to health and wellbeing, service, innovation, and mission-aligned leadership. Sean serves as Chair of the College’s Advancement, Philanthropy and Stewardship Committee, contributing to the strategic development of Advancement strategy and capability.