Our People

Sarah Bourke

Centre Director

Sarah has led our learning community since 2024, bringing with her a lifelong commitment to education and a deep belief in its power to open doors. As an educator, she has seen firsthand how high-quality education can transform lives, strengthen communities, and create lasting social change. With experience spanning education, community sport, philanthropy, and government, Sarah brings a broad and practical perspective to her role. She finds genuine fulfilment in supporting regional students to achieve their goals while staying local and is especially passionate about helping them navigate the (sometimes complex) university environment. For Sarah, success looks different for every student—and she is dedicated to supporting each one in whatever that journey looks like.

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Sibby Wilson

Centre Support Officer

Sibby brings a broad and diverse background across education, with experience spanning secondary schools, higher education, and TAFE. Driven by a genuine passion for supporting others, she leads all administrative duties at CUC Bass Coast, while also supporting staff and students and overseeing facility management to ensure the centre runs smoothly.

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Jarryd Blair

Widening Participation Officer

Jarryd is a proud Wonthaggi local, who completed his education in the region. Prior to his current role, he had a successful career as a professional AFL footballer with the Collingwood Football Club, where he was a premiership player and played over 150 games. Following this, Jarryd worked in a range of roles within the construction industry before transitioning into education-focused work. More recently, he has supported students in local schools, helping them develop effective study routines, create productive learning environments, and navigate personal challenges. He is passionate about engaging with students and the broader community to help individuals achieve their goals and make the most of available opportunities. Jarryd is currently undertaking a Bachelor of Education as an online student through Curtin University. His studies, alongside full-time work, have given him valuable insight into the challenges of balancing employment, education, and everyday life. His long-term goal is to become a teacher in the local area and continue supporting his community.

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Hannah Weir

Communications

Hannah is a communication specialist with over 10 years of experience working across government and small business sectors. Her expertise spans media, social media, internal and external communications, as well as emergency and crisis management. She specialises in social media content creation, combining strategic thinking with creative storytelling to deliver clear, impactful messages. In addition to her communication work, Hannah teaches meditation and mindfulness. She is passionate about supporting wellbeing in and beyond the workplace, and brings a grounded, people-first approach to everything she does.

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Alex Charlton

Student Engagement Officer

Alex is a proud CUC Bass Coast alumnus who graduated with a Bachelor of Biomedical Science from the Australian Catholic University (ACU). Currently, Alex is pursuing a Master of Teaching, furthering his commitment to supporting students in their academic journeys. Returning in a new capacity as a Student Engagement Officer, Alex offers personalised guidance and support, helping students navigate their educational pathways successfully. He is available for one-on-one sessions on Mondays and Wednesdays, providing assistance ranging from unpacking assessment questions to academic writing and referencing.

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Mary Howlett

Student Engagement Officer

Mary brings an incredible depth of experience from across the tertiary education sector to CUC Bass Coast. Through a variety of university roles, she has developed a clear understanding of what academic success involves and how students can work towards it. Available on Tuesdays, Mary supports students with essential academic skills such as assignment structure, academic writing, and navigating university expectations.

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Martin Keogh

Board Chair

Education and community leadership have been central to Martin Keogh’s career for more than four decades. From school principalship through to regional leadership roles in education, Martin has dedicated much of his professional life to supporting learning pathways and improving outcomes for regional communities. Alongside his education career, Martin has served on numerous not-for-profit and statutory boards, building deep expertise in governance, strategic planning and community engagement. His work has consistently focused on creating opportunities for people to access education, training and personal development close to home. As Founding Chair of CUC Bass Coast, Martin played a significant role in guiding the Centre from concept to reality. He remains a strong advocate for equitable access to higher education and lifelong learning across the Bass Coast region.

Christian Stefani

Deputy Chair

Christian Stefani brings executive and board-level experience across regional development, governance, communications and advocacy. With a career spanning senior leadership roles in local government, he has worked at the intersection of government strategy, regional growth and community outcomes. He has extensive experience working with regional communities to support economic development and major industry transitions, including renewable energy investment in Gippsland. Christian has also led large multidisciplinary teams and strategic initiatives that strengthen community outcomes and organisational performance. Christian was also extensively involved in the establishment of CUC Bass Coast in 2019, playing a key role in supporting the Centre’s early development and advocacy within the region. Known for his thoughtful and collaborative leadership style, he brings a future-focused perspective to the Board and remains passionate about the continued growth of CUC Bass Coast and the opportunities it creates for regional communities.

Carolyn Simonds

Treasurer

With a professional background that began in information technology before evolving into finance and corporate services leadership, Carolyn Simonds offers a broad and contemporary executive skill set to the CUC Bass Coast Board. As Chief Financial Officer and General Manager Corporate Services at Phillip Island Nature Parks, Carolyn oversees a diverse portfolio spanning finance, governance, communications, people and culture, IT, administration and safety. Her leadership approach combines strategic thinking with strong operational expertise. Carolyn is motivated by work that delivers long-term value to local communities. Through her role on the Board, she is committed to supporting CUC Bass Coast’s mission to expand educational opportunities and strengthen pathways for regional students.

Christine Henderson

Director

Christine Henderson has spent more than 30 years working within the healthcare sector, including over two decades in leadership positions across regional health services in Bass Coast and surrounding communities. Currently serving as Chief Operating Officer of Bayside Regional Healthcare Group, Christine oversees clinical operations across multiple regional sites. Her extensive experience in workforce development and healthcare delivery provides valuable insight into the challenges and opportunities facing regional communities. Christine is a strong supporter of local education pathways, particularly those that help address regional workforce needs. She values the role CUC Bass Coast plays in enabling students and mature-age learners to pursue higher education while remaining connected to their local community.

Jodi Kennedy

Director

Jodi Kennedy combines extensive experience in local government, strategic planning and community development with a longstanding commitment to regional advocacy and wellbeing. Originally trained as an urban planner, Jodi has held senior executive roles across both local and state government, including work with Planning Panels Victoria. In her current role as General Manager Community and Culture at Bass Coast Shire Council, she leads initiatives focused on community wellbeing, youth engagement, cultural development social planning, Sustainable Environment and Infrastructure Maintenance. Jodi has been closely connected to CUC Bass Coast since its earliest stages, contributing to the advocacy and partnerships that helped establish the Centre. She is passionate about creating opportunities for regional young people to live, study and build careers within their own communities.