I think that I have the best job in the world. There is not a single day that passes where I don''t give thanks for the opportunity which has been given to me to work with young women in providing the best liberal education we can devise.

On a personal level this means I will work tirelessly to make Lauriston a safe and happy place; a place which is kind and generous; a place where learning and play are interchangeable; a place where thinking is actively encouraged and sought ; a place where courageous effort is recognised ; a place which has beautiful things to look at and pleasant places to be ; a place where being mistaken or wrong is seen for what it is... the best kind of learning.
As the Head of Senior School Nene has a strong vision for the Senior College (Years 10-12) as a dynamic environment which inspires a lifelong love of learning in all students. This is characterised by extensive and expanding courses in both VCE and IB programs in a wide range of extracurricular activities, in which every student aims high. Students are encouraged to think deeply and be initiators of, as well as participate in their own learning, Establishing these collegial relationships with her students was one of the key s to success in Nene’s own classes in 2008. “My goal for 2009 is to build on the successes of 2008, ensuring that every single girl reaches her potential and gains the most from her time at Lauriston.
Jennie began teaching at Lauriston in 2005, and is now VCE Coordinator and Director of Learning in the Senior School. Jennie is committed to the role of VCE Coordinator whilst teaching Mathematics in VCE and IB. Jennie has been teaching VCE since the inception of the program in the early 1990s and she is passionate about what the VCE offers our girls at Lauriston. “As VCE Coordinator, my vision is to have a ‘VCE family’ at Lauriston in which each student knows she is cared for individually.
As the IB Coordinator at Lauriston, Eirwen provides a framework within which the staff and students can work efficiently and productively. Eirwen enjoys working with students to achieve their potential especially in Biology, Extended Essay and TOK. “As this is my first year as the IB Coordinator, I am very proud of the outstanding achievements of all academic aptitude.”
With an impressive background in both classroom teaching and a variety of leadership roles, Philip Fox came to Lauriston three years ago. Philip’s secondary education was at Bell Park High School in Geelong where, he recalls, there was some ‘great teaching’. Indeed, it was while he was in Year 11 that Philip had a particularly fine English teacher – a man who was to exert a significant influence over Philip’s future life in terms of his choice of career. When thinking of this teacher, Philip recalls that ‘he was particularly good at building up my confidence as a student. He knew his students very well and was extremely generous in the way he made time for individual students.’ As teaching was something Philip had always wanted to do, he enrolled in an arts degree at Deakin University, graduating with a major in education. He later went on to complete a graduate diploma in Teaching English asa Second Language and a Master of Education – with a thesis that examined the conditions which foster and promote teacher learning in the workplace. Throughout the course of his teaching career, Philip has worked as both a classroom teacher and in a variety of leadership roles at Grimwade, Glamorgan, Korowa and in an international school in Kuwait.
As Director of Learning, Philip works closely with Junior School Head, Ann Hooper, classroom teachers and co-ordinators - and is actively involved in leading the professional development of Junior School staff, managing the development of teaching and learning programs, administering the timetable and working in conjunction with the Lauriston Institute.
Being in the dynamic educational environment of Lauriston’s Junior School is something Philip finds enormously rewarding. He thrives on working with others, sharing ideas and building positive relationships. As the first member of his family to become a teacher, Philip is a great advocate for the many benefits of this very rewarding career.

Robyn Ambler grew up in Black Rock and attended school at Firbank. She always wanted to be a Kindergarten teacher and trained at the Institute for Early Childhood Development – an organisation that later became part of Melbourne University. Now in her tenth year at Lauriston, Robyn began working at Niall House, teaching the Dolphin Group. Three years ago she was appointed to the position of Director of Kindergarten. ‘It is a wonderful honour to lead this remarkable group of educators and to work within a school environment that respects early childhood education so powerfully’, she says of her role. Robyn is married with four adult children and lives in the Bayside area. ‘My family are my closest friends and the most important people in my life’ she says. Robyn’s hobbies include reading and gardening. She is a passionate believer that ‘we need to be gentle with this world that we have inherited so that we leave our children’s children a healthy legacy.’
I have worked at Lauriston in the capacity of Head of Physical Education for 6 years before being appointed to the Head of Mitchell role. I am passionate about young people and giving them an opportunity to be true to themselves also all providing them with an avenue to express themselves without being judged. I am also passionate about fitness and health and promoting the benefits of exercise to young people in the hope that they will find something physical that interests them. I have always worked hard on being an active participant of this, taking regular recreational aerobics classes at Lauriston for the last 8 years. I am also interested in running, having completed the Melbourne Half Marathon in October 2004, this was the 3rd one that I have completed. In my role at Lauriston I also assist with the coaching of many sporting teams including, Softball, Hockey, Aerobics and Athletics. As teachers, I feel that we must practice what we preach
In his role as Director of Learning, Toby Maxwell-Wright is passionate about promoting the unique educational opportunities of the Howqua campus. A key aspect of his vision for the campus involves providing opportunities for teachers to participate in on-going professional learning. Toby was educated at Caulfield Grammar and then completed degrees in arts and secondary teaching at Deakin University. Since then, he has taught English, history, religious education and philosophy in Melbourne independent schools, joining Lauriston this year from Melbourne Grammar. Throughout his teaching career, Toby has also been involved in educational research, curriculum development and coaching sports teams. With its focus on academic development, pastoral care and outdoor activities, Toby believes that the leaning program at Howqua is unique. Through the weekly challenges in the outdoor program, students participate in a wide range of opportunities designed to facilitate personal growth and to gain an understanding of the challenges of living in a small community. Academically, the Howqua program encourages students to develop exceptional organisational skills and to be open to learning in different environments. A number of learning areas, including environmental science and humanities, have taken their classrooms to the outdoors. Students can go into the field to retrieve real data that is relevant to their lives, while also involving themselves in inter-disciplinary learning. Toby’s role at Howqua also includes the management of professional learning for staff, the oversight of the curriculum and the provision of specialist academic assistance to students. As part of his broader vision for learning at Howqua, Toby is keen to further develop the Year 9 curriculum so students return to Armadale with the necessary knowledge, skills and attitude to thrive throughout the senior years of schooling.