Headquarters:
70 Fourth Ave, Austral, NSW 2179
Year founded:
2008
Number of employees:
140
Phone:
1800 486 489
Email:
enrol@unitygrammar.com.au
Website:
unitygrammar.com.au
LinkedIn:
au.linkedin.com/company/unity-grammar-college
“Everything we do as an organization is to serve our agents in a meaningful way, which is to provide industry-leading insurance solutions when they need them the most”
Mark Maher, Jencap
UNITY GRAMMAR
Sayd Farook
Chief Executive Officer
Sam Halbouni
Principal, Senior School 7–12
Ola Issa
Principal, Junior School K–6
Leadership
Sayd Farook is an impact-driven strategy and transformation leader. He focuses on nurturing leaders who have the potential to deliver exponential impact through their influence and resources. He loves to support several education and refugee initiatives.
Farook has a PhD at the intersection of behavioural economics and ethical banking (UTS), a first-class honours in business (BBus) and a degree in law (LLB) from the University of Technology Sydney. He is also a board member and senior partner for the global consulting firm Dinar Standard, which also manages the media platform Salaam Gateway and publishes the annual publications State of the Global Islamic Economy Report and the Global Islamic Fintech Report.
Chief Executive Officer
Sayd Farook
Sam Halbouni is intrinsically motivated to make a difference in Islamic education. He believes schools are a trust and emphasises that it is their collective responsibility to do everything humanly possible to ensure success for all the stakeholders, including the wider Islamic community.
Halbouni is passionate about education, having served various Islamic schools for almost 30 years to date. He is driven and has a vision of what he would like to further contribute to Unity Grammar’s success. He is committed to open collaboration with parents and has an open-door policy to address concerns, discuss ideas and fundraise for various initiatives for the school, the wider community and abroad.
Principal, Senior School 7–12
Sam Halbouni
Ola Issa is an educator with almost two decades of teaching and leadership experience in the early, middle and upper primary grades. She is passionate about educating the children of the Islamic community and is known for her determination and drive. Her extensive knowledge of curriculum and pedagogy ensures that the necessary provisions are made so that the needs of every learner are addressed. Her responsibilities include managing the educational welfare of the junior school students. This includes overseeing the professional learning and growth of the teachers and addressing the learning needs of students through the coordination, development, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of educational programs.
Principal, Junior School K–6
Ola Issa
“Everything we do as an organization is to serve our agents in a meaningful way, which is to provide industry-leading insurance solutions when they need them the most”
Mark Maher, Jencap
“Our team has successfully executed on an aggressive acquisition and integration plan over the last few years, which has contributed greatly to our strong market position”
John Jennings, Jencap
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“Our team has successfully executed on an aggressive acquisition and integration plan over the last few years, which has contributed greatly to our strong market position”
John Jennings, Jencap
“Everything we do as an organization is to serve our agents in a meaningful way, which is to provide industry-leading insurance solutions when they need them the most”
Mark Maher, Jencap
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Mahnaz Ali
Head of Business and Finance
Mahnaz Ali has over 20 years of experience working in finance roles in independent Islamic schools, and of this, 13 years relate to working in financial managerial roles. She has completed a bachelor’s degree in commerce, majoring in financial accounting and business law. She is responsible for the overall business and finances of the college, including financial management, human resources, ICT, budgeting and planning and compliance. Ali is passionate about supporting the college and making financial decisions in the best interests of the students. She is enthusiastic about financial accounting, process improvements and technological change. She is passionate about working in Islamic schools, particularly at Unity Grammar.
Head of Business and Finance
Mahnaz Ali
David Porter
Chief Operating Officer
David Porter is the COO of Barker College. He is responsible for the school’s operations and master plan. He brings to the education sector broad experience from consulting across industries for Australia’s top companies. He previously managed the television operations of the country’s number one network, including property, aviation, and news and public affairs. He is overseeing the completion of facilities for the school’s transition to coeducation and assisting in establishing Barker College as the leading school in the Southern Hemisphere.
Porter is a chartered accountant and holds a bachelor’s degree in commerce and an MBA from Melbourne University.
Chief Operating Officer
David Porter
Unity Grammar, located in Austral, has been a unique institution in the field of Islamic education since its founding in 2008. Unity Grammar's emphasis on the strength of its people and their contributions to the school's vision and mission, which focuses on instilling strong values and morals in its learners, driven by Islamic faith, for the betterment of humanity. The school is committed to developing learners who will make a positive impact on the world and recognises that achieving this goal requires enabling educators to be fully involved, contribute effectively, and perform to their full potential. At the heart of the school's mission is a commitment to supporting the wellbeing of its staff. By providing a supportive environment that encourages ongoing learning, collaboration, and innovative thinking, the school aims to empower its educators to deliver high-quality education that inspires and prepares learners. The school understands that educators play a vital role in shaping the future and is dedicated to ensuring that they have the resources and support they need to fulfill this important responsibility.
The culture of the school prioritises the establishment of an engaging atmosphere that fosters creative thinking by empowering them to discover novel and innovative ways of doing things, which enables the school to maintain its relevance and stay ahead of the curve amidst the ever-changing educational landscape. In recent years, the school has implemented several strategic initiatives that aim to improve staff wellbeing which are of utmost importance. Unity Grammar's commitment to promoting staff well-being and professional growth is commendable. Some of these examples are through:
“Our team has successfully executed on an aggressive acquisition and integration plan over the last few years, which has contributed greatly to our strong market position”
John Jennings, Jencap
Edward Lai
Head of insurance
Steve Campbell
Executive Director
Rhonda English
Chief Marketing Officer
Evelyn Peng
Chief Risk Officer
Edward Lai is the head of insurance for EverBright Finance. He believes putting his clients first and maintaining the highest level of professionalism on their behalf is a must, and this has never steered him wrong. He brings the greatest degree of experience to his clients by listening to their needs and working diligently with them to implement a comprehensive, customised plan that is unique to them. His specialty lies in life risk insurance such as life, trauma, disability income protection, TPD and medical coverage. His clients would describe him as an honest, helpful, passionate and detail-oriented person.
Head of insurance
Edward Lai
Steve Campbell followed his father into insurance broking. He loved the diversity of clients and their businesses. No matter how much there is in common, there are always unique aspects to how they work and the people that run them. That is what a broker needs to understand. Otherwise, how can they advise? By the time one has done a detailed risk analysis, they’ll know everything about the business – its operations, finances, people, and future direction – which is a perfect place to advise from.
“I found broking to be a deeply satisfying career and loved to help clients solve their business problems, of which insurance was the easy one,” he says.
What makes Campbell such a great chairman is his experience, problem-solving abilities, and a detached perspective that enables him to see the bigger picture. These qualities also make him an ideal mentor and guide for such a dynamic executive team. He is a devoted West Coast Eagles fan and a happy, doting grandfather.
Executive Director
Steve Campbell
Rhonda English is a CPA, CMA and obtained her Honors Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration and her MBA from the Ivey Business School at the University of Western Ontario. Rhonda joined CM Club Group as vice president of insurance, then took the role of vice president corporate marketing, overseeing business insights & analytics and the acquisition and retention of the CM lines of business. In 2016, she was named chief marketing officer, taking on additional responsibility for travel and membership product, digital, and the government & community relations advocacy team.
Chief Marketing Officer
Rhonda English
Evelyn Peng started at CCG in 2017 as director of risk management and now serves as the chief risk officer for the organization. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology and a Master’s in Accounting from the University of Waterloo. She has extensive experience with enterprise risk management, specializing in operational risk management, and financial risk management. Evelyn is a Chartered Accountant and a Financial Risk Manager.
Chief Risk Officer
Evelyn Peng
Evelyn Peng started at CCG in 2017 as director of risk management and now serves as the chief risk officer for the organization. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology and a Master’s in Accounting from the University of Waterloo. She has extensive experience with enterprise risk management, specializing in operational risk management, and financial risk management. Evelyn is a Chartered Accountant and a Financial Risk Manager.
Chief Risk Officer
Evelyn Peng
Evelyn Peng started at CCG in 2017 as director of risk management and now serves as the chief risk officer for the organization. She has a Bachelor of Science in Biotechnology and a Master’s in Accounting from the University of Waterloo. She has extensive experience with enterprise risk management, specializing in operational risk management, and financial risk management. Evelyn is a Chartered Accountant and a Financial Risk Manager.
Chief Risk Officer
Evelyn Peng
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Earlene Huntley
Group Chief Financial Officer
Melissa Abramowitz
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer
Melissa Abramowitz has been practicing corporate and commercial law for over 20 years, with an emphasis on the financial services industry. She joined CAA Club Group in 2014, and currently serves as the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer of CCG and its affiliated companies. At CCG, Melissa provides strategic legal advice on a broad range of matters including corporate governance, licensing, distribution, marketing and advertising, commercial contracts and regulatory compliance. She holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (B.CL) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from McGill University and a Certificate in Regulatory Compliance for Financial Institutions from Osgoode.
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer
Melissa Abramowitz
Earlene Huntley joined CAA in 2014 as director, tax and was promoted to AVP, tax in 2016, and to her current role as group chief financial officer of CAA Club Group in February 2017. In her role, she is responsible for all aspects of finance. She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies where she earned her BSc. Accounting (Hons) and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in the United Kingdom.
Group Chief Financial Officer
Earlene Huntley
Simon Williams
Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International
and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955
Simon Williams
Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International
and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955
Earlene Huntley joined CAA in 2014 as director, tax and was promoted to AVP, tax in 2016, and to her current role as group chief financial officer of CAA Club Group in February 2017. In her role, she is responsible for all aspects of finance. She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies where she earned her BSc. Accounting (Hons) and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in the United Kingdom.
Group Chief Financial Officer
Earlene Huntley
Melissa Abramowitz has been practicing corporate and commercial law for over 20 years, with an emphasis on the financial services industry. She joined CAA Club Group in 2014, and currently serves as the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer of CCG and its affiliated companies. At CCG, Melissa provides strategic legal advice on a broad range of matters including corporate governance, licensing, distribution, marketing and advertising, commercial contracts and regulatory compliance. She holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (B.CL) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from McGill University and a Certificate in Regulatory Compliance for Financial Institutions from Osgoode.
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer
Melissa Abramowitz
Melissa Abramowitz
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer
Earlene Huntley
Group Chief Financial Officer
Earlene Huntley joined CAA in 2014 as director, tax and was promoted to AVP, tax in 2016, and to her current role as group chief financial officer of CAA Club Group in February 2017. In her role, she is responsible for all aspects of finance. She is a graduate of the University of the West Indies where she earned her BSc. Accounting (Hons) and is a Fellow of the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants in the United Kingdom.
Group Chief Financial Officer
Earlene Huntley
Melissa Abramowitz has been practicing corporate and commercial law for over 20 years, with an emphasis on the financial services industry. She joined CAA Club Group in 2014, and currently serves as the General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer of CCG and its affiliated companies. At CCG, Melissa provides strategic legal advice on a broad range of matters including corporate governance, licensing, distribution, marketing and advertising, commercial contracts and regulatory compliance. She holds a Bachelor of Civil Law (B.CL) and Bachelor of Laws (LLB) from McGill University and a Certificate in Regulatory Compliance for Financial Institutions from Osgoode.
General Counsel, Chief Compliance Officer and Chief Privacy Officer
Melissa Abramowitz
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au.linkedin.com/company/unity-grammar-college
Prophetic Character: Unity Grammar seeks to emulate the Prophet (PBUH) in its actions and behaviour, demonstrating humility, empathy, and compassion.
Entrepreneurial Spirit: The school encourages boldness, courage, and initiative, taking calculated risks to pursue opportunities and learn from failures.
Relentless Learning: Unity Grammar embraces boundless curiosity and continuous learning, viewing every experience as an opportunity for growth and character development.
Global Citizenship: The school is dedicated to promoting peace, sustainability, and fairness for the planet, engaging with local and international communities to achieve these goals.
Mastery: Unity Grammar encourages the pursuit of excellence in all areas of life, from spiritual practice to academic pursuits and interpersonal conduct.
Overall, the school's commitment to staff wellbeing is a testament to its dedication to creating a community of learners who are motivated, engaged, and prepared to make a difference. The school understands that when educators feel supported and valued, they are better able to create a positive learning environment. By offering a range of programs and initiatives that promote physical, emotional, and mental health, the school aims to ensure that its staff members are able to thrive both in and outside of the workplace.
Unity grammar is led by Chief Executive Officer, Dr Sayd Farook, who has extensive experience in executive commercial roles. in addition, he founded and sits on the board of trustees as vice chair for the responsible finance & investment foundation and is also on the board of Australia for the United Nations high commissioner for refugees. The Principal of Senior School (7–12) Sam Halbouni is passionate about education, having served various Islamic schools for almost 30 years to date. while Mrs Ola Issa, Principal of Junior School (K–6) has almost two decades of teaching and leadership experience in the early, middle and upper primary grades. The school prides itself on maintaining and being guided by a series of overarching principles in all of its dealings.
Unity Grammar is an educational institution that embodies a set of core values that guide its operations. These values include:
RECOGNITION & REWARDS - Creating a team-oriented culture that values employee’s contributions and recognises their achievements through rewards and recognition programs.
BOTTOM UP DECISION MAKING - By providing opportunities to be involved in decision-making processes and contribute their ideas and suggestions
PERSONALISED GROWTH PLANS - By offering personalised growth plans, alongside coaching and mentoring, helping staff build new skills and experiences by providing opportunities for staff to attend conferences, workshops, and training sessions
SOCIAL EVENTS - Through social support offering opportunities to connect, such as staff retreats, team-building activities, social events.
EMPLOYEE ASSISTANCE PROGRAM (EAP) - offering confidential counselling and support services to employees.
Unity Grammar, located in Austral, has been a unique institution in the field of Islamic education since its founding in 2008. Unity Grammar's emphasis on the strength of its people and their contributions to the school's vision and mission, which focuses on instilling strong values and morals in its learners, driven by Islamic faith, for the betterment of humanity. The school is committed to developing learners who will make a positive impact on the world and recognises that achieving this goal requires enabling educators to be fully involved, contribute effectively, and perform to their full potential. At the heart of the school's mission is a commitment to supporting the wellbeing of its staff. By providing a supportive environment that encourages ongoing learning, collaboration, and innovative thinking, the school aims to empower its educators to deliver high-quality education that inspires and prepares learners. The school understands that educators play a vital role in shaping the future and is dedicated to ensuring that they have the resources and support they need to fulfill this important responsibility.
The culture of the school prioritises the establishment of an engaging atmosphere that fosters creative thinking by empowering them to discover novel and innovative ways of doing things, which enables the school to maintain its relevance and stay ahead of the curve amidst the ever-changing educational landscape. In recent years, the school has implemented several strategic initiatives that aim to improve staff wellbeing which are of utmost importance. Unity Grammar's commitment to promoting staff well-being and professional growth is commendable. Some of these examples are through: