Headquarters:
Mickleham
Year founded:
2023
Number of employees:
52
Phone:
03 8764 1000
Email:
mickleham.sc@education.vic.gov.au
Website:
micklehamsc.vic.edu.au
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/company/mickleham-secondary-college
“We put our customers at the centre of our business, responding to brokers in a proactive and timely manner and working with the customer to understand their unique risk profile and tailor appropriate solutions”
Erica Kofie, QBE
Lian Davies
Founding Principal
Ben Omizzolo
Assistant Principal –
Positive Climate for Learning
Bartholomew Oswald
Assistant Principal –
Learning and Curriculum
Leadership
Lian Davies is a passionate leader with more than 19 years of success in education and leadership, promoting a positive working and learning environment where individuals have their needs recognised. Her career has spanned the United Kingdom, New Zealand and Australia in a variety of leadership and principal roles. In 2018, Davies won The Educator’s Rising Star Award for her innovative work on alternative entry pathways for young people to tertiary education. As principal of Whittlesea Secondary College, she led the school through a transformational change. In 2022, Davies took on the role of establishing a new secondary college in Melbourne’s north, founding Mickleham Secondary College, which opened in 2023.
Founding Principal
Lian Davies
Recognised as an innovative leader in education, Ben Omizzolo brings 12 years of experience in teaching health and physical education in both junior and senior years while holding the portfolio for assistant principal – positive climate for learning. With a focus on fostering excellence in all students, he champions holistic education to empower them as global citizens. Alongside his teaching role, Omizzolo holds a certificate in mental health and oversees a school-wide Respectful Relationships program, reflecting his commitment to student wellbeing. From the classroom to leadership positions, including school-wide positive behaviour and student voice and agency, he is dedicated to creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment.
Assistant Principal – Positive Climate for Learning
Ben Omizzolo
Bartholomew Oswald, assistant principal at Mickleham Secondary College, leads the development of the school’s curriculum and instructional practices. He integrates educational leadership with strategic thinking, concentrating on student learning and the development of teachers and leaders, guided by research and evidence.
Previously at Parkville College, Oswald developed an instructional leadership program and managed educational programs for youth in custody at the Malmsbury campus, demonstrating his expertise in complex educational settings. At Melton Secondary College, he served as a leading teacher and taught art and legal studies, employing trauma-informed and evidence-based teaching methods.
Oswald holds advanced degrees in law and teaching, which provide a solid foundation for his educational and governance roles.
Assistant Principal – Learning and Curriculum
Bartholomew Oswald
“We put our customers at the centre of our business, responding to brokers in a proactive and timely manner and working with the customer to understand their unique risk profile and tailor appropriate solutions”
Erica Kofie, QBE
“We continue to see cyber as a key opportunity and will be further developing customer-centric solutions across various geographies and segments in line with our growth aspirations”
Erica Kofie, QBE
Leadership
“We continue to see cyber as a key opportunity and will be further developing customer-centric solutions across various geographies and segments in line with our growth aspirations”
Erica Kofie, QBE
“We put our customers at the centre of our business, responding to brokers in a proactive and timely manner and working with the customer to understand their unique risk profile and tailor appropriate solutions”
Erica Kofie, QBE
Leadership
Cassandra Crévola
Assistant Principal –
Inclusion and Pathways
Cassandra Crévola is the assistant principal for inclusion and pathways, leading the school’s support for the full breadth of learning needs to ensure that all students can achieve success. She brings experience from working in both regional and metropolitan settings and is excited about Mickleham Secondary College’s opportunity to develop its senior pathways as the school grows. Her career in education has included specific responsibilities for student wellbeing, innovations, and performance and development culture.
Crévola holds a Master of Education (Flinders University) as well as bachelor’s degrees in creative arts and teaching. With a love of learning, she has also pursued further study in mentoring, clinical practice and educational leadership.
Assistant Principal – Inclusion and Pathways
Cassandra Crévola
Damian Percy
General Manager, Securitisation
Damian Percy is a creative, lateral-thinking and outcomes-driven senior leader with over 20 years of experience in financial services and a deep and broad understanding of the Australian home loan market. He is a highly respected commentator and advisor to the industry, with practical expertise across all facets of the sector, including distribution, operations, product design, technology and regulation.
Percy understands that, ultimately, all business is problem-solving, and he applies his rare blend of industry expertise and innovative thinking to build strong businesses and great customer outcomes.
Percy is a past director and fellow of the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia, holds degrees in arts and law and was a founding member of the nation’s leading Elvis parody act between 1992 and 2004.
General Manager, Securitisation
Damian Percy
Mickleham Secondary College is a state-of-the-art co-educational college established in 2023. Providing education for the students in Melbourne’s newest northern suburbs, Mickleham Secondary has a 20-acre campus with an administration building and library, a general learning neighbourhood building, a specialist science building, a STEM centre and a community hub with a competition gymnasium. With exceptionally landscaped grounds, it has multiple outdoor sports courts, oval and large playgrounds.
The college just received a further multimillion-dollar approval for its stage two buildings, including an additional learning centre and arts facility.
Currently with Year 7 and 8 students, Mickleham Secondary is adding a new Year 7 cohort each year and will reach its VCE senior programs in 2027–28.
The college prides itself on its vision of co-creating an inclusive, supportive learning community where people strive to achieve their best. Student and staff development is prioritised to ensure lifelong learning is modelled. Employee career growth and development are promoted along with wellbeing to sustain a positive culture and inviting environment for all.
“We continue to see cyber as a key opportunity and will be further developing customer-centric solutions across various geographies and segments in line with our growth aspirations”
Erica Kofie, QBE
Tony Bird
Chief Risk Officer
Mark Hewitt
General Manager, Industry and Partnership Development
Brad Wearn
Chief Technology Officer
Simon Williams
Chief Strategy & Distribution Officer, Arch Insurance International
and Active Underwriter, Syndicate 1955
Tony Bird has been working in the banking and finance industry for 25 years, predominantly in credit risk, collections and portfolio management. His strength is bringing creative, data-driven solutions to safely grow retail portfolios. He develops strong relationships with internal and external partners to maximise profit after capital charges. Bird’s management style is collaborative and focused on achieving ambitious targets.
Chief Risk Officer
Tony Bird
Mark Hewitt has a wealth of knowledge and industry experience, with 40 years of experience in financial services. He is a member of the executive team at aggregator Australian Finance Group (AFG), which he joined in 2006 as general manager of broker and residential and is currently AFG’s general manager of industry and partnership development.
Prior to joining AFG, Hewitt spent 20 years with ANZ, including four years in ANZ’s third-party distribution area, and later became national manager of key broker relationships. He has also recently been co-chair of the Combined Industry Forum and has played a key role in the industry reform process.
Hewitt’s significant skills encompass operations, communications, relationship management, credit management, asset finance, human resources, contract and sponsorship negotiation, and sales. He was named on the MPA’s Global Mortgage 100 list in both 2020 and 2021. He is also a director of the Mortgage and Finance Association of Australia (MFAA), Think Tank Group and Mortgage Processing Services.
General Manager, Industry and Partnership Development
Mark Hewitt
Brad Wearn, serving as the chief technology officer, brings extensive expertise and forward-thinking approaches to the evolving landscape of IT services procurement and management. With a keen eye on industry trends and organisational needs, he recognises the shift toward purchasing IT capabilities “as a service,” acknowledging both its agility and potential security risks.
In his role, Wearn navigates the challenges posed by “shadow IT” and the impact it can have on organizational spending and security. Embracing an IT delivery model focused on flexibility and efficiency, he champions the adoption of “as a service” platforms. This approach ensures transparency in usage and enables the implementation of necessary controls to safeguard critical data and systems.
By spearheading this transformation, Wearn moves away from defending a large IT budget toward facilitating the adoption of tailored technology solutions aligned with evolving business needs. With an unwavering commitment to driving innovation and maximizing value, he sees himself at the forefront of an exciting journey as a CIO, navigating the ever-changing landscape of technology with enthusiasm and expertise.
Chief Technology Officer
Brad Wearn
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
Kimi leads the Estate Planning and Wealth Protection team and is a member of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners. She understands the complex and delicate nature of family estate planning, the technical requirements around probate and estate administration, and the importance of preserving wealth for future generations. Her advice is accurate, commercial, strategic and tailored to each situation.
Partner
Kimi Shah
“Despite the challenging claims environment, QBE’s coverage and risk appetite have remained consistent. Brokers and customers know and understand our risk appetite and the cover we offer, providing them with certainty for the future,” says Erica Kofie, head of cyber proposition. “We put our customers at the centre of our business, responding to brokers in a proactive and timely manner and working with the customer to understand their unique risk profile and tailor appropriate solutions.”
Kofie adds, “Through 2022, QBE successfully delivered significant growth in the cyber sector, reflecting the depth and strength of our team. We continue to see cyber as a key opportunity and will be further developing customer-centric solutions across various geographies and segments in line with our growth aspirations.”
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Overall service level
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
Turnaround time – claims
Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability
Small business
Medal
Overall service level
Broker communication, training and development
BDM support
Turnaround time – claims
Broker's Pick – Personal Accident and Illness Insurance
Brokers’ Pick – Professional liability
Small business