Howard Choo

Chair

Howard is an experienced leader with a focus on policy reform, advocacy and social change, and a background in strategy, governance and law. He is passionate about education and the rights of children and young people, and currently leads policy development and advocacy across Australia at leading child rights organisation Save the Children and 54 reasons. He previously held senior roles in the Victorian Government Department of Education and Training and Department of Premier and Cabinet. Howard is kept busy by three young children and is always trying to fit more writing, art and running into his life.

Sarah McNicol

Sarah is a senior executive at the Victorian Department of Education and has spent the last decade developing education policies in areas such as teacher workforce supply, initial teacher education and graduate teacher training. Sarah is also a member of the Victorian Institute of Teaching (VIT) Accreditation Committee. Sarah is passionate about improving the education system and making it a place where all students can thrive. Sarah holds a masters of laws from the Free University of Berlin and a masters of public policy from the University of Melbourne, she is also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. In her free time, Sarah likes to attend VicSRC board meetings, or go swimming with her young family. 

Brad Bowden

Brad is an emerging leader with experience in strategy, policy and communications across the public and non-profit sectors. He currently works at the Department of Families, Fairness and Housing, helping to build a more inclusive and equitable Victoria. Brad is passionate about helping to change the way that government works with communities, by giving more power and agency to communities to help design the policies and services that impact them. A challenge seeker driven by curiosity, outside of work Brad can be found writing endless lists of new culinary, cultural and creative experiences.

Grace McCoy

Grace is a policy nerd who is passionate about amplifying student voice to transform big messy systems. Grace has experience leading policy development within Commonwealth and Victorian Government agencies, with a particular focus on mental health and education. Grace also holds experience in the not-for-profit sector, she was previously Head of Policy and Advocacy at national mental health charity SANE Australia. She currently works for North Western Melbourne Primary Health Network focussed on suicide prevention and Aboriginal health and wellbeing. In her spare time, Grace enjoys hiking, yoga and live music (not at the same time).

Tim Warwick

Tim is the Founder of the Education Equity Alliance, an organisation focused on empowering students and teachers to realise a more equitable education system.  Previously, he has been a secondary school teacher, a primary school Principal and a Consultant for the Department of Education.  Tim is passionate about putting the lived experiences of students and teachers at the centre of decision-making, and about ensuring there are opportunities for them to meaningfully collaborate to improve education.  Outside of work, Tim enjoys a good book, an indie movie or a rom com, and catching up with friends and family. 

James Holland

James is a political advocate, specialising in disenfranchised communities. At federal peak bodies Health Equity Matters and NAPWHA, he promotes the rights of people living with HIV. Previously, James developed health and education strategies at Nous Group, ran a camp for teenagers from a refugee background, supported clients seeking asylum at Maurice Blackburn, researched youth unemployment at the Grattan Institute, completed a legal thesis on removing religious exemptions from LGBTQI+ anti-discrimination rules and promoted Australia to US Representatives whilst interning for Congressman Jerrold Nadler in Washington DC. James enjoys netball, beach walks, boardgames and trashy TV dramas.