Our Corporate Executive and senior staff are leaders in education strategy, planning and innovation, providing the best possible environment for schools and students to thrive.
The Department of Education is responsible to the Hon Sabine Winton MLA, Minister for Education; Early Childhood.
We are also responsible to Hon Dr Tony Buti MLA, Minister for Tertiary and International Education, on strategic matters relating to international education.
Corporate Executive
Jay Peckitt 
Director General
Jay Peckitt was appointed as Director General in 2024, moving to the role from his position as Deputy Director General, Education Business Services.
Jay has worked for Western Australia’s public sector for more than 20 years. He has held senior positions across several departments including child protection, finance and communities, as well as education.
Jay holds a Bachelor of Business and a Graduate Diploma of Applied Corporate Governance and is a Fellow of CPA Australia. In 2018 the Western Australian Institute of Public Administration Australia named him Chief Financial Officer of the Year and Young Leader of the Year.
Steve Watson
Deputy Director General, Schools
Steve Watson first commenced as the Deputy Director General, Schools in July 2024. Steve brings to the role his experience as Director of Education at the North Metropolitan Education Regional Office. His extensive experience leading special educational needs schools includes teaching in deaf education for 17 years. Steve has 25 years of experience working in regional and metropolitan schools and services.
Melesha Sands 
Deputy Director General, People and Student Achievement
In September 2024, Melesha commenced in this role after 3.5 years as Deputy Director General, Schools. Focused on ensuring the best outcomes for every student, Melesha leads the integration of teaching practice with workforce strategy and services to strengthen support for teaching and learning excellence.
Melesha’s leadership has been instrumental in driving key initiatives, including the Incident Support Unit, agricultural education, Program Kaartdijin, regional learning initiatives and the Kimberley Schools Project.
Her extensive experience in education includes principal roles at Swan View Senior High School and Belridge Secondary College and leadership positions in regional and metropolitan secondary schools.
A 2017 Principal Fellow, Melesha has made significant contributions to the public school system in strategic planning, innovation and progressing the Department’s leadership strategy.
Jen McGrath
Deputy Director General, Education Business Services
In March 2025, Jen commenced in the role of Deputy Director General of Education Business Services. She previously held the position from 2015 to 2019.
Jen has more than 20 years of experience in senior executive roles in large and complex government organisations. Her recent roles include Deputy Director General of Capability and Performance at the Department of Local Government, Sport and Cultural Industries and Mental Health Commissioner.
Jen has also worked in the departments of child protection, finance, and the Premier and Cabinet. She is also a certified practising accountant with a Bachelor of Commerce.
Martin Clery
Executive Director, Statewide Services
Martin Clery leads the division responsible for delivering support services to school staff and students to improve student achievement and outcomes, including teaching and learning resources, professional learning for teachers and school leaders, and support for students with specific learning needs.
Martin brings considerable experience in education across Western Australia, teaching in regional and metropolitan schools and working in central support roles.
Martin reports to the Deputy Director General, People and Student Achievement.
Karen Roberts
Executive Director, People Services
Karen Roberts was appointed as the Executive Director Workforce (now People Services) in June 2024 and comes with extensive public sector experience in leading human resource management functions. Prior to Education, Karen held leadership roles at the University of Western Australia, the WA Police Force and the Department of Fire and Emergency Services.
Karen holds a Master's degree in Human Resources and a Master's in Public Policy and Management, a Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Karen is a previous recipient of the WA Institute of Public Administration Australia’s Human Resource Management Practitioner of the Year and Leader of the Year working in a division or team.
Karen reports to the Deputy Director General, People and Student Achievement.
Mary Brown
Executive Director, Professional Standards and Conduct
Mary Brown was appointed to this position in 2022. Ms Brown has had a distinguished career in a variety of roles in both public and private settings and brings a wealth of experience in executive leadership to the Department.
Mary has extensive experience from her time with the WA Police Force, and most recently held roles at the Corruption and Crime Commission and Deloitte.
Mary was previously with the Department in 2020 when she led a reform and business improvement project.
Juanita Healy
Executive Director, School Curriculum and Standards
Juanita Healy is responsible for leading the development of curriculum, assessment and standards for student achievement in all schools across Western Australia.
Juanita has many years of experience in Kindergarten to Year 12 education leadership, having held executive roles in the Department of Education and the School Curriculum and Standards Authority, and teaching in regional and metropolitan schools.
Juanita holds a Master of Education (Policy and Administration), is a member of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority Board, and is Chair of the Australasian Curriculum, Assessment and Certification Authorities' vocational education and training committee.
Juanita reports to the chair of the School Curriculum and Standards Authority and maintains a strategic reporting relationship with the Director General.
Raechelle Lee
Executive Director, Strategy and Policy
Raechelle Lee is responsible for leading system-wide strategy and policies to support Department and student outcomes.
Raechelle comes to this position as Director, Intergovernmental Relations, following considerable experience across the education portfolio leading organisational priorities in complex policy environments. She started her early career as a teacher and has worked in a range of policy-related roles in central and statewide services since 2007, including in Aboriginal Education.
Milanna Heberle 
Executive Director, Enterprise Governance and Partnerships
Milanna has more than 30 years’ experience in public education, having held executive and leadership positions in central services, regional and metropolitan schools, including 10 years of experience as a secondary school principal.
Milanna is acknowledged as a strong, innovative and visionary leader who has participated in a variety of educational committees and contributed extensively to system initiatives. As part of the Department’s leadership strategy, Milanna undertook studies at Harvard University in 2019 and during 2021–22, led the Department’s response to COVID-19 where she was instrumental in ensuring schools followed advice for public health and social measures from Western Australia’s Chief Health Officer.
In her current role, Milanna is responsible for managing and overseeing complex system-wide programs and projects.
Marie-Anne Keeffe
Director, Communications 
Marie-Anne Keeffe (MAK) was appointed to lead our Communications team in 2023, bringing extensive experience in communications and media in Western Australia.
MAK spent 25 years at Channel 7 Perth, including as Telethon General Manager where she helped raise more than $80 million for sick children. She was also an executive producer for Today Tonight, produced Howard Sattler’s top-rating radio show on 6PR and ran a boutique strategic communications and media training agency in Perth.
Most recently MAK was seconded to Consumer Protection as campaign manager for the COVID-19 taskforce where she was able to combine her communications and legal skills.
Richard Miles
Director, Teacher Registration
Richard Miles was appointed in 2013 and is responsible for secretariat services to the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia, including administration of registration services to more than 50,000 teachers, assessment and investigation of disciplinary and impairment matters involving registered teachers, and accreditation of initial teacher education programs.
Richard has a Master of Arts (Political Science), Bachelor of Laws and Graduate Diploma in Practical Legal Training.
Richard reports to the chair of the Teacher Registration Board of Western Australia and the Director General.
Senior staff
Philippa Beamish Burton
Executive Director, Finance and Commercial Services
Philippa Beamish Burton joined the Department in late 2017 as the Director Financial Planning and Resourcing. With more than 19 years’ experience in the Western Australian public sector, Philippa has held senior positions at the former Department for Child Protection and Family Support and the Department of Communities.
Philippa has a Bachelor of Business, is a Certified Practising Accountant, and was awarded the Chief Financial Officer of the Year at the 2022 W.S. Lonnie Awards. Philippa was also named the Finance Practitioner of the Year by the Institute of Public Administration Australia in 2017 and 2022.
Philippa reports to the Deputy Director General, Education Business Services.
David Dans
Chief Information Officer
David Dans was appointed to this position in 2017 and is responsible for information and communication technology services, including strategic service delivery, infrastructure and telecommunications, e-learning and business systems, student information systems and ICT governance.
David has over 30 years’ experience working in the technology and commercial arena for public and private sectors in Australia and overseas. Before joining the Department, he was Chief Digital Officer at Landgate.
David reports to the Deputy Director General, Education Business Services.
Anna Brown
Executive Director, Infrastructure
Anna reports to the Deputy Director General, Education Business Services.
Vicki McKeown
Executive Director, Schooling Operations and Initiatives
Vicki McKeown has worked for the Department of Education for 35 years, with over 20 years in school and system leadership roles.
She was awarded the Public Service Medal (PSM) in the Australia Day 2021 Honours List for her work in shifting the culture and reputation of Coodanup College as its principal.
Vicki has previously worked as a director of Public School Review and Principal Professional Review, and assistant director of the South Metropolitan Education Region.
Paul Bridge
Advisor, Cultural Responsiveness and Aboriginal Perspectives
Paul Bridge has held leadership and principal positions across the Kimberley Education Region. As an Aboriginal educator of immense experience, he is aware of the critical challenges facing Indigenous students in public schools and also in rural and remote community schools.
Paul has been involved in projects liaising with Aboriginal communities, government agencies, universities and community bodies. Paul is also a ministerially appointed member of the Rural and Remote Education Advisory Council and a previous Senior Vice President of the State School Teacher’s Union of WA.
Paul Bridge now holds the role of Advisor, Cultural Responsiveness and Aboriginal Perspectives.
Ivan Banks
Assistant Executive Director, Examinations, Certification and Testing
Ivan has more than 30 years of experience as a school leader and more than 20 years of experience as a principal in Western Australian high schools.
Ivan leads the directorate responsible for the development and administration of high-quality examination, testing and certification programs to instil confidence in the Western Australian curriculum and standards of achievement. This includes maintaining the integrity of the Western Australian Certificate of Education (WACE) and the administration of the Online Literacy and Numeracy Assessment (OLNA) and the National Assessment Program for Literacy and Numeracy (NAPLAN) in Western Australia. It also includes researching how technology is used in testing, assessment and certification, and researching strategies to report student engagement with the general capabilities on the Western Australian Statement of Student Achievement (WASSA).
Ivan reports to the Executive Director, School Curriculum and Standards.
Assistant Executive Director, Professional Capability
This position reports to the Executive Director, Statewide Services.
Stuart Percival
Assistant Executive Director, Service Delivery
Stuart has significant experience in public education. He has held executive and leadership positions in central services and schools. He was the principal of the Schools of Special Educational Needs: Sensory and Disability. He was also the principal of Durham Road School for 13 years.
Throughout his career, Stuart has served on various state and national educational committees. He has played a pivotal role in system initiatives, particularly in the area of disability.
In his current role, Stuart leads the implementation of integrated support and service delivery for schools to improve educational outcomes and student achievement. This extends to overseeing projects and initiatives in early childhood education, swimming and secondary education.
Stuart reports to the Executive Director, Statewide Services.
Catherine Shepherd
Executive Director, Statewide Services – Delivery and Operations
Catherine Shepherd leads and oversees professional capability activities to improve student achievement by enabling teaching and leadership excellence.
Catherine has significant school and system leadership experience. Previously Assistant Executive Director, Student Support and Aboriginal Education, and Director, Student Support Services, she has led major education reform and initiatives to strengthen support of schools, build professional capability, and support student achievement and wellbeing. Having led regional, remote and metropolitan schools, she has extensive insights into the needs of schools in their various contexts.
Directors of education
Directors of education report to the Deputy Director General, Schools.
Nathan Morton
Director of Education, Goldfields
Nathan Morton joined the Goldfields Education Region in 2022 as principal of the region’s largest high school, Kalgoorlie-Boulder Community High School. Nathan has also held leadership and principal roles in various metropolitan schools.
Nathan brings extensive experience in complex case management. He is passionate about providing a safe and equitable learning environment for all students. Nathan drives change and innovation in the Goldfields region through inter-agency and inter-school collaboration.
Paul Bridge
Director of Education, Kimberley
Paul Bridge has held leadership and principal positions across the Kimberley Education Region. As an Aboriginal educator of immense experience, he is aware of the critical challenges facing Indigenous students in public schools and also in rural and remote community schools.
Paul has been involved in projects liaising with Aboriginal communities, government agencies, universities and community bodies. Paul is also a ministerially appointed member of the Rural and Remote Education Advisory Council and a previous Senior Vice President of the State School Teacher’s Union of WA.
Lisa Criddle
Director of Education, Midwest
Lisa led the Midwest Education Region from 2020 to 2023, having also previously been a director in the Goldfields Education Region and the Principal of Allendale Primary School. Lisa brings extensive experience from both a school and system level, was named WA Primary Principal of the Year in 2017, and is a Principal Fellow.
Lisa now holds the position of Director of Education, Midwest.
Cheryl Townsend
Director of Education, North Metropolitan
Cheryl had her contributions to public education acknowledged by being a WA Education Awards finalist for WA Secondary Principal of the Year (2016 and 2017), Australian Council for Educational Leaders Certificate of Excellence in Educational Leadership (2017), winner of the 2017 Women of Achievement Award and is a Principal Fellow.
Cheryl was a principal advisor driving Department initiatives before commencing her leadership role in the South Metropolitan Education Region.
Ash King 
Director of Education, Pilbara
Ash served as a public school principal for 25 years in various regions in Western Australia. He has significant experience in areas with high needs and low socioeconomics. Ash is passionate about providing equity for all students. He is energised by the benefits this brings to students and their families.
Ash has been the Vice President of the Western Australian Primary Principals' Association (WAPPA) as well as its Director of Professional Learning. He has held positions on the Australian Primary Principals Association National Advisory Council. He also led projects with local universities incorporating partnerships with international school leadership.
Sue Cuneo
Director of Education, South Metropolitan
Sue is an experienced educational leader who has held a variety of principal positions in regional and metropolitan schools before engaging in system leadership roles in central services and director level leadership across 5 education regions.
Sue actively promotes diversity and equity of education for all students across Western Australia, understanding the need to develop and maintain a genuine connection to community.
Dainon Couzic
Director of Education, South West
Dainon is an experienced leader in education. He served as the Assistant Director of Education for the South West Education Region from 2021 to 2024. Before this, he held leadership roles at large secondary schools in regional and metropolitan areas. Dainon was a finalist for the Secondary Principal of the Year award in 2019 and a fellow in 2017. He received the Fogarty Foundation Success Through Educational Excellence Master of School Leadership Prize in 2016. He is an inclusive leader who is passionate about helping schools and students succeed and reach their potential.
Sally Panizza
Director of Education, Wheatbelt
Sally has led school and system reforms through an evidence-based, strategic and collaborative approach to change management. To achieve positive outcomes, she has drawn on her extensive business experience and interpersonal acumen. Sally’s principal appointments cover Kindergarten to Year 12 settings, including principal of a district high school and a WA College of Agriculture. Sally was the first female director of Agricultural Education, a finalist for the Women of Achievement Award in 2021 and is a principal fellow.