Governance

Dr David Chehade - Public Officer, Co-Chair, Treasurer

David serves as the Treasurer of the Dara School Board. Beyond his role at Dara, David is a highly experienced leader with a strong background in business operations, governance, and strategic management. Currently serving as Head of Operations at Southern Vales Christian College, David has played a pivotal role in financial planning, change management, and infrastructure development across multiple campuses. His expertise in financial oversight, resource allocation, and strategic growth has led to significant cost savings and increased capacity within the education sector.
With a career spanning leadership roles in education, local government, the not-for-profit sector, and corporate management, David has successfully driven capital projects, secured major funding grants, and implemented long-term strategic plans. His extensive governance experience includes board membership, legal advisory roles, and human resource leadership.

Gerry Facenna KC - Co-Chair

Gerry has had a 25-year career as a barrister in London, advising and acting for the UK government, businesses, regulators and private clients in courts and tribunals in the UK and the European Union. His areas of specialism include administrative law and judicial review, civil liberties, competition law, consumer law, regulatory lawand privacy / data protection. He is a member of the Bar in England and Wales, the Faculty of Advocates in Scotland and the Bar of Ireland and has degrees from Cambridge University and Edinburgh University, and a postgraduate diploma from City, University of London. Gerry is accredited as a Mediator by the Australian Disputes Centre, is an experienced non-executive director in the UK, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). He has lived in South Australia with his family since 2020 and all three of his children have attended Dara.

Shangary Sri - Co-Chair

Shangary brings over a decade of leadership experience in higher education operations and governance. With a strong focus on financial turnaround and crisis management, she has successfully led major institutional transformations. Her expertise spans strategic planning, operational management, and resource optimization. Shangary is passionate about fostering educational innovation and ensuring operational excellence in the academic sector. As a Board and Advisory Board Member for various organizations, she provides strategic oversight and governance, contributing to impactful, sustainable growth in education and beyond.
Shangary is currently the Director of Operations at QUT. She holds a BSc (Hons) in Management from the London School of Economics and a Master of Education in Educational Management from the University of Melbourne. A Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD) and a certified Project Management Professional (PMP).

Kate Roff - Acting Secretary

Originally hailing from Western Australia, Kate Roff conducts research and lectures at the University of Adelaide, focusing on media studies and solutions journalism. She has over 20 years of experience in media in Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, and most recently Detroit, USA. She completed her Masters in Political Science at the University of Canterbury, and was an advisor to the U.S. Ambassador to New Zealand during the Obama administration. Kate has taught at high schools and universities, and she brings to the board her media and communication knowledge, a passion for inclusive pedagogy, and her experience as a long-time community member of The Roeper School, a renowned gifted school in Michigan. She will tell you, however, that her most humbling lessons have come from raising two gifted and neuro-spicy children, who both attend Dara.

Sophia Elliott

Sophia's career spans government, politics, and the non-profit sector. As a policy advisor to state government ministers in education, arts, and justice, she was deeply involved in party politics in Australia and the UK, running campaigns in Queensland, Scotland, and London. In Scotland, she became a regional manager for a social enterprise using arts to support vulnerable youth. Returning to Australia, she worked as a festival development manager before taking a career break for her second and third children. Inspired by parenting, she launched a podcast for parents of gifted kids, now in the top 5% globally.
She holds a BA (Visual Arts), a Grad Cert in Arts Administration, an MBA (Governance minor), and is completing a Grad Dip in Psychology. Her governance experience spans party politics, student unions, arts organizations, state parliamentary committees, a university board, and five years on Dara School's board, including three as Chair. An avid traveller, she enjoys train journeys, reading, and winter glamping with her family.

Simon Hayes

With more than 15 years’ experience working with the Chief Financial Officers of multinationals in multiple countries, Simon is an experienced strategy advisor and leadership consultant. Based in Singapore and Adelaide, Simon leverages his extensive network in business, finance, policymaking, defence and diplomacy to enable client success.
Simon is a Trustee of the Royal Society for Asian Affairs, London, a Fellow of St George’s House, Windsor Castle, a Member of the Adjudication Panel of the Australian Press Council, and a Non-Executive Director of Dara School. His prior roles include strategy consulting and journalism. He is a member of the UK Institute of Directors and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.