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Foundation Board Directors

The St John’s Foundation Board comprises current and past parents and students offering a diverse mix of skills and experience all with a mutual passion and belief in delivering an education for our students that will empower them to achieve their best in whatever pathway that they may have imagined.

St John’s Foundation Board of Directors

Mr Eric Trieu

Chair, St John’s Foundation Board
BA Commerce

Eric joined the Foundation Board as a Director in 2019 and was recently appointed as Chair of the Board in July 2023.

From the age of 20, Eric’s passion was with property, becoming the youngest fully licensed real estate agent in Victoria and running his first business through First National Real Estate.

In 2009 Eric Co-Founded, Empire Property Investors, to help others create wealth through educational workshops and seminars. Then in 2015, Eric joined Holden CAPITAL as a Director to further assist property developers in construction finance through bank finance, mezzanine finance, Joint Ventures & private funding. HoldenCAPITAL has settled over $1.2 Billion in Debt and Equity since 2012.

Eric is a great example of the pursuit of happiness, is an avid runner, enjoys supporting Forest Lake community initiatives and is a current parent of the College.


Dr Silviu Risco

Director, St John’s Foundation Board
PhD, Artificial Intelligence in Education

Silviu has been a Director on the Foundation Board since 2022 and a parent of the College for 13 years alongside his wife, Mihaela.

Within the Higher Education sector for over 20 years, teaching at Queensland University of Technology for more than 10 years, Silviu is currently working at The University of Queensland as Senior Manager for HR Systems. Silviu’s passion for education and the connection with St John’s Anglican College as a parent, motivates his strong sense of support towards the College. Silviu is keen to give back to the St John’s Family and Forest Lake Community.


Mr Jeremy Harris

Director, St John’s Foundation Board
B.Business (Accy), Accounting and Tax
CA

Jeremy and his wife Deborah have been parents of the College for over 19 years with five children attending the College.

Jeremy held office as Chair of the Foundation Board until 2018 following many years of leadership including supporting the College through the Stage 1 Auditorium Appeal. Jeremy remains an active member of the Foundation Board as a Director which he commenced in 2009.

While Jeremy was a partner of Brisbane based accountancy firm Gill, McKerrow and Associate for 22 years, in 2018 he refocused his business endeavours as Cofounder at The Grow CFO.


Mr Norm Jefferies

Director, St John’s Foundation Board
B.A.Sc, Information Technology
FAICD

Norm has been a Director on the Foundation Board since 2013 and a parent of the College for the last 15 years sharing four children with his wife Rachelle.

As Managing Director of locally based IT firm Computer Merchants, Norm has been an enormous supporter of both the College and the Foundation offering work place and employment opportunities to St John’s Old Collegians, hosting Foundation business events and supporting St John’s sporting endeavours.

In 2018 Norm was appointed to Chair of the Foundation Board and now continues in his role as a Director on the Board.


Mr Martin Bowden

Director, St John’s Foundation Board
B Bus (Accountancy), Taxation and Business Law
CPA
Chartered Accountant
Fellow of Taxation Institute – Certified Tax Advisor

Martin and his wife Michaela have three children and have been parents of the College since 2012. Both have been strong supporters of the College and Foundation Board events and initiatives.

Martin was Chair of the Finance Committee for Good News Lutheran School and currently sits as an Independent Member of the Finance and Development Committee for Lutheran Education Queensland. He was also part of the Foundation Committee that established Forest Lake Rugby, Forest Lake Little Athletics and built the community oval facilities off College Avenue. In supporting the Brisbane Junior Rugby Union and Queensland Junior Rugby Union, Martin has acted as Honorary Treasurer.

In 2018, Martin was officially appointed as a Director of the Foundation Board.

Bowden Liberatore is an accountancy and tax specialist firm in Darra, Brisbane of which Martin is founder and Managing Director.


Mrs Emma Dawson

Director, St John’s Foundation Board

Since graduating from St John’s in 2003, Emma obtained a Bachelor’s Degree in Arts in Asian and International Studies, majoring in Mandarin Chinese and International Business). Emma has subsequently been working in the international education sector, specialising in recruitment, marketing, communications, business administration and event management.

As a lifelong learner, Emma is in the process of completing her MBA.

Emma is the current President of the Old Collegians’ Association and has been a Director on the St John’s Foundation Board since October 2019.


Mr Benjamin Kozij

Director, St John’s Foundation Board

Benjamin is a past student of the College graduating in 2016. Ben is currently studying a Bachelor of Business Management at UQ.

Alongside his studies Ben enjoys giving back to the Community through various volunteering activities including being elected as a Councillor of the UQ Union representing the Business, Economics and Law Facilities. In addition, Ben works as event staff at QSAC and as an Assistant Operator at Skylighter FireworX.

Ben is immediate Past President of the Old Collegians’ Association and Director on the St John’s Foundation Board since July 2018.