As an Outdoor Ed instructor and leader, Adrian has taken large groups cycling from top to bottom of Africa and South America and worked as an assistant OES leader at Glenaeon Steiner School in Sydney. Through his Bachelor of Arts, Outdoor Education Extended at La Trobe University, Adrian received the annual Jon Martin Memorial Award, which ‘recognises and encourages the fullest involvement in study and enjoyment of life involving the outdoors.’ He has cycled unassisted around Tasmania for four weeks to raise money for breast cancer research and for six weeks through New Zealand and a rather chilly four weeks through France in winter. He has additional specialties in sea kayaking, canoeing, white water rafting and winter alpine environments. Adrian teaches Outdoor and Environmental Studies and Woodwork to students in years 7-10 and leads a number of the school’s outdoor adventures.

As well as her qualifications in outdoor and environmental education, Amy has a degree in Natural Resources Education from Latrobe University. At Latrobe she was awarded the Student Association scholarship for outstanding contribution to the student community, in previous years she took trips for schools as diverse as St Phillips College Alice Springs, Geelong Grammar School (Timbertop), Taylors Lakes Secondary College, and Camp Kaitoke (Wellington, New Zealand). She has been strongly involved with Wollangarra Outdoor Education Centre. Since joining Alice Miller in 2016, Amy has led an international trip to Italy and the Balkans, a number of extended walks including the Larapinta and Overland tracks, and countless other outdoor experiences that have fostered a passionate love for the outdoors and environment amongst the student community.

With qualifications in Outdoor Education (Latrobe, Bendigo), Youthwork (Chisholm TAFE), and Education (Charles Darwin University), Andy has been leading groups of young people in the outdoors for eleven years. As a trip leader, Andy has worked for a vast range of institutions including Timbertop, Carey Baptist Grammar, St Philip’s in Alice Springs, and Mittagundi, where he also served as a board member. Prior to Alice Miller, Andy worked at St Joseph’s Flexible Learning Centre, largely in a classroom teaching capacity.

Anne Browning B.A Dip. Act. Grad Dip. Ed. graduated from the Victorian College of the Arts Secondary College, and later, with a partner, started a youth theatre company in Perth, where they performed the first adaptation to the stage of works by Tim Winton. She taught at John Curtin Senior High School in Perth, before travelling internationally, which included stints teaching English in Belgium and working on a kibbutz in Israel. As a performer, Anne has appeared at La Mama, the Melbourne Theatre Company, the Queensland Theatre Company, the Playbox Theatre, and the Malthouse. She has directed for the Melbourne Theatre Company, Latrobe and Monash universities. She has been a teaching artist for the Victorian Arts Centre and ran VCE solo performance-making workshops for Malthouse Education. Anne teaches Drama, Theatre Studies and English at Alice Miller, along with coordinating the school’s productions.

Dr Bettina Lythgoe, Ph.D., B.Agr.Eng, Dip.Ed. grew up in Argentina, the daughter of European parents. After graduating from high school she backpacked through Europe for a year, and later cycled through Patagonia, and hiked across the Andes. Later still she hitched a ride with the Chilean Navy to the Antarctic, before coming to Australia, where she gained her doctorate from the University of Melbourne in plant physiology and agronomy. In 2015 she began teaching senior mathematics at Candlebark and now coordinates the Mathematics department at Alice Miller. Bettina is trilingual, speaking English, Spanish and German.

Dr Christine Mathieu, B.A. HON, Dip. Ed, PhD., was born and raised in France. She has lived in the UK, Australia, China, the United States and Spain. Christine is multilingual and is fluent in French, English, and Chinese, amongst others. She has taught at university level in the US and in Australia, as well as at Australian secondary schools. Christine is a professional anthropologist, educator, translator and author. Leaving Mother Lake, which she co-authored with Yang Erche Namu, was translated into fifteen languages. Her academic and professional fields are in ethnohistory and second language acquisition, Chinese studies, Chinese ethnic minority studies and art history, Aboriginal Australian Heritage, and Native Title research. Christine was one of the first western anthropologists to conduct fieldwork among the Mosuo people of southwest China. She is currently expert anthropologist for the Maduwongga people of the Kalgoorlie-Edjudina region in the WA Goldfields. Christine teaches French at Alice Miller.

As a teenager, Conan trained for the physics olympiad and travelled to Siberia to participate in an international mathematics competition. He graduated with an ATAR of 99 and completed a Bachelor of Science with first-class honours, before changing path and becoming a stage performer. Conan performed a mesmerising and visually spectacular soap bubble show accompanied by live improvised music that was a success at festivals and in theatres around Australia and internationally. As a teacher, Conan began his career at remote schools in the Northern Territory. More recently he established the mechatronics program at Gungahlin College in Canberra where he supervised student projects both modest and ambitious, including sending a student-designed electronic sensor suite to 30000m on a high altitude balloon. Conan has also been involved in curriculum design, being the lead course writer for the ACT Electronics and Mechatronics curriculum. On the sporting field, Conan won the inaugural Australian championships in both mountain unicycling and unicycle hockey. Conan teaches VCE Chemistry and Physics at Alice Miller School.

Conor grew up in the Macedon Ranges, attending school a stone’s throw away from Alice Miller. After close to ten years in Melbourne, where he obtained a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in Screen and Cultural Studies, a Master’s in Global Media Communication and a second in Teaching with First-Class Honours from the University of Melbourne, Conor is back home, heading the P.E. department and coordinating the Alice Miller Sports Program. He is an AFL tragic, holding strong allegiance with the Geelong Cats—but we won’t hold that against him. Conor is a keen runner in his spare time, currently eyeing off his first marathon.

Danny has a passion for all things mathematics and digital technology, particularly statistics and data analysis. A Canadian native, he gained invaluable industry experience in research and analysis before embarking on a rewarding career in education. He has enjoyed working with inspiring teams dedicated to improving student outcomes and is excited to continue his journey at Alice Miller.

Joining the Alice Miller staff in a full-time capacity in 2018, Dave Vertigan teaches VCE Media and the popular Motion Media elective. Dave studied Animation at the Victorian College of the Arts and has had production, voice-acting and post-production roles on a number of independent film projects.  Two of Dave’s animated short films have been screened in international film festivals. His film “Undead  Forever – Past-Death Hypnosis” was nominated for Best Achievement in Overall Design at the 2011  Animazing Spotlight festival in Los Angeles. Dave also has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Tasmanian  School of Art and a Bachelor of Teaching from the University of Tasmania, specialising in secondary  Visual Art and Multimedia. He has extensive and varied experience working in the disability support sector. A keen skateboarder, Dave also runs a small business producing limited and custom skateboard components.

Donna has been a well-loved staff member at Candlebark since 2009, where she taught English and Drama across the senior year levels. She teaches Drama, Theatre Studies, and Textiles for Years 7-10 at Alice Miller. Donna is passionate about the full gamut of theatre production, and her classes involve acting, set and costume design, lighting and sound. Donna has facilitated the participation of Alice Miller students in two Village Festivals, where students were involved in live performance, set building, festival set up and pack down, and pyrotechnics. Outside of school, Donna is heavily involved in theatre as a performer and puppeteer. She was a Lemony S Puppet Lab participant in 2024.

Glenda has a Diploma of Teaching (Primary), a Bachelor of Education and a Masters in Special Education, and provides literacy and learning support across the Alice Miller and Candlebark campuses. Her focus is on supporting students that learn differently and supporting their overall social and emotional development. An expert in cognitive load theory and explicit teaching methodologies, Glenda also provides professional development to our academic staff. Prior to joining Candlebark, Glenda worked in rural Queensland and Thailand as a teacher, with other stints in educational publishing and as a pharmaceutical representative.

Hartley Mitchell has had a distinguished career in education. He was formerly Head of History at Geelong College, Head of Staff Development at Geelong College, Head of House, Deputy Principal and Head of Corio at Geelong Grammar School, Vice Master of Ormond College, The University of Melbourne, and Dean and Acting Principal at Medley Hall, The University of Melbourne. His personal integrity and academic scholarship have earned him the highest reputation in educational circles. He teaches VCE and elective Humanities subjects at Alice Miller.

Previously the drummer in much-loved Australian band, Architecture in Helsinki, James now runs his own recording studio in the Macedon Ranges. James teaches sound recording and design and VET Music to the Alice Miller students from ‘The Tram’, a custom-built recording studio in a retired Yarra tram. James previously taught media and arts and sound design at RMIT. He lives locally with his partner and young children.

Before landing on the bushy shores of Alice Miller, John previously worked for 15 years at Preshil (Australia’s oldest progressive school) where he taught History, English, Global Politics and Media to a variety of year levels. He also established a thriving Kitchen Garden Programme which became integral to the school in many ways. After moving with his family to Kyneton in 2019, he worked for a time at the Malmsbury Detention Centre, again establishing a Kitchen Garden and working with the young people there in developing job ready skills in landscaping and hospitality. His path eventually wound through the shadows of the Macedon Ranges to the educational oasis of Alice Miller and he is very happy to be here.

Karyn Lehner graduated from La Trobe University with a First-Class Honours Degree in Literary Studies. During her time as an undergraduate, she was recognised as the highest-performing Honours student in the English Program as well as receiving university prizes for her writing on both Jane Austen and Australian Literature. Karyn went on to become immersed in academic life, undertaking a PhD under the supervision of world-renowned Austen expert John Wiltshire, whilst teaching across a diverse range of subject areas in the English Program as well as regularly lecturing on her specialist areas; Keats, Austen, the Romantic Period and animals in literature. Karyn’s strong interest in literary pedagogy was the driving force behind her scholarly research output, and her work on pedagogy has appeared in two notable publications: Approaches to Teaching Jane’s Mansfield Park and Curricular Innovations. Karyn transitioned from tertiary to secondary education to pursue an interest in teaching, completing a Graduate Diploma in Education from the University of Queensland. Karyn previously held a position at Trinity Grammar School teaching VCE English.
At Alice Miller, Karyn teaches senior English, is Year 12 Coordinator, and runs the school’s careers program.

Liam studied teaching and arts at Australian Catholic University, receiving two Executive Dean Commendations for attaining high-Grade Point Average scores. He earned an exemplary grade on his historiographical study on the ways in which Western historians have documented the plight of South Vietnamese peoples from 1975 through to the present day. Liam’s positive experiences as a student at Candlebark were hugely responsible for inspiring him to pursue teaching as a career. In his own time, Liam enjoys performing in local theatre productions, board games, and cooking meals for friends and family.

Liam teaches English and History to students from Years 7-12 at Alice Miller. He has played a leading role in developing teaching resources for the VCE Global Empires course.

Lisa is a Macedon local who has returned to the region with her partner to raise her family of three children. She has qualifications in Planning and Design and Art (Furniture Design), and extensive experience in administration. In 2007, Lisa relocated from Melbourne to Brisbane to establish and manage the interstate branch of Chapman and Bailey, a fine art stretchers, conservation framing and fine arts supplies business that currently continues operation. Lisa manages the office at Alice Miller and facilitates the day-to-day operations of the school.

After growing up between the New Forest in England and, later, the Macedon Ranges, Madeline moved to Melbourne and gained a Bachelor of Arts (Psychology) from the University of Melbourne, as well as a Master of Teaching from ACU.
While living in the city, she taught English at Bacchus Marsh Grammar, before moving back to the forest and joining the Alice Miller community.
Madeline is a passionate advocate for animal rights – having spent time volunteering at an animal sanctuary in New Zealand tending to pigs, cows, sheep, and cockatoos. She also regularly fosters kittens.

She is a keen long distance runner, and particularly enjoys getting outside with her dog on a frosty Macedon winter morning.

Currently, Madeline is living locally with her partner, learning to knit, and working on her first novel.

Manan has been teaching for fifteen years in both secondary and tertiary settings. In 2022, Manan worked at The MacRobertson Girls’ High School teaching IB Visual Arts, VCE Studio Arts, and digital and darkroom photography to Year 9 students. She has also taught at Suzanne Cory High School and previously at Sunbury Downs College. Originally from India, Manan holds a PhD in the faculty of Visual and Performing Arts, Guru Nanak Dev University, and worked as a senior lecturer and assistant professor at Kanya Maha Vidyalaya, Jalandhar. A Sunbury local, Manan’s artwork recently featured in a solo art show sponsored by the Hume City Council.

Marty Sharples (MSSc, BSSc, Dip.Ed) started at Alice Miller in 2021, teaching English, International Relations, Debating, and PE. In 2019, Marty returned to Australia after the best part of 16 years overseas, where he spent five years teaching at the International School of Phnom Penh, and eight years in the international development sector working for both the United Nations and AusAID. Among his achievements was assisting in the development of an innovative, world-first, scholarship program, providing international quality secondary education for some of the poorest students of Cambodia, and making an award-winning film, ‘The Cyclo Diaries’, documenting his world record attempt – riding a cyclo (rickshaw) the length of Vietnam over the course of a month. Marty and his wife Nanda have one daughter, Lucia. They speak Spanish at home. Marty is the founding president of the Lao Elephants Australian Rules Football Club and he has recently returned to his childhood obsession, cricket, after a 20-year hiatus. Results have been mixed.

Matt studied physics and mathematics with an interest in astrophysics, particularly around the formation of planets. After receiving his Ph.D. from Clemson University, Matt started down the path of research before committing to teaching at the secondary level full-time in 2011. He taught science and mathematics for over a decade in the United States at a small boarding and day school in St. Louis, Missouri. A passion for the science of learning led to administrative roles around faculty development, eventually leading to becoming the school’s fifth Head of School. While proud of his accomplishments in that role, Matt felt a separation from students and the classroom and decided to move to Australia with his partner, Ashley. In the classroom, Matt likes to empower students to take control of their learning and tries to create opportunities for students to explore curiosity. He is very excited to be a part of the Alice Miller community.

Meredith Penman (Mem) comes to teaching following many years of working as a professional actor and writer, performing with Bell Shakespeare Company, Melbourne Theatre Company, Sydney Theatre Company, Belvoir Street Theatre, Malthouse Theatre, Griffin Theatre, and Red Stitch Actor’s Theatre. While pursuing acting, Mem earnt several roles in Australian film and television and was an active member of many of Melbourne’s independent theatre companies. Her creative work has been acknowledged through several awards and scholarships, including a Sydney Theatre Award for Best Supporting Actress, the Richard Pratt Award for Outstanding Actor, a Goethe Institute Travelling Scholarship, and the ABC Radio National Ian Reed Scholarship for an Emerging Writer. Following the births of her children, Meredith pursued her newfound interest in young people’s development by undertaking a Master’s of Teaching at Deakin University, earning herself a Scholarship for Academic Excellence. She has since worked as a Teaching Aide and Literacy Tutor at Elwood College and as a teaching artist with Virtual School Victoria. Last year she was part of Deakin’s Access Quality Teaching program which places high-achieving students in low socio-economic schools.

Michael has a long and impressive history working in sets, props, and project and building maintenance for some of Australia’s leading arts organisations. He was the Production Designer, Workshop and Facility Manager at Circus Oz for over a decade, and created sets, props and circus equipment for shows and companies including the ‘Bluey’ USA and Australia tour, Paramount Pictures, Invisible Circus, Strange Fruit, and Raradara Physical Theatre. During the pandemic, Michael also worked as a Capital Works Project Manager & Facility Maintenance Works Manager for the Mitchell Shire Council.

Creativity and curiosity are the threads that twined together and brought Michelle to the Alice Miller community. Teaching is her second career. Her first followed an initial degree in Professional Writing, Editing and Literature, which saw her work in magazine and client publishing as an Editor, then in news media as a Journalist, and finally in special projects for local government. It was that last thing – the City of Ballarat’s municipal health and wellbeing report of 2009 – that caused an existential crisis: how could she write all that stuff about the benefits of lifelong learning and the impending threat of climate change and not do something? It seemed obvious: go back to school, become an educator and help young people have enough critical literacy to navigate the jargon in search of truth. (Encourage them to be brave, dress up and read Shakespeare along the way!) She likes words. She likes rocks as they tell amazing stories, too. She swims in Lake Daylesford. She likes challenging her brain with juggling, tap dancing, drawing and meditating. Mostly, though, Michelle loves nurturing things, and on that front, is most proud of her two big kids, Lochie and Freya. As empirical evidence.

Natasha studied cello performance at the University of Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Prior to completing a Master of Teaching at LaTrobe University, Natasha worked as a freelance cellist, performing in groups and as a soloist in Melbourne, Sydney and regional Victoria. Natasha maintains an active performance schedule and currently collaborates with a hyper-realist painter to create a series of exhibitions that portray time through music. Natasha has previously held teaching positions at Preshil and The BRIT School for Performing Arts and Technology – the leading contemporary arts school in the United Kingdom. Natasha has also worked as a Teaching Artist for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra’s Pizzicato Effect program. Outside of music, Natasha is a keen cyclist and hiker and speaks Swedish fluently. Natasha also holds a Master In Urban Horticulture and is on the University of Melbourne Dean’s Honour List in the Faculty of Science.

Rohan has had a successful career as a professional bass player in outfits such as The Congos, The Red Eyes, Prince Alla, and King Canoe.

For the past 17 years, Rohan has been teaching and coordinating the instrumental music program at Craigieburn Secondary College. Commencing at Alice Miller School as a drums and bass teacher, Rohan joins the school in a classroom teaching and music coordination capacity in 2023.

Sally joined Alice Miller in 2021. Sally has worked in various positions in retail management and the hospitality sector alongside many volunteer roles at the local Primary School and in the sporting community. She is the proud mother of 4 boys and enjoys being part of and supporting their many sporting endeavours.

Skye Myers, BA Dip Ed., began teaching Classical Studies over twenty years ago at Bendigo Senior Secondary College. Skye wears a number of hats at Alice Miller. She teaches Philosophy to our VCE students and oversees the student academic programs and administrative components of the VCE. Skye also established Alice Miller’s wellbeing program with Mark Johnstone, and now manages this program. Aside from being a die-hard advocate for the Greek Classical world over the Roman, Skye is a wife, mother, chicken wrangler, classical Cellist, yoga teacher, a devotee of starchy carbohydrates, and a very keen knitter and crochet-er.

Stuart joined the staff of Alice Miller in 2018. He teaches English, Literature and Creative Writing, and has inspired an outpouring of poetry writing within the school. Previously, he was the Head of English at The Australian International Academy, an Islamic high school in Coburg. He has travelled extensively, journeying overland from the Himalayas, through the Subcontinent and Central Asia to Western Europe. He has written and performed solo shows that have been staged at The Malthouse Theatre and The Queens Theatre in Adelaide. He is presently writing a suite of short stories about artificial intelligence and completing the second of a trilogy of young adult novels about a school in space.