Staff
Dr Fiona joined the National Institute as an adjunct lecturer soon after finishing her own Masters with the Institute. At that time, Fiona was teaching mostly in music education and religion studies at Torrens Valley Christian School, a CEN school in Adelaide. Fiona was head of middle school and commenced her Education Doctorate exploring preservice teacher education for the middle years. After completing her doctorate in 2010, Fiona continued to lecture for the Institute and Tabor College Adelaide in adjunct roles. She served as school Professional Learning and T&L coordinator for a few years.
In 2017, Fiona was appointed as state executive officer for the SA CEN schools. She commenced working part time for the Institute and CEN professional learning. In 2023, Fiona took up the full-time role of principal of the Institute. As part of her principal role, Fiona serves on the CEN senior leadership team and is editor of the Christian Teachers Journal.
Fiona enjoys teaching the core subjects and a range of electives for the Institute. She is particularly interested in teacher formation, leadership, and cross-cultural perspectives. Fiona has Noongar Aboriginal heritage, something she is keenly learning more about. On the weekends, Fiona is usually found on her road bike or running and hiking the forest trails followed by a good coffee. She lives in the Adelaide Hills and serves regularly in her church music team.
Julia joined NICE in 2021, overseeing the MEd and faculty research programs. With a PhD in Sociology from UTAS, Julia’s teaching focuses on biblical research frames and forming educators whose educational scholarship is founded on God’s love.
Chris is a Senior Lecturer with the National Institute for Christian Education, with a focus on coaching and mentoring.
Chris and his wife, Naomi, have three wonderful teenagers who love Jesus. They fellowship with Kingborough Family Church.
Charlie taught for 32 years, most of those at Tyndale Christian School in Blacktown, but with some time at Marrara Christian School in Darwin and a government secondary school in Sydney. Many of those years have involved the teaching of Mathematics, Commerce, Economics and Studies of Religion. He served at Tyndale as Mathematics coordinator through most of the 1980’s and as Deputy Principal in various configurations from 1991 to 2009. In 2011 he was appointed Principal at Mountains Christian College at Blackheath.
He completed a Doctorate in Education through the Australian Catholic University in 2001 on the topic “Christian Parent-Controlled Schools in Australia – Foundational Values and Prevailing Practices” and has interests in learning styles, educational leadership, maths education and research. He has worked as an adjunct lecturer with the National Institute since 2001 and has been appointed as Senior Lecturer from the beginning of 2010.
Sam is the Manager of Biblical Foundations at CEN and a lecturer with the National Institute for Christian Education. He previously served as a theology and education lecturer in the School of Social Practice in Auckland, New Zealand. His research interests include systematic theology, epistemology, cultural engagement, metamodernism, new spiritualities, and the study of emerging generations.
Sam presents in a wide range of contexts across Australia and is committed to contributing to the ongoing conversation about Christian education in a changing world.
Sarah is familiar with the Christian education community, having worked in various administration roles at Tyndale Christian School (NSW) including receptionist duties, PA to the principal, community relations officer, and EA to the deputy principal.
After the birth of her sons, Sarah has been working as the administrator of the co curricular sport academy at St Paul’s Grammar School.
Sarah is involved in the Strong Nations Church, in Nepean where she currently volunteers in Kids Church and Creche.
Rev Dr Rod Thompson
BA, PipEd, MEdS, PhD
Emeritus Principal
Rod has been married to Rosanne for over 45 years. They have four adult children and eight grandchildren. Rod has taught in both government and Christian high schools. In 2003 he completed a PhD at Macquarie University exploring the foundational impact of the Bible on Christian schooling in Australia. Rod served as the National Principal/CEO of Laidlaw College in Auckland, New Zealand from 2010-2015. In 2016 Rod and Rosanne returned to Sydney to be closer again to family. Rod was minister in the pastoral team of Springwood Presbyterian Churches in Sydney’s Blue Mountains for a number, as well as working for Christian Education National (CEN) in the Professional Learning and Biblical Foundations spaces, and various work for the National Institute for Christian Education (NICE). Although retired from formal working roles, he continues to be involved with CEN and NICE.
Adjunct Lecturers
Bio coming soon!
While Ken is currently a senior adjunct lecturer for the National Institute for Christian Education, his history of working with the Institute dates back to 1998 when he began as an adjunct lecturer. Ken was Principal of the Institute (2009-2016) and CEO of Christian Education National (2009-2015). Before entering the tertiary sector, Ken was a school teacher for 30 years. His teaching career was equally divided among public schools and Christian schools–the latter involving leadership positions. Although initially a primary teacher, Ken has taught right across the K-12 spectrum. His academic interests concern the theology and philosophy of Christian education and leadership. His PhD with UNSW dealt with the integration of Christian faith with vision and practice of two Christian school groups. Ken is a frequent speaker at conferences and has written many articles for The Christian Teachers Journal and Nurture. He has often reviewed submissions for peer-reviewed publications. He has contributed chapters and co-edited Engaging the culture: Christians at work in education and Pointing the way: Directions for Christian education in a new millennium. His writings have recently been compiled in a publication entitled A tale of two worldviews.
Ken lives with his wife Jennie in the Blue Mountains of NSW. They have four adult children and lots of grandchildren. Ken enjoys reading, doing home projects, and watching rugby and cricket.
Jill Ireland and her mining engineer husband Stephen have five children (born 1986 -1996), who all went to Bega Valley Christian College in its pioneering phase. Jill has been involved with the National Institute for Christian Education since 1995, as student, Council member and, more recently, Senior Lecturer. Most of her publications have been on literature for children and adolescents, with a particular interest in exploring worldviews.
Jill was one of the editors of Pointing the Way (2014) and Engaging the Culture (2014) and she is on the editorial committee for the Christian Teachers Journal. As Caltex Woman Graduate of the Year for Tasmania, Jill completed research for a Master of Letters on the poetry of John Donne and T.S. Eliot at Oxford University in 1983. She has a Masters in Education from the National Institute for Christian Education and a PhD on the influence of literary theories on the teaching of year 12 English. A number of the participants in her research highlighted conflicts between their Christian worldview and specific literary theories.
Jill has taught medieval to modern literature at the Bega campus of the University of Wollongong for 18 years. Her academic work has included lecturing in the BA/BEd program for Eastern College Australia and in the Masters program for NICE.
Jill and Stephen enjoy visiting their children and grandchildren, in the city and the central west. By having no television Jill finds time to play the oboe, read voraciously, and conduct knitting experiments.
Chris is an experienced Christian educator having held positions in both Christian schooling and the Christian tertiary sector. Christian has worked in three Christian schools, holding a number of positions, including leadership roles. Chris’ experience in Higher Education includes lecturing in undergraduate teacher education programs as well in several Master of Education courses.
Chris wrote Who we are matters: Reflections on Christian school leadership (2023). He also contributed chapters and edited Heartbeat: Encouraging biblical faithful education and co-edited Reflections: Conversations on Christian schooling and worldview.
Chris’ doctoral studies were on leaders perceptions and practices of Christian schooling. Chris was formerly the Principal of the National Institute for Christian Education.
Miriam joined the National Institute for Christian Education in 2012. She currently teaches adult learning.
Her research interests are primary and secondary STEAM education, student engagement, and the use of creative methodologies.
Peter is the Deputy Principal Teaching and Learning (K-12) at St Philip’s Christian College Gosford, on the NSW Central Coast. He has worked at the school for nearly 3 years. Prior to that, Peter worked at Covenant Christian School, Pacific Hills Christian School, and Bega Valley Christian College. During his time at St Philip’s Christian College Gosford, Peter has served in a Director of Studies role, and is involved in teacher development and professional development across the group of SPCC schools through the St Philip’s Teaching School.
Peter’s key professional interests include setting the vision and mission for Christian schools, and seeing how foundational values lead to practice in the class room. He has worked with CEN and the National Institute for Christian Education in the area of developing Teachers of Mathematics, and was involved in the development of CEPA. Peter’s role at SPCC Gosford is directly related to curriculum, monitoring and providing feedback to the teachers in regard to what it means to teach from a Christian Perspective. He is currently working on a research project in regard to the development of teachers ready for the Christian school classroom. Peter has a passion for developing in his students an appreciation for the wonder and awe of God, through all of life. Peter often speaks at conferences on Teaching Christianly in Mathematics.
Peter and his wife Heidi, live in Terrigal on the NSW Central Coast. They have three teenage daughters. Emily works in the childcare industry, and Grace and Amy attend St Philip’s Christian College Gosford. When Pete is not hanging out with his family, you can most likely find him walking his dog at the beach or watching his beloved Manly Sea Eagles playing!
Dean taught for over a decade in government and CEN schools, spending six years in remote Indigenous communities. During this time, he worked alongside Indigenous educators to design curriculum for literacy education in Indigenous first language.
Dean began a pastoral role at Light Church on Yorke Peninsula in 2020, and in 2025 completed his minor thesis in biblical studies, “The Effectiveness of Relevance Theory for Translation Evaluation,” looking at Bible translations for Australian Aboriginal readers.
Dean lives on the beautiful Yorke Peninsula, South Australia, with his wife Jess and four sons
I am a mother, a wife, a daughter. I am a teacher, a leader and a life-long learner. My interests and abilities sit across a broad field, as I find myself to be a mix of the creative and the technical. In the area of performing arts: you may find me directing productions on the stage or leading a church in worship. You may come across me working in a leadership capacity to oversee a team of volunteers or staff, identifying and developing new leaders, establishing new skills and routines, seeing their potential and building upon it in partnership with them, readying them to be released into leadership. In the area of educational-technology: I have studied across the Education and Computing disciplines. My PhD thesis focused on examining the socio-technical contexts of schooling, identifying place-based factors emanating from cultural, institutional, historical and material influences that hinder meaningful ICT integration. The study resulted in the development of a collaborative, user-led model for technology leadership that emphasises the power of student and teacher voice in driving technological change. Thus, you may find me writing new ICT policies, modules and subjects, and creatively launching them within classrooms and the school community. You could find me supporting teachers and pre-service teachers with strategies for ICT integration that take into consideration the realistic nature of the schooling system, teaching schedules and pressures that inadvertently hinder their levels of engagement; or perhaps training up student eLeaders to drive technological change in their schools.You may even find me working on the other side of the world with my outreach initiative: Kids Reaching Kids, teaching children to recognise need in their world and actively pursuing ways of meeting those needs. Whichever aspect of me you come across, you will encounter me as a person who is passionate about what I do, committed and ready to drive change and partner in educating others in supportive and nurturing ways. It is such an honour to live this amazing life we have been given, with its highest highs, its lowest lows and the wonders of the in-between. For me, it’s all about bringing Jesus’ heart into everything I do and to every person I meet; in partnership with Him, not even the sky is the limit!
Andrew began as a teacher in the 70s when Christian Education was still young and became excited about the Gospel reaching into every part of schooling. Pursuing questions of how this shapes our curriculum led to continued post graduate studies with NICE and others. Working with many teams of teachers to develop curriculum from Christian Foundation over the years. he has provided leadership in establishing alternative programs such as VCAL. In the past 11 years he has been a senior lecturer at Eastern College Australia assisting them to develop a B Ed and Master of teaching that prepares teachers for the Christian schools in Victoria.
Michael Street is the Director of Teacher Development at Green Point Christian College on the New South Wales Central Coast and a director of the History Teachers Association of NSW. He started his career in 2012 as an English teacher and steadily moved across to History teaching in 2016. Michael has taught in Christian and state schools in New South Wales and has also worked for Sekolah Pelita Harapan in Jakarta, Indonesia. He was the recipient of the 2019 NSW Premier’s History Teachers HTA Scholarship and a 2021 scholarship recipient in the Gandel Holocaust Studies Program for Australian Educators. As part of the NSW Premier’s Scholarship, Michael travelled to the USA and UK to conduct research into the historiography of witch hunts and witch trials. Michael speaks regularly at state and national conferences, delivering pedagogical support to History teachers on a range of topics, with special focus on the history of witch hunts, Apartheid in South Africa, and the Cold War.
Michael completed a Bachelor of Arts/Bachelor of Education through UNSW in 2012. He then completed a Master of Education with the National Institute for Christian Education in 2017 and a Master of Research in Education through Macquarie University in 2021. His research passions focus on the intersection between Christian Education, teacher wellbeing and educational psychology. Flowing out of this passion, Michael is currently working towards a PhD in Education at Macquarie University, exploring the relationship between the religious ethos of faith-based schools and sources of teacher self-efficacy.
Michael is married to Richelle and is the father of five children. Every day is busy, every day God is gracious.
Emily has enjoyed exploring a number of academic roles alongside part-time teaching and leadership in 2025. This eclectic year has held lecturing, tertiary supervision, research assisting and project managing, as well as continuing to serve at Palmerston Christian College. In 2026 she steps into the role of Teacher Training Hub Coordinator with NT Christian Schools, overseeing the trainee teachers and working to grow the program across the system of schools. Emily continues as an adjunct lecturer with the National Institute for Christian Education and Alphacrucis University College. She is beginning the data collection for her PhD studies and is looking forward to connecting with a wide range of Christian schools in Australia as she explores induction practices and changing teacher pathways.
Emily is married to David and is the mother of four rapidly growing sons. She has written and self-published two books of poetry over the past two years exploring beauty in everyday life. Emily enjoys the laid-back lifestyle of the Northern Territory, and the rock-climbing gym has opened the whole family love it!
David Loewen is the executive director of the Society of Christian Schools in British Columbia. Prior to that he served as the superintendent of Surrey Christian School, a group of three Christian Schools and three early learning centres in British Columbia. He has served as a teacher and principal at both elementary and secondary levels.
Dave’s PhD focused on organisational theory and leadership studies with research interests in communicative ethics. He is an adjunct faculty member of Trinity Western University’s Master of Arts in Leadership program and is currently studying Theology at Regent College and serves as a mentor in their Master of Arts Degree in Leadership, Theology and Society.
Dave is married to Sharlene and has three children, and two super energetic dogs. He finds being in creation (hiking, climbing, paddle-boarding, biking), reading good books, and being with people life-giving.
Bronwyn is passionate about Christian education and its role in equipping young people to undertake their royal task of being fruitful and cultivating the kingdom. Her PhD research into a Kingdom-shaping Christian education for Shalom in a market driven context highlighted that such an education is about formation where God’s Word penetrates the heart, is imbued in incarnational living, and demonstrated through action that is others oriented. Her role as an adjunct lecturer at NICE involves lecturing on Curriculum Development in Christian schools where participants are facilitated to explore the lenses behind their curriculum documents and consider that a distinctively Christian education that is formational must be intentionally designed. Bronwyn is married to Fred and is the mother of two boys. She enjoys reading, quilting, and early morning trail running.
Joel van Bentum is an adjunct lecturer with the National Institute for Christian Education, contributing his extensive experience in educational leadership and Christian schooling. He currently serves as principal of Green Point Christian College, following significant leadership roles including principal of Marrara Christian College, head of NT Christian College, and director of Transforming Training.
Joel holds a Master of Education (Leadership) and a Graduate Diploma of Education from the National Institute for Christian Education, as well as a Bachelor of Education (Secondary) from the University of Sydney. He also holds certificates in Training and Assessment and Leadership and Management.
He has presented at various conferences, including the Northern Territory Christian Schools Over The Top Conference and Roadshow, and is passionate about staff wellbeing, professional learning, and the development of educational frameworks grounded in Christian worldview. His leadership is shaped by a commitment to servant-hearted, relational, and strategic practice.
Joel lives in Umina Beach, New South Wales. Outside of work, he is actively involved in his church and enjoys CrossFit, soccer, water skiing, playing the trumpet, singing, and reading.