NTBOS board members

The Northern Territory Board of Studies (NTBOS) board meets approximately 4 times per year.

NTBOS has a mixed model of membership with 11 members including 6 education experts.

Members consist of:

• 1 Department of Education officer nominated by the Chief Executive
• 4 stakeholder representatives (parent, teacher, employer and Indigenous)
• 2 expert members drawn from the Catholic Education Office Northern Territory and the Association of Independent Schools Northern Territory
• 4 expert members nominated by the Minister.

This model brings a balance of views to NTBOS and maintains the cooperative arrangement between the government and non-government school sectors in the Northern Territory.

NTBOS can set up committees that will allow the board to inform itself on specific matters and seek the views of particular stakeholder groups.

Current members

Marion Guppy

Chairperson and Expert Member
Term of Office: 02/03/23 to 30/06/25

Mrs Guppy’s career embodies the wealth of opportunities and experiences available to those who teach in the Northern Territory. In her 40 years of service, she has been a teacher, Principal, Regional and Secondary Education Executive Director, and Deputy Chief Executive for the department. Although retired, Mrs Guppy maintains a passion for education, is optimistic about our young people and committed to the staff who dedicate their lives to Territory children. She brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, and skill to the position. Mrs Guppy’s formal qualifications include a Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma of Education (Secondary) and Graduate Diploma of Public Sector Executive Management.

Ralph Wiese

Expert member
Term of Office: 02/03/23 - 30/06/25

Mr Wiese worked in education for 40 years, beginning his career as a teacher at Darwin High School in 1964 then advancing to positions such as senior teacher, assistant principal and principal. He also worked in office based positions including superintendent and general manager before retiring in 2004. Although retired, Mr Wiese maintains a keen interest in all things education and brings a wealth of skill and experience to the position. Mr Wiese’s formal qualifications include a Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Commerce and Diploma of Teaching (Secondary).

Saeed Amin

Department of Education Representative
Term of Office: 02/03/23 to 30/12/23

Saeed Amin relocated to the Northern Territory (NT), from Western Australia (WA) in April 2022 and is the Deputy Chief Executive Regional Services.

Saeed supports the leadership and development of education improvement utilising differentiated support, regional strategic planning, professional learning communities/communities of practice, evidence, and data translation.

Saeed brings to the Regional Services division an expert education background and a focus on data driven outcomes for students. He consistently promotes the critical importance of system alignment between the phases of schooling from early childhood through to meaningful secondary pathways and post-school transition.

Kellie Opitz

Employer Representative
Term of Office: 02/03/23 to 30/06/25

Ms Opitz is an experienced human resources / employee relations professional with a demonstrated history of working in the government administration industry. She is skilled in Industrial/Employee Relations, coaching, facilitation, management, and strategic planning. Ms Opitz has a strong education background across government and independent schools working in several states across Australia.   Ms Opitz obtained a Bachelor of Business focused in Human Resources Management and Business Management from Griffith University and was awarded an accelerated MBA through Griffith University in 2020.

Rachel Boyce

Association of Independent Schools NT Representative
Term of Office: 02/03/23 to 30/06/25

Mrs Boyce is the Deputy Director at the Association of Independent Schools NT.  Mrs Boyce has over 30 years of experience as an educator working in a range of schools in both regional and metropolitan areas with students from the early years through to Year 12, most of these within the Northern Territory. She has experience in Indigenous schools having taught at Yirara College in Alice Springs and in an indigenous school in regional South Australia.  She also has experience in international education having taught in International Baccalaureate schools. She most recently has been a Principal at a Darwin Independent school and throughout her career has held leadership positions within schools across both curriculum and wellbeing. Her passion in education is for students to experience challenging and contextual learning, supported by quality educational programs and with a strong emphasis on student well-being. Her formal qualifications include a Bachelor of Education, Masters of Education and a Graduate Diploma in Theology.

Jacklyn Roberts

Teacher Representative
Term of Office: 02/03/23 to 30/06/25

Ms. Roberts is a longstanding teacher and principal who has worked across a number of educational jurisdictions.  Her experience is across varied contexts including small, medium and large schools, rural, urban and remote. Ms. Roberts background is in Primary and P-10 Schools and is currently the principal of the largest primary school in the Northern Territory – Bakewell Primary School.

Renez Lammon

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Representative
Term of Office: 02/03/23 to 30/06/25

Renez Lammon is the Principal at Casuarina Street Primary School in Katherine in the Northern Territory and a Director on the board of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership.  She is the Chair of the AITSL Advisory Group for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education and is passionate about working together with teachers and school leaders to ensure that Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students achieve their full potential. Renez promotes the value of Highly Accomplished and Lead Teachers (HALTs) and the place of national certification supporting teachers to lead improvement in their own schools. Renez leads teams of teachers and provides coaching and mentoring to support her fellow teachers and school leaders in recognising and articulating the impact they are having on their colleagues, their communities and most importantly, their students.

Gavin Morris

Expert member
Term of Office: 31/12/20 to 30/12/23

Dr Gavin Morris is currently employed in the College of Indigenous Futures, Education and Arts, Charles Darwin University. Dr Morris is a lecturer and course coordinator for under-graduate and post-graduate initial teacher education programs in the Northern Territory (NT) in the early childhood, primary, secondary and distance education area. He has completed a Master of Education, and a PhD into the impacts of colonisation in remote Aboriginal communities. Dr Morris has developed school wide, culturally informed behaviour management and wellbeing programs within primary school settings in the NT. Dr Morris is the Chairperson of the Parap Primary School council, a member of the College of Education Indigenous Advisory Group, the College of Education Research and Research Training Committee, the College of Education Learning and Teaching Committee and the College of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Healing Practices Leadership Group.

Charles Richardson

Expert member
Term of Office: 31/12/20 to 30/12/23

Mr Richardson is the Public Officer on the NTCOGSO Executive team and was a University lecturer in the Northern Territory from 1985-2005. He has a Diploma in IT from Charles Darwin University, is a member of the Australian Computer Society and with a passion for physics and science, professionally and actively promotes the uptake of appropriate emergent technologies in the education sector. Mr Richardson has sought to demonstrate how equitably distributed bandwidth technology and training (mainly VET sector) might serve to further the educational opportunities and aspirations for and of Indigenous students.

Jacqueline Langdon

Catholic Education Office NT nominee
Term of Office: 31/12/20 to 30/12/23

Mrs Jacqueline Langdon was born and raised in Darwin, Northern Territory and is married with two children. Mrs Langdon commenced her career working for Catholic Education NT in 1985 working for three primary schools within the system. In 1999 she was seconded to the School of Health and Physical Education in the Department of Education. Leadership positions held include Deputy Principal of Holy Family Catholic School, Education Officer School Improvement and Renewal and Principal St Mary’s Catholic Primary School. Ms Langdon currently holds the position of Deputy Director Teaching and Learning, Catholic Education NT. She has held positions as Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the NT Catholic Principals’ Association, NT representative of the Australian Catholic Primary Principals’ Association and representation on the NT Catholic Education Council. Her formal educational qualifications include a Bachelor of Education, Masters in Educational Leadership, Executive Coaching Accreditation and a Graduate Certificate in Religious Education.

Tabitha Fudge

Parent representative
Term of Office: 31/12/20 to 30/12/23

Mrs Fudge is the parent of two children attending primary and secondary schools and is a member of the governing bodies of both schools. Mrs Fudge was recently re-elected for a third year as President of the Northern Territory Council of Government School Organisations. Prior to being President, Mrs Fudge was Treasurer and also regional Vice Chair. She has also been the Northern Territory Director (2017) of the Australian Council of State Schools Organisation. Mrs Fudge is a strong advocate for public education at both a Northern Territory and Federal level, lobbying for a truly needs based public education system.