GAWA Committee

Executive 2023

Peggy Bakalis
President
Peggy is the Geography specialist teacher at St Marks Anglican Community School. She has been on the GAWA Committee since 2013 having undertaken a variety of roles. She is passionate about developing professional learning for educators and in promoting the importance of Geography in our schools.
Jon Wyllie
Vice President
Jon has taught at various boys’ and girls’ schools, both in Perth and in the UK. A passionate Geography teacher, he has been a member of the GAWA Committee since 2018 and is currently teaching at Christ Church Grammar School. His other great loves include his two young daughters, Edie and Clara, swimming, footy and the Freo Dockers.
Laura Billington
Vice President
Laura has taught Geography and Humanities in Perth and the UK. She is currently a Geography specialist teacher at Chisholm Catholic College, and has been on the GAWA committee since 2017. Laura is passionate about developing a love for Geography within her students and creating and sharing up to date teaching resources with her colleagues.
Darryl Michie
Secretary
Danielle Pisconeri
Treasurer
Danielle has been a GAWA member since 2008 and a Committee Member since 2020. She has taught Senior Geography for 10 years and been actively involved in the writing of programs, development of fieldwork and creation of assessments for middle school geography. Danielle enthusiastically participated in the 2019 GAWA New York trip and presented at the 2022 GAWA Conference on integrating Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander curriculum in everyday teaching. She is passionate in the promotion of Geography in schools.
Leo Conti
Immediate Past-President
Leo Conti is currently the Head of Department at Ballajura Community College and is a Senior Lecturer at Notre Dame University. He has been on the GAWA committee since 1990 and has held various roles. Leo is actively involved in the development of professional learning, educational resources and curriculum in WA.
Alan May (ex officio)
Business Manager
Alan has devoted over fifty years of his professional life to the teaching of geography and geographical education. After a thirty-year academic career teaching at Edith Cowan and Melbourne Universities and a two-year research consultancy at Curtin University, Alan took on the role of GAWA Business Manager and has served the Association in that capacity for the past twenty years stewarding its commercial and financial interests.

GAWA Management Committee - 2023

President

Peggy Bakalis

St Mark's Anglican Community School

Vice – President

Laura Billington

Chisholm Catholic College

Vice – President

Jon Wyllie

Christ Church Grammar School

Secretary

Darryl Michie

School Curriculum & Standards Authority

Treasurer

Danielle Pisconeri

St Norbert College

Immediate Past-President

Leo Conti

Ballajura Community College 

Committee Member

Rosemary Cawley

Perth College

Committee Member

Brittany Halpenny

Trinity College

Committee Member

Patrick Molinari

Christ Church Grammar School

Committee Member

Richard Kostecki

Aquinas College

Committee Member

Rachel Scott

Shenton College

Committee Member

Tracy Sterling

SIDE

Committee Member

Sarah Williams

Post-graduate student at Edith Cowan University

Business Manager (ex-officio)

Alan May

GAWA Office