GAWA Committee

Executive 2026

 
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.
 
Rachel Scott
Vice President
Rachel has taught across both public and private schools in Western Australia, and is currently a Geography specialist at Shenton College.
She is passionate about Geography fieldwork and enjoys assisting in professional development opportunities for Geography educators.
 
Dr Anna Griffin
Vice President
Dr Anna Griffin is an experienced Geography educator and curriculum specialist with over 25 years in secondary and higher education. She has taught ATAR Geography and Economics, led curriculum and assessment reform as a Head of Department, and lectured in Education at university level. Anna holds a PhD in Curriculum and is currently Academic Principal at the Australian Data and Cyber Institute, where she leads curriculum strategy and academic quality.
 
Darryl Michie
Secretary
Darryl is a Principal Consultant in Examination Development at SCSA, after spending 33 years in the classroom. He has been a member of the GAWA Committee since last century and has held various roles, including Conference Convenor, President and 2018 New York City Teacher Tour Convenor. Darryl is a passionate Geographer with a keen interest in curriculum development and interpretation.
 
 
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 – 2026

 

President

Peggy Bakalis

St Mark’s Anglican Community School

Vice – President

Rachel Scott

Shenton College

Vice – President

Dr Anna Griffin

Post-graduate student at Edith Cowan University

Secretary

Darryl Michie

School Curriculum & Standards Authority

Treasurer

Danielle Pisconeri

St Norbert College

Immediate Past-President

Leo Conti

Ballajura Community College

Business Manager (ex-officio)

Alan May

GAWA Office

Committee Member

Brittany Halpenny

Trinity College

Committee Member

Kalo Bell

John XXIII College

Committee Member

Laura Billington

Chisholm Catholic College

Committee Member

Renae Bogunovich

Bob Hawke College

Committee Member

Jane Elton

 

Committee Member

Michael Bartosiak 

 

Committee Member

Richard Kostecki

Aquinas College

Committee Member

Tracy Sterling

School of Isolated and Distance Education