Governance

 Fereshteh Zamani – Board Chair

Fereshteh joined the Board in 2022 to support the school’s governance and has since guided the Board with empathy, warmth, wisdom, and dedication in her role as Chair. She holds a master’s degree in information systems and is a cybersecurity professional, assisting organisations across various industries with their cybersecurity practices.

Fereshteh is also working on developing a platform to support emerging artists in Iran. This initiative reflects her passion for building a cultural bridge between Iran and Australia, where the best aspects of both cultures can be shared, explored, and potentially taught.

She believes that education is one of the most powerful and essential foundations for building a happy, healthy, and caring community for future generations.

  Inger Boerema – Assistant Chair

Inger has two children attending Sophia Mundi and joined the board in 2023. She has degrees in psychology and education, and now works in local government in environmental policy development and leadership. Her work is focused on the circular economy, which emphasises systems thinking, innovation and collaboration. She is also on the board of the Hamer Sprout Fund, which aims to build communities inspired to take action for a sustainable future.

Having attended the Willunga and Mount Barker Waldorf Schools in South Australia, she has an experiential understanding and appreciation of Steiner education.

Inger joined the Board to support the school community. She believes that education is key to bringing about social change, and values how the Steiner pedagogy nurtures respect and care for the environment, each other, and the world around them.

   Ilja Battley – Treasurer

Ilja joined the board in 2023 and has a daughter who attends Sophia Mundi.

With a background in economics, he has a natural curiosity about how things work. He has had the opportunity to work in various roles including change management, client relations, finance, reporting & analysis, and business consulting.

Currently, Ilja is Director of a family business, where he brings his skills to support the school board. Outside of work, he enjoys spending time in nature, gardening, woodworking, and being involved in his daughter’s education and the whole school community.

Cheryl Nekvapil

Cheryl joined the Board early in 2021. Cheryl is a whole-hearted enthusiast for a wholistic approach to the development of human beings and brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to the Board.

For the past 20 years Cheryl has worked as a priest of The Christian Community, which incorporates Rudolf Steiner’s world view. Since 2008 she has also been engaged as a chaplain and in advisory roles in east coast Steiner Schools.

Prior to 2015, when she moved to Melbourne, Cheryl was an active parent, teacher and executive administrator at the Orana Steiner School in Canberra where she also served on the School Board for many years.

In her earlier life, Cheryl was a physiotherapist specialising in obstetrics and child-development, and taught natural birth-preparation classes for women and their partners.

Cheryl’s grandchildren attended Sophia Mundi.

Will Atkinson

Will joined the board in September 2024 and is thrilled to be part of the inspiring community at Sophia Mundi Steiner School.

Having grown up in the arts and entertainment industry, he also has experience in major event production and in media and communications.

Will is passionate about encouraging and equipping young people to live purpose-filled lives, expressing their creativity and having fun.

A newcomer to Steiner philosophy, he is grateful for the opportunity to serve the school, supporting the students, teachers and staff on the path of considered, holistic education.

Will’s stepson attends Sophia Mundi in the secondary school.

Daniel Bouchet-Hibbert

Daniel joined the board in 2024 and has two children enrolled at Sophia Mundi. He is a French and English teacher and has worked in primary and secondary settings , and internationally in the Channel Islands and Balearic Islands.

He values languages and sees multilingualism as a means of increasing intercultural understanding and maintaining diversity in an increasingly connected world.

Daniel is passionate about the enriching potential of Steiner education and is committed to helping the school thrive for years to come.

If you would like to talk with our board members, or are interested in becoming a director yourself, please reach out to board@sophiamundi.vic.edu.au

Please click here for our Board members document