Our people

Elected officials and staff

Full-Time Officers

The President and Secretary are full-time elected officers who manage the day-to-day affairs of the Branch. They are assisted by a team of admin and organising staff. 

Branch Executive

The Branch Executive is responsible for the strategic and financial management of the Branch between annual Conferences. All positions are elected and apart from the President and Secretary, all members of the Executive typically serve in an honorary capacity.

The current make up of Executive (as of 23 August 2022) is:

• Branch President - Michelle Ayres, full-time officer
• Branch Secretary - Adam Lampe, full-time officer
• Vice-President (General) - Michael Pearson, Palmerston College
• Vice-President (TAFE) - Delean Holtze, Batchelor Institute
• Treasurer - Julie Danvers, Nightcliff Middle School
• Women's Officer - Melody O'Meara, Roving Relief Teacher
• Indigenous Councillor - Noel Blomeley, Casuarina Senior College
• Alice Springs Regional Councillor - Gillian Furniss, Centralian Senior College
• Alice Springs Regional Councillor - Ken Guest, Acacia Hill School
• Arnhem Regional Councillor - Brian Gray, Yirrkala School
• Arnhem Regional Councillor - Gwen Warmbirrir, Milingimbi School
• Barkly Regional Councillor - Georgia McClanachan, Tennant Creek High School
• Darwin Regional Councillor - Deb Lamb, Nightcliff Middle School
• Darwin Regional Councillor - Melissa Rabar, Nemarluk School
• Darwin Regional Councillor - Nim Jayawardhana, Henbury Special School
• Darwin Regional Councillor - VACANT
• Katherine Regional Councillor - Sarah Colomb, Katherine High School
• Katherine Regional Councillor - VACANT
• Palmerston and Rural Regional Councillor - Rachael Metcalfe, Forrest Parade School
• Palmerston and Rural Regional Councillor - Robyn Bierton, Taminmin College
• Palmerston and Rural Regional Councillor - Lorenzo Siciliano, Taminmin College

Staff

• Special Projects Officer - Mick McCarthy
• Administration Manager - Kelly Whitty
• Project Officer - Bridget O'Dwyer

Branch President
Michelle Ayres

Michelle was appointed President by the Branch Executive in April, following the unexpected resignation of Jarvis Ryan, who served as Branch President for almost 7 years. Michelle was the Executive Councillor for the Barkly Region since 2019, and has been an extremely passionate advocate for the members of her sub-branch and region for a number of years. She is an early years and primary teacher and spent six years working remote at Arlparra School. She has a passion for Trauma Aware Education and is studying this as a specialisation for her Masters through Queensland University of Technology. She stepped into the role of President because she wishes to see a major change to Education in the Northern Territory and she strongly believes that the best way to achieve this is by fighting for a far more equitable funding model.

Vice-President (General)
Michael Pearson

Michael is a long-term Darwin resident passionate about improving his community. He finished his graduate certificate in teaching and learning at CDU in 2010. He has worked at Casuarina Senior College, Darwin Middle School and currently is at Palmerston College. He joined the union as he is passionate about teachers’ working conditions and work-life balance.