Our Council

John Coorey was educated at Waverley College, where he was School Captain in his leaving year of 1979. John undertook a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws combined degree at the University of Sydney. He was a resident at St John’s College from 1981-1983 and represented the College in the Rawson Cup sports of rugby, cricket and athletics.

Whilst at University, John was heavily involved with Sydney University Football Club (rugby) including being Club Secretary and Club Captain of SUFC. John has maintained his connection with SUFC and is part of the Friends’ of SUFC network.

John graduated from the University in 1985 and joined the law firm now known as Corrs. John was at that firm for 16 years including a three-year secondment to one of the leading London law firms. John joined Sparke Helmore Lawyers in 2002 and has been a partner of that firm ever since including a term as Chair of that firm’s board, and later, as General Counsel.

John joined the College Council in 2019 and has been Chair of the Council since 2020.

David Pacey is a widely experienced and respected corporate executive with a career spanning both education and government sectors in Australia and the United Kingdom, including over 25 years in the higher education sector.

Since 2023, David has served as University Secretary at University College London (UCL) and is currently a Trustee of the UCL Academy. David has previously held the role of Chief Governance Officer at the University of Sydney from 2014 to 2023, and has also held senior roles at the University of Technology Sydney.

Earlier in his career, he held senior management and governance roles in local government, including at Manly Council, the City of Sydney, and Kogarah Council.

With considerable senior-level operational management experience, including designing and implementing change management programs and delivering strategic policy and projects in complex organisational settings, David possesses extensive expertise in researching and analysing complex governance issues, developing solutions, and managing the implementation of strategic outcomes across multiple projects, teams, and stakeholder groups.

David is a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia, a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and a Justice of the Peace. He holds a Bachelor of Business, a Graduate Certificate in Management, and a Graduate Diploma in Business Administration from CSU.

David was appointed to the Council in 2018, and as a long-serving member, David currently serves as Deputy Chair of the College Council. He is a committed supporter of the Catholic mission and ethos of St John’s and is dedicated to upholding its values within the life and governance of the College.

Dr Mark Schembri is a leading multidisciplinary educator, academic and practitioner in both human and animal medicine. A practising Doctor in Women’s Health at Royal North Shore Hospital and Veterinarian with the Australian Turf Club, his career highlights include a Master in Public Health degree (Infectious Disease Epidemiology) at Harvard and selection as Veterinarian to the Australian Equine Team at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Having taught in the Sydney Catholic secondary school system and lectured for a decade at the University School of Veterinary Science, Dr Schembri has developed a passion for nurturing curiosity and creativity amongst students in the early stages of their academic careers. This experience has been solidified through thirteen years in pastoral care positions at university colleges in Australia and overseas.

Dr Schembri is also a board member of Sydney University Football (Rugby) Club, Vice-President of the Royal Agricultural Society of NSW, and is Chairman of the National Selection Panel for the Sir John Monash Scholarship.

Council since April 2013. Chair B&W. Member, FRC, NRC. Principal, Gordon Construction Company Pty Ltd. SJC student 1982-1985.

Khan Horne studied Ag.Ec at Sydney University, M.Ec (UNE) and attended St John’s College from 1988-1991 including serving two years on the Students’ House Committee.

Khan has been on Council for the past decade and brings both his rural/regional background and his seasoned banking & finance skills developed through the years with one of Australia’s major Banks (NAB) through the past 35 years. He has been on the Finance & Risk Committee through this period and is proud of the College’s financial track record and ability to fund so many wonderful projects and improvements in student facilities in recent years.

Khan remains active in College community events and has been a long-term volunteer for alumni events such as Laffo’s Long Lunch. He remains both passionate and vocal on the Catholic identity and practise of the College and also ensuring regional/remote and country students have fair, equitable access to College. Khan is dedicated to the success in the future of St John’s College whilst respecting its deep traditions and history, and its wonderful alumni.

His Honour Judge Gerard Phillips is a Judge of the District Court of New South Wales and the inaugural President of the NSW Personal Injury Commission, appointed to lead the establishment of the Commission when it commenced operations in March 2021.

Judge Phillips was a student at St John’s College from 1983 to 1985 and has been a Council Fellow since 2018. He currently chairs the College Council’s Advancement and Alumni Sub-Committee.

Before his judicial appointment in 2019, Judge Phillips practised as a solicitor in private practice for more than 30 years, specialising in employment and industrial law. He was a partner at the global law firm K&L Gates, where he served on its global management committee. During his legal career, he was a frequent contributor to the Australian Financial Review, writing on a range of legal and industrial relations topics.

Following his appointment as a Judge of the District Court of New South Wales in 2019, Judge Phillips served as President of the Workers Compensation Commission from 2019 to 2021 and has been President of the Personal Injury Commission since 2021.

In 2026, Judge Phillips co-authored A Century of Service, a history of the workers compensation system in New South Wales.

His career reflects a longstanding contribution to the legal profession, the administration of justice and the St John’s College community.

Council since Nov 2018. Chair, SRC. Customer Lead, Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd. SJC student 2006-2008.

With more than 50 years’ experience, Emeritus Professor Marea Nicholson AM GAICD has made a significant contribution to governance, teaching and learning including special education, school counselling, teacher education and most particularly child and adult abuse prevention in Catholic, Government and Independent schools. She has been involved with ACU and its predecessor colleges since 1987 with responsibilities including leadership in course design and program co-ordination, and campus development. She was appointed to the position of Associate Vice-Chancellor (NSW/ACT) in 2009, and in 2019 was appointed Emeritus Professor by Australian Catholic University.

Marea has had numerous leadership roles within education including Associate Vice-Chancellor (NSW/ACT) Australian Catholic University {2009-2019}; Head, School of Education NSW Australian Catholic University {2005-2009}; President, NSW Teacher Education Council {2008-2011}; Chair of Rosebank College {2008-2017}; Chair of Catholic Religious Australia’s Education Committee {2018-2020}; Member of the Sydney Archdiocesan Catholic Schools (SACS) Board {2011-2016}; Co-Chair Universities Australia Executive Women Member{2014-2015}, Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta Schools Council {2017-2022}; NSW Minister for Education’s Teacher Education Representative Quality Teaching Council {2009-2012}; Member of the Congregational Leaders of Religious Institutes Education Committee {2009-2017}; and Chair of Initial Teacher Education Council NSW {2010-2013}.

Currently Marea is a Chair of Mount St Benedict College, a member of National Catholic Education Commission; a member of the Committee of Religious Institute and Ministerial Public Juridic Person School Authorities Australia (CORMSAA); a Fellow of St John’s College, University of Sydney; and a non-executive Director of Catholic Schools of the Diocese of Parramatta Limited (CSPDL) Board.

Marea has led various research projects with a focus on improved educational outcomes, particularly for those at the margins. In 2012, Marea received the Rotary International Award for Vocational Excellence in recognition of her dedication and the pursuit of excellence throughout her career. In 2020 Marea was appointed as a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia for significant service to education, and to professional standards.

Phillip Towzell completed a Bachelor of Economics at the University of Sydney while attending St John’s College and is also a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).

He began his career at Macquarie Bank where he worked on the trading floor as an Equity Options market maker. He moved to New York in 1996 working in equity sales for Macquarie Bank and Credit Suisse. Moving to London in 2006 he worked for Bennelong Asset Management as head of research and then as a Portfolio Manager of an Emerging Markets Fund.

In 2011, he moved back to New York to set up an Emerging Markets Fund called Queenscliff. The fund strategy was macroeconomic while investing in Emerging Market Equities, Credit, Fixed Income and Currencies. Since 2017 he has been back in Sydney running his own family office. He has farming interests growing cattle near Wagga Wagga NSW.

He was appointed to the Council of St John’s College in 2021, and is currently the Chair of its Finance and Risk Committee.

Fr James Baxter has been a member of the College Council since 2025. He studied at the University of Sydney, completing degrees in agricultural economics and law. After three years of practice in a law firm, he entered the Dominican Order in 2009. His religious formation and studies for the priesthood took place in Adelaide, Hong Kong, and Melbourne. He was ordained to the priesthood in 2016.

Since ordination, Fr James’ main ministries have been in university chaplaincy and parish ministry. In 2022 he was appointed the parish priest of St James’ Forest Lodge, St Bede’s Pyrmont, and St Benedict’s Broadway. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in theology from the University of Divinity, and a doctorate in theology from the University of Fribourg, Switzerland. He lectures in theology in the studium of the Dominican Order in Melbourne.

Sister Cecilia Joseph OP is a member of the Dominican Sisters of Saint Cecilia (Nashville, TN, USA). She has taught in various primary and high schools across the United States and Australia. Sister has served as a primary school principal in the United States and is currently serving as principal of St Peter Chanel Catholic Primary School in Regents Park, NSW.

Sister holds a Bachelor of Arts (Aquinas College, Nashville), a Master of Science in Educational Leadership (Christian Brothers University, Memphis), and a Masters of Arts in Theological Studies (UNDA, Sydney). In addition to their work in education in Australia, the Dominican Sisters host retreats, work with university students, and support young women discerning a call to religious life.

Bishop Anthony Percy was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Sydney in May 2025, following his appointment by Pope Francis. He was ordained a priest of the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn in December 1990.

Throughout his priestly ministry, Bishop Percy has served in numerous parishes and as Rector of the Good Shepherd Seminary in the Archdiocese of Sydney, before being appointed Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn and subsequently becoming a bishop.

Bishop Percy holds an Honours degree in Finance, a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy and Theology, a Licentiate in Sacred Theology, and a Doctorate in Theology from the United States, specialising in the social teaching of the Catholic Church.