Meet our Staff

Phil O’Loughlin

Chief Executive

Phil joined SASSLA in 2018 after a successful career as the Executive Director, Human Resources, in the Department for Education. Phil has a lengthy career in Executive positions in the public sector and brings a wealth of knowledge with respect to human resources management, industrial relations, and employment related policy. Phil has guided SASSLA through the complex process of providing legal certainty as to its future registration as an organisation and extended and improved SASSLA’s service offering to members. Phil has been instrumental in bringing the big issues facing school and preschool leaders including pay, workload, and attraction and retention into the foreground, and making them priority issues for action. Phil welcomes contact from members on any matter that they need assistance with. Phil and the team at SASSLA pride themselves in providing members with responsive and tailored services that are most relevant to their needs.

Mardi Barry

Associate

Mardi joined SASSLA in 2021 as an Associate after a long and highly successful career in the Department for Education. She has experience in secondary teaching followed by corporate experience in the areas of child protection, equal opportunity, and employee misconduct. Before joining SASSLA, Mardi was the Director, Employee Relations, for the Department and undertook employee relations strategy development and implementation, negotiation and implementation of enterprise agreements, and the management of industrial disputes. Mardi also led employee relations policy development and review, employee complaint resolution, and performance management including managing underperformance of staff and matters of non-compensable incapacity. Mardi is highly experienced in providing advice to site and corporate leaders on matters of complaint resolution, merit selection, conduct, unsatisfactory performance and incapacity, and industrial matters.

Leanne James

Business Leader

Leanne joined SASSLA in 2014 and has a corporate background in local, state and federal government and holds a Masters in Human Resource Management. She is responsible for the governance of the Association along with member assistance, employee relations and support, HR consultancy, and research and policy writing. Leanne regularly carries out site visits with members and can act as a support person for members undertaking formal interviews with respect to investigations, performance management and conflict resolution. With a particular interest in industrial relations, strategic human resource management and policy change, Leanne has undertaken various research projects and reports to advocate for evidence based reform for leaders’ employment conditions and wellbeing along with staffing practices and workforce planning in the Department. Leanne is an active member of SASSLA’s advocacy team and meets regularly with Departmental executives, politicians, and other education stakeholders.

Testimonials

I have been a SASSLA member for 20 years and have found their assistance invaluable as a school leader and even more so now that I am moving into a new role as an Education Director. It has been reassuring to know that I have access to expert advice in stressful times and someone to talk to who gives an impartial voice on leadership issues. The service I received from Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers was brilliant. They are highly experienced in Departmental policies and procedures and assisted me during a very vulnerable time. I am glad I made the switch 20 years ago!

Deb O'Neill, Education Director

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Deb O'Neill, Education Director

As a principal, you can often feel under siege when battling vexatious complaints, whether it be responding to Ministerials, mediating conflict in the workplace or managing underperforming staff. I received very little support from other sources and only ever felt like SASSLA appreciated the effort I was making to provide children with a quality education which they deserve.SASSLA understands the pressures and the unique conditions that school leaders experience daily. Without SASSLA’s support and guidance, I am not sure how I would have made it through these complex situations. The work SASSLA does is invaluable, and I encourage school leaders to join and be protected and supported by SASSLA.

Catherine Cox-Walliss, former Principal

I see my SASSLA membership as a type of insurance policy. It’s my support network to fall back on in possible times of crisis. Knowing that I have legal assistance a phone call away and financial assistance with legal costs gives me peace of mind. It’s reassuring to know that I have genuine peer support now and throughout my future career.

Ilia Tsoutouras, Education Director

Joining SASSLA has afforded me the greatest level of professional support I could possibly have hoped for. It provided me the opportunity to be heard meaningfully and with the assumption of good intent. The Association has shown great expertise in both legal and departmental processes, as well as holding clear understandings about management and site context. I will continue to appreciate their professional network and membership.

Betty Elsworthy, Preschool Director

I became a member of SASSLA in my first year as a Primary School Principal. The immediate and responsive support I received from Phil O'Loughlin and the entire team provided me with the skills and knowledge required to navigate some complex decision making and change management. Balancing the needs and entitlements of students and staff with the expectations of the wider community provided many challenges. SASSLA's expertise and understanding of the Department’s policies and procedures provided me with the foundation and confidence to navigate these challenges. Their unconditional support and advice was instrumental in achieving positive outcomes for our school community. I can't thank them enough and recommend membership to all leaders.

Adam Blakely, Principal

Without the support of SASSLA I would not have stayed connected to and be continuing in my chosen and much loved career. It is so important that Principals have the full support and confidence of the Department. My very public legal case highlighted the fragility of the system when support and confidence dissipates in the face of political interference, media attacks and intolerance. SASSLA gave me support and encouragement during a very difficult time and when it seemed that no-one else would listen

Sue Burtenshaw, Principal

SASSLA has been a necessary and valued support, especially during a period of extreme work based trauma. I have found Mardi Barry’s assistance to be prompt, approachable and most understanding and the advice from Amber Sprague at TGB Lawyers enabled me to negotiate leave and workers compensation to ensure an eventual return to good health.

I have been impressed by the professionalism of Phil O’Loughlin and Leanne James who enable the voices of rural leaders to be heard and valued. Their tireless work in seriously rethinking the role, workload and issues of principals will make an enormous difference for future leaders.

Lesley Okholm, Principal

My SASSLA membership is an essential, professional investment in a service and resource I could not go without. Knowing I can make a call to SASSLA enables immediate communication to take place in a confidential and reassuring context when faced with unforeseen challenges. They actively listen with clarity and provide recommendations of action during conversations. All matters are dealt with great sensitivity and care.

Dina Zunis, Principal
Primary Principal of the Year 2021

Being a member of SASSLA provides me with support and care as a Preschool Director. The representation of early childhood education within the Association is a priority as is the challenges associated with this leadership role. SASSLA has been instrumental in working with other Associations to discuss Directors’ workload and the Enterprise Agreement around the 24 hour face to face teaching time. My issues and concerns are always addressed promptly and in particular Phil O’Loughlin has always ensured my wellbeing is of the utmost importance. I would recommend membership to all Preschool Directors as the personalised representation and recognition of our work is a key focus.

Nicole Otto, Preschool Director

Whilst other associations and the Department talk about leader well-being, it has only been SASSLA who has provided the care, concern and professional guidance for me over the past two years. As leaders we often hear of others enduring stressful times and it is easy to gossip, dismiss or think it won’t happen to us and walk away. I hope no-one has to endure what I have, but if you do, you can’t afford not to belong to SASSLA.

Lynne-Maree Hastings, Principal

I have been a SASSLA member for over 15 years and worked in both country and metropolitan schools. I have always appreciated SASSLA’s strong advocacy work on behalf of all leaders. I am fortunate to have experienced the compassion, support, and expert advice of SASSLA’s Chief Executive, Phil O’Loughlin, in partnership with the legal support of Tindall Gask Bentley Lawyers, during a challenging professional time. I highly recommend SASSLA to education leaders.

Matt Saunders, Principal

Phil O’Loughlin

Mardi Barry

Leanne James

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