Ambassadors

Our Ambassadors

Our Ambassador program is here and we excited to introduce our amazing and talented Ambassadors to the EdConnect team.

We have embarked on a journey to build an Ambassador Group to help the reach of the EdConnect profile. It is a pleasure to welcome our new Ambassadors who play a major role in the promotion of our program and we warmly welcome each to bring their knowledge, expertise and enthusiasm to different areas of the organisation. Their support is very much appreciated and valued.

AMBASSADOR

MYRIAM BOISBOUVIER-WYLIE

 

“Ed Connect does a wonderful job at engaging and connecting people from different generations in a safe learning environment. These connections develop into a fruitful and positive impact for both volunteers and students. I am absolutely delighted to support this vibrant and innovative organisation.”

Myriam Boisbouvier-Wylie is the Honorary Consul General of France in Melbourne, a position she has held since 2011. She is the Founding President of the Bastille Day French Festival of Melbourne; and a member of the advisory board of the French Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Myriam holds a degree in Business Law from the Panthéon-Sorbonne University in Paris and a MBA from Tulane University, New Orleans. She has worked in New York in the investment banking subsidiary of the French Bank Credit Lyonnais and had her own practice as a lawyer in Monaco, her country of birth.

She has a strong interest in education. From 2003 till 2009, she was President of the Parents’ Association of the French school in Melbourne, overseeing a period of strong growth from the verge of being closed to being fully recognized by both French and Victorian ministries of Education.

With her husband she established The John and Myriam Wylie Foundation in May 2011. Their Foundation provides financial and non-financial support for worthy and well-run organisations in all walks of life. Myriam is also a member of the advisory board of Tanarra Philanthropic Advisors.

In recognition of her work for the French Republic, Myriam has recently been appointed an Officier de la Legion d’Honneur, having previously been appointed a Chevalier of this award. She is also a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Palmes Académiques.

A resident of Australia since 1996, Myriam and her husband John live in Melbourne and have four sons.

AMBASSADOR

HON CHERYL EDWARDES AM

LLM; B.Juris; BA; GAICD

“The opportunity to work with EdConnect was inspiring. Particularly to see young lives change as a result of the engagement with a volunteer who can listen, answer questions and be a constant safe person. EdConnect is an amazing group of people and one that I am pleased to continue an association with.”

Mrs Edwardes has a strong legal and governance background with an extensive career spanning across government and business. She is a Board member of the Foreign Investment Review Board (FIRB) and Chairman and non-executive Director on a number of ASX-listed boards.

During her political career, Mrs Edwardes held positions as the first female Attorney General for Western Australia, Minister for Environment and Labour Relations, and was the Member for Kingsley for nearly 17 years. Mrs Edwardes was awarded an Order of Australia in the Queen’s Birthday Honours 2016 for “significant service to the people and Parliament of Western Australia, to the law and to the environment, and through executive roles with business, education and community organisations”. Cheryl was also named in the 100 Women of Influence 2016, inducted into Western Australian Women’s Hall of Fame 2016 and was a finalist in the Women in Resources Award 2015.

AMBASSADOR

ANNIE FOGARTY

AM

“It is wonderful to be involved with EdConnect who bring together volunteers to mentor school students, many of whom face challenges in their lives.  It is win/win for the volunteers who bring their experience, wisdom and care and for the students to have regular contact with people who can have a wide ranging impact on their lives.”

Annie is Executive Chairperson and co-founder of the Fogarty Foundation which she established with her husband Brett in 2000.  The Foundation is a social venturer providing educational opportunities to help build strong communities in Western Australia.

Under Annie’s leadership, the Foundation supports a range of partner organisations and develops initiatives to provide excellence in education and opportunities for young people to fulfill their potential and lead purposeful lives.

She is involved in a number of boards and committees including the Boards of Teach, Learn, Grow and Roseworth Primary School and is Ambassador for Children and Young People WA and Teach For Australia.

Annie was made a Member of the Order of Australia in 2013 for her work in the advancement of education in Western Australia. She has received an Honorary Doctorate of Letters from the University of Western Australia and an Honorary Doctorate of Education from Edith Cowan University and in 2015 was acknowledged by ACEL (WA) as a Pre-Eminent Educational Leader.  Annie is 2020 WA Australian of the Year.

Credit: Nic Ellis/The West Australian

AMBASSADOR

KIM HUGHES

Former Captain of the Australian Cricket Team

“I have recently uncovered the power of maintaining a strong mental health and believe my life story can empower others to make a difference to the younger generation. Through my role as Ambassador at EdConnect Australia, I am celebrating a fresh understanding of the need to help young people reach their potential. The team connect volunteers who want to make a difference, with young people in school who might need extra guidance. I feel very fortunate and honoured to have joined the cause.”

Former Australian cricketer and Test Captain Kim Hughes played from 1977 to 1985. After finishing high school, Kim trained as a primary school teacher but later found employment in the finance industry. It was here that Kim was afforded time away from work to pursue his true passion – cricket.

Kim celebrated his first-class debut at the WACA Ground in 1975 when he provided a masterful exhibition of stroke play against New South Wales, becoming only the fifth Western Australian batsman to make a century on debut. With his daring batting style Kim was also a player of great substance. At the age of only 24, he was given the captaincy of the Australian Test team, becoming the first Western Australian Test Captain of Australia and the second youngest in Australian history. He went on to lead his country 28 times.

After his retirement from cricket, Kim chaired the WA selection panel and continued his high profile through his role as a cricket commentator for Channel Nine and a sporting broadcaster on Radio 6PR. He now entertains audiences as a passionate, inspirational and much sought-after speaker. Kim’s presentations are entertaining and motivational.

In November 2021 took on a new zest for life when he joined the EdConnect Australia Ambassador Group. Kim is also an Ambassador for Richmond Wellbeing, a community-based mental health organisation.

AMBASSADOR

GRAHAM MABURY

OAM Cit WA FECU

“I’m honoured to support EdConnect because of its ability to harness the power of intergenerational connection. They give the undivided attention of a caring adult, and they do so consistently over time. I know from Nightline for many on the margins life is very transient, and contact is predominantly with people paid to fulfil a role. Being volunteers, each time they turn up they give a student struggling to realise their potential the unspoken but clear message; “You are worth my time – you matter”.

Graham was a presenter of 6PR’s Nightline Program for the 30+ years. He left 6PR in 2014 and has recently released a podcast aimed to shine the light on the aging journey called Demystifying Aged Care.

Graham pioneered rehabilitation courses for homeless young people in Perth and has received numerous awards for similar humanitarian work. These include the Medal of the Order of Australia. WA Citizen of the Year for community service, the Federation Medal, and Advance Australia Award for individual Achievement in the 2008 WA consumer Protection Awards 2013. He is a Fellow of Edith Cowan University.

Graham was the inaugural Chairman of the Living Stone Foundation (1987), which became Lifeline WA. He began his career in education as a Secondary Teacher becoming Head of the Music Department at a specialize music Secondary School. Using his skills as a teacher, Graham made the leap into media at the ABC as an Education Producer.

He has been a member of the pastoral team at Mt Pleasant Baptist Church for 49 years. In December 2020, he celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary to Merle and has twin sons, two beautiful daughters and five wonderful grandchildren.

AMBASSADOR

MELODIE POTTS ROSEVEAR

OAM

“Addressing educational inequity in Australia is complex and collective work. It cannot be done alone. EdConnect Australia volunteers recognise this, and are stepping up for children and young people in communities across Australia. EdConnect Australia and Teach For Australia share common aspirations that all students – regardless of background, where they live or go to school – receive a quality education, where they can realise their potential and have choice for their futures. I am delighted to lend my support to EdConnect Australia’s initiatives.”

Melodie Potts Rosevear is founder and CEO of Teach For Australia. She is a disruptor and a problem-solver, driven by a vision for Australia where education gives every child, regardless of background, greater choice for their future.

Melodie has made it her mission to champion better educational outcomes for our most vulnerable children in Australia. In the past 13 years, the work of TFA has helped more than 440,000 students in 256 schools, while building a community of 1200-plus teachers and leaders who are bringing about change inside and out of the classroom.

Having personally experienced the life-changing impact of amazing teachers, Melodie has always been deeply committed to excellence and equity in education. Teach For Australia was conceived after she spent time in her early career at Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in the United States and the Cape York Institute in Far North Queensland.

Melodie was awarded an Order of Australia for her service to education and teacher development in 2021. She holds a Master of Public Policy from Harvard where she received a Kennedy Fellowship, and a Bachelor of Economics from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where she was a Morehead Scholar.

Originally from rural Appalachia, Melodie lives in Melbourne with her husband Sam and young son Harrison, affectionately dubbed ‘Harry the Hurricane’, and their dog, Jack ‘The Ripper’ Russell.

AMBASSADOR

MITTY WILLIAMS

“Integrating volunteer help in classrooms is a simple idea that brings great benefits; not just to the children  but also to the teachers and the volunteers. From my experience, the Edconnect program not only contributes to improving students’ educational outcomes and lightening the load for teachers, it also provides social connection and a sense of purpose for the volunteers.

I am delighted to be given the opportunity to promote and support the work of an organisation that is having such a positive impact in schools.”

Mitty has held the role of Trustee of The Kimberley Foundation since 2010. Under her leadership, the Foundation supports many Australian not-for-profit organisations working in the areas of youth wellbeing and the environment.

After an Arts degree majoring in Latin and Italian languages, Mitty started her career as a corporate librarian. She then progressed to working as a librarian in the not-for-profit sector.

After having a daughter and then twin daughters, Mitty moved into a volunteer coordination role in the not-for-profit sector. Mitty then decided to use her language skills in the teaching profession, and so embarked on a Graduate Diploma of Teaching at Monash. She went on to become a primary school Italian teacher, and taught for 10 years in the public system.

During her teaching years, Mitty learnt the value of supporting both the teacher and students in the classroom, particularly in public schools where class sizes and resources can be challenging. In addition, from her experience in volunteer coordination roles, she appreciates the integral role of volunteers in our community; both in terms of strengthening the quality of a service, as well as generating a sense of fulfilment for the volunteers.