Our College Board
Darren Oliver – Board Chair
Darren Oliver is an award-winning IT Leader, having overseen the evolution and revolution of technology within Herron Todd White, one of Australia’s largest property valuation companies. Having moved the company to open source and cloud solutions from legacy systems, he’s been successful in transitioning the business to the new era of business technology, providing a solid innovation platform for the future.
With two primary school-aged daughters he’s also passionate about helping educators, and education in general, prepare the next generations for a vastly different world. In his spare time he’s a mentor at CoderDojo in Brisbane, and a serial DIY-er who enjoys building things with a hammer and nails, as well as code.
Ryan McMahon - Vice Chair
Ryan graduated as Westside Captain in 2005. His wife Celeste is also a Westside alumna. They are blessed parents to son Leo. Ryan has pursued engineering, aviation and ministry studies. He is a commercial pilot, flight instructor, founder and director of two businesses and has served in many areas of Cityhope church, including on the executive team from 2018-2019.
In his current role as Head of Remote Pilot Operations at Aviation Australia, Ryan leads a national team in the development, delivery and compliance management of Aviation qualifications. Drawn to innovation and entrepreneurship, he is passionate about seeing people fulfil their God given potential. It a great privilege to be on the Westside Board—an opportunity to give back to the school and community that gave him much.
Sue Paulsen - Secretary
Sue is a committed Christian and a passionate educator. Her teaching experience spans decades in public and private secondary schools, including 16 happy years at Westside. She has also been involved in adult education and tutoring indigenous students. She and her husband Neil spent some years living in Christian communities in India and Holland. Returning to Australia, they were co-directors of a drug rehabilitation centre for Teen Challenge.
Since retiring from full time work, Sue has enjoyed a number of voluntary roles including Secretary on the Board of a retreat centre for spiritual and personal growth (Not for Profit), Treasurer on the Board of a community organization in the Aged Care sector, Chairman of the Body Corporate for a high rise residential block and Director of a small private company.
Rachel Meadows - Treasurer
Rachel is an experienced Financial and Sustainability Assurance Director with PwC Perth. Rachel has managed a broad range of external audits for ASX listed and non-listed clients across numerous industries. Rachel is currently the lead director on the external audit of Fortescue Metals Group and is the Perth lead for Sustainability Assurance related client needs.
Rachel was previously a student of Westside Christian College and served on the board for two years before moving to Perth. Rachel currently attends Providence City Church in Perth.
Deb Acason – Board Member
Deborah Acason (nee Lovely) OLY LLB (Honours) BCCJ is a Christian and past student of Westside Christian College (1988 - 1996), and has three daughters currently attending the school. Deborah is a two time Olympian and five time Commonwealth Games medallist in Olympic weightlifting. She has served on the Board of Directors for business and club, state, and national sporting organisations.
Deborah grew up in Ipswich after her parents moved from Brisbane to co-found Goodna Christian School, now Westside Christian College. Her mother Ainslie was one of the first teachers and her father served on the Board for almost a decade.
Deborah was admitted as a Legal Professional in the Supreme Court of Qld in 2011 and previously worked for Crown Law. Deb has had extensive coaching involvement in private schools around Brisbane and Ipswich and is a Sport and Recreation Officer.