Our Team
President - Linda Drenkhahn
Linda is currently the Careers Adviser at Bulahdelah Central School. Her original CA’s training was in 1994 through the Department when she was a general secondary teacher at Trundle Central School. She spent 5 years at Broken Hill High School as full-time CA before moving to Great Lakes College in 2003 and to her current position in 2017. Linda upgraded her Careers qualification through ACU in 2011 to further develop her knowledge and skills. As a professional Careers Adviser with many years of experience, she enjoys a high level of respect from her peers. She has assisted and mentored fellow Careers Advisers many times also giving freely of resources and programs that she has developed for the benefit and use of others. Linda has held active voluntary executive roles both within her local careers network as Secretary and President, and at the NSW CAA level where she held the Secretary position for 2012-14. Linda stepped up in 2020 to fill a casual vacancy on the CAA Executive Committee and was appointed President of CAA in November 2024.
Vice President, Non-Government Schools - Alexandra Boase
Alexandra Boase is a dedicated Career Adviser with a wealth of experience in secondary education and has worked in various sectors, including government, catholic and private. Alex has been serving as a Career Adviser at Oxford Falls Grammar in Sydney's Northern Beaches and has been a practising careers advising for over eight years. Her educational journey took her through the British A-level system in Hong Kong, and she completed her tertiary studies in the UK at Cardiff University, earning a BSc (Hons) in Hospitality Management and Business Administration. Initially starting her career in the commercial sector as a recruitment consultant, with a focus on civil engineering and public sector infrastructure projects, Alex made a career transition in 2001 by retraining and obtaining postgraduate teaching qualifications. She began teaching computing and TAS (Technology and Applied Studies) and has taught in both UK and Australian schools. Alex has been an active member of the NSW CAA since 2013 and has been a member of the committee since 2021. Alexandra is known for her forward-thinking and tech-savvy approach, bringing valuable skills to the committee.
Vice President, Government Schools - Glenys Lawson
Glenys served on the CAA Executive Committee from 2014 to 2018 as the Association’s Treasurer and again in 2024. She was appointed Vice President in November 2024. Glenys is an advocate for regional area members and continues to ensure our members in regional areas are supported in their roles as Careers Advisers. Glenys has been a mentor and support for colleagues across the state, especially those in the Far North Coast (Tweed/Byron) network and across all educational sectors. Glenys developed the concept of an online Work Studies course to help her students under threat of disengaging which has become a 120-hour course on Google classrooms that helps bring the HSC back into reality for those students becoming disengaged from their learning. Her Curriculum knowledge is encyclopedic, and she always has awesome insight and breadth of knowledge.
Secretary & Public Officer - Tracy Ryan
Originally a 7-12 Drama teacher, Tracy has been a Careers Adviser since 2008 when she retrained with RMIT. Since then, she has been a Careers and Transition Adviser in Western Sydney, South Western Sydney, Hunter Central Coast and Far West NSW. Tracy has Chaired the Nepean Careers Forum, worked to regroup the Inner Western Sydney Network, and had the privilege of being the School Based Apprenticeships and Traineeships Co-Ordinator for Northern Sydney Region. Happily, Tracy has developed and maintained many professional and personal relationships during this time that have endured for the best part of 15 years. 2020 marked the conclusion of Tracy's Central & Far West Adventures as she returned to Northlakes High School as Head Teacher Welfare and Careers Adviser. Tracy retains this position. Some of you may recall Tracy took a school sabbatical to run the Transition to Work program some years ago for the Wyong Job Centre before returning to the CA and HT Welfare role at Hoxton Park High. She is currently undertaking a similar, DoE sanctioned, sabbatical to work as Employment Coordinator and Educational Designer with Charles Sturt University. She is proudly building our networks within the tertiary education sector to support access options, information sharing and learning opportunities for our students. As an Executive Committee Member since 2011, Tracy is excited to have reinvigorated our awareness of working in rural and remote NSW and to be joined by others from regional and rural schools. She is always open to feedback regarding the wider suite of awards being developed.
Treasurer - Nathan Cassilles
Nathan is in his 12th year as Careers Adviser and VET Coordinator at Yanco Agricultural High School, a fully residential public school located in the Western Riverina. He originally trained as a PDHPE teacher at the University of Wollongong and later completed a Graduate Certificate in Careers Education through RMIT. Nathan served as president of the Western Riverina Careers Adviser Network for 7 years before shifting his focus to supporting Careers Advisers on a statewide level through the Careers Advisers Association (CAA). He is also an executive board member with a local group training provider and employment centre, as well as part of the steering committee for the "Grow Our Own" program, an initiative connecting business, industry, and education to inspire young people to live, work, and learn in the Riverina. With two years of experience as an executive member of the NSW CAA, Nathan remains passionate about career education and creating opportunities for rural and remote students.
Committee Member - Mick Lee
Mick has been a Careers Adviser in the Hunter Valley for more than 20 years. He has been an active member of his local Careers Adviser network and has previously been a member of the CAA Executive Committee as Membership & Awards Officer in 2009 after being co-opted to the committee in 2008. Mick is currently undertaking the role of Head Teacher Careers in the Educational Pathways Program. He was a member of the CAA Advocacy Committee where he promoted and supported the role of Careers Advisers in Government, Independent and Catholic Schools. Mick has presented at several CAA New Careers Advisers Days, providing education and support to new Careers Advisers. Mick has also delivered exciting and valuable workshops at Conference many times. In 2019, he was recognised by his peers by being awarded the Hilary Bolin Award. He has joined the CAA Executive Committee to ensure regional Careers Advisers continue to have a voice at the state level.
Committee Member - Jo Pilgrim
Jo is a highly experienced teacher of 32 years and first started her science teaching career in the Department at Irrawang High School in Raymond Terrace under the Targeted Graduate Scheme where she taught for ten years. She then moved to lovely Port Macquarie on the North Coast to raise her two now adult children and started teaching in the catholic system. Jo has worked closely with students with mental health and behavioural issues. She was recognised for her work in this area and received a National Teachers Award for her service. Jo has gained her career qualification from ACU and has been working as the Leader of Career Transitions and Pathways at MacKillop College Port Macquarie for the last few years. Jo has introduced many new initiatives in her time as MacKillop with a special focus of making the connection between school, students and parents much stronger. Jo is also very committed to making her students far more responsible and accountable and hopefully one day getting them to read emails!! Jo is Vice president of her local career’s association as well as Lismore Diocese. Her strengths are in her humour and people skills and the ability to network with any and everyone. Jo feels she has found her true calling as a Careers Adviser and has enjoyed her first year on the executive team to which she has brought a fresh set of eyes and ideas to the committee and a few laughs.
Committee Member - Liri Latimore
Liri has represented her various networks on the CAA Executive since 1978. Over recent years, Liri has held the position of Vice - President (Gov Schools), relinquishing that position in 2022, however was then elected as a Committee member on the Executive Team. Previously she has held many roles including, Professional Development Officer, Membership Officer and Minutes Secretary. Liri retrained as a Careers Adviser in 1978 and has been a professional member of CAA ever since. Liri has represented the Association at many functions over the years and is a valued member of our Executive Committee. Liri received Life Membership of the Association in 2017 in recognition of over 20 years on the Executive Committee. She has taught in girls, boys and co-educational schools across Western, South Western and South East Sydney, serving in short term positions in regional areas including Goulburn and Kanahooka, the QLD School Of the Air, as well as Promotions and Presentation Officer for 'Teach NSW', and Careers Counsellor at the University of Wollongong. Liri is currently a Careers Adviser at Endeavour Sports High, Caringbah.
Committee Member - Sarah Greenwood
Sarah is in her 10th year as Careers Adviser at William Clarke College, Kellyville and has been an active member of the NSW CAA since 2013. She originally trained as teacher of Geography, History and Society and Culture at Macquarie University, then completed postgraduate Careers Education qualifications at Australian Catholic University. Sarah has introduced many initiatives in her role, with a special focus on school-based apprenticeships and traineeships as well as community and industry engagement. She is passionate about guiding students into meaningful post-school pathways and connecting students to the world outside of school through work experience, community mentoring programs and industry expos. Sarah enjoys mentoring new Careers Advisers, recognising the tremendous support she has received from association members in the past. She was appointed executive committee member in November 2024.
Co-opted Board Member - Jenine Smith
Having graduated as an Economic Geographer in 1981, Jenine came to the Teaching profession in 1998 after completing her Graduate Diploma of Education. In 2001 she completed the Certificate IV in Assessment and Workplace Training along with a Certificate II in Business Services through TAFE NSW and gained her Masters of Education (Career Education) at the Australian Catholic University in 2007. Jenine was Careers Adviser at Marist Sisters College, Woolwich and currently is the Assistant Careers Adviser at Rosebank College. Having been on the Executive since 2011 Jenine has undertaken the roles of Communications Officer and Secretary. Jenine was President of CAA for the past 7 years, from October 2017 until November 2024.
Chief Executive Officer - Alison Muscat
Alison has a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Laws and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. She is a corporate law specialist as in-house legal counsel in the corporate sector. Alison commenced as external legal counsel for CAA before extending her responsibilities to running CAA.
Finance & Administration Officer - Rebekah Cook
Rebekah is an experienced School Support Officer, having worked in high schools to support Careers Advisers with NESA and curriculum administration. She has also completed a Bachelor of Medical Science (Honours) at Western Sydney University. Rebekah is CAA’s Administration and Finance Officer and is enjoying the opportunity to collaborate with and support Careers Advisers to deliver quality career education programs and opportunities to students throughout NSW and ACT.
Administration Officer - Rachel Davies
Rachel joins the Association with 13 years of experience in the medico-legal field, complemented by a Certificate III in Accounts Administration. Her background includes a supervisory role where she developed strong problem-solving skills and a knack for providing outstanding support. Rachel is excited about joining CAA because it offers her the chance to collaborate with a close-knit team of dedicated professionals committed to helping Careers Advisers guide students towards academic success and meaningful post-school pathways. With her collaborative spirit and administrative expertise, Rachel is poised to make a positive impact on our projects and contribute to the overall success of CAA.