Introducing Our 2025 School Councillors

Sarah Nightingale - School Principal, School Council Executive Officer

My name is Sarah Nightingale, and I am the Principal of North Melbourne Primary School. My role on School Council is the council’s executive officer. Part of my role is to work closely with the School Council President and other members, acting as a team, to enhance the educational opportunities for all our students.

I enjoy our school council meetings as it gives me a chance to hear the views from the community via the school council members as well as focus on efficient governance of the school and work towards our vision.

I believe the relationships between families and the school are vital to the success of our students across both campuses, so I encourage all members of our community to contribute through conversation and positive input. Speaking to our school council members is one avenue in which families can do this, so please feel free to reach out at any time.

Noriko Miltenburg - School Council President, Parent Member

Hello NMPS community! My name is Noriko – I am a school councillor and have been doing so the last five years(!).

The school council has several sub-committees, and I convene the Building and Grounds (B&G) Committee, where we help manage the school’s property and grounds. We concurrently work on several projects at Errol Street Campus at any one time, large and small. The campus has been particularly busy recently and I am thrilled to announce the successful completion of our two-staged toilet renovation projects this week. I look forward to seeing kids and teachers' reactions to this new space! We are now starting improvement works in some specialist rooms and long-awaited Southside playground, aiming to make the playground a more fit and fun place for senior year students. This project will be funded by the school community through Parents and Friends activities, and we’re grateful for everyone’s effort to make this happen.

I have two boys in Year 5 and 6. Our family loves food, travelling, and the big fun of skiing. I also run a design studio in North Melbourne, focusing on architectural design and have worked on commercial projects in Japan, Australia, Holland, and Austria.

North Melbourne Primary School has a unique character with students of diverse cultural backgrounds. I find it very special and embrace it, being truly happy to have my kids studying in this environment. I will continue to work together with the school and the community to create a great learning environment for our kids. Please feel free to say hello if you see me around the school – I’d love to chat!

Julian Rodrigo - School Council Vice-President, Parent Member

With careers in corporate finance, management consulting, and most recently retail operations, I aim to leverage my commercial acumen and strategic experience to support the NMPS community. Having two children at NMPS (Years 1 & 3) and living in North and West Melbourne since 2010, I deeply value our amazing community and am committed to supporting its fantastic teachers and families.

Outside of family time with Mel, Kit, and Leo - I spend any spare moments watching NBA basketball, trying every new sandwich spot in Melbourne, listening to house, techno and basketball podcasts, and occasionally exercising.

Lorne Franks - School Council Treasurer, Parent Member

Lorne is a long-time resident of North Melbourne, having called the area home for 13 years. He has two children attending North Melbourne Primary School - his eldest in Year 2 and his youngest set to start Prep in 2026.

Professionally, Lorne is a class actions lawyer at a national plaintiff law firm. He joined the School Council in 2023 and currently serves as the Treasurer and convenor of the Finance Sub-Committee.

Lorne got involved with the council to help promote the wellbeing and safety of NMPS's incredible students and staff. In his free time, he enjoys drawing, reading, and doing Lego projects with his kids.

Adrienne Maisano - School Council Secretary, School Employee Member, Assistant Principal - Molesworth Street

I’m Adrienne Maisano, the proud Assistant Principal of North Melbourne Primary School, based at our Molesworth Street Junior School Campus.

I am excited to continue my involvement with the School Council for another year. Being part of this team is an incredibly rewarding experience, as it allows me to actively engage with our school community, collaborate with families, and contribute to the governance of our school. I firmly believe that strong relationships between families and the school are fundamental to student success. Together, we can create an inclusive and supportive environment where every student thrives.

Beyond my work at NMPS, I enjoy cooking and cherishing time with family and friends. Whenever I have the opportunity, I love to travel and immerse myself in different cultures, exploring new cuisines and traditions.

Penny Hewson - School Council Parent Member

Hi, I'm Penny - this is my third year on the School Council and second as President of the Parents & Friends Association. I'm also the singer/guitarist in Rock'N'Roll Call, our NMPS Parents rock band, playing occasional gigs at school fetes, the Queensberry Cup, and recently at the Parents Battle of the Bands' (Northside) event.

My work background is in entertainment, digital marketing and e-commerce, and as founder of YouGotThis Global, a world-first encouragement app. I'm passionate about community engagement, and putting my energy into building positive community experiences via the myriad P&F events on the school calendar. And campaigning for improving school crossings and pedestrian safety for our kids!

My son Mickey is currently in Year 3 and he would say that my favourite things are music, tennis, coffee, and "getting things done". My Mum was an avid fundraiser on the parents committee when I was at school and I like following in her footsteps. She showed me how to make a difference by participating in school life and the local community.

Stephen Regan - School Council Parent Member

I am very happy to be joining the School Council at North Melbourne Primary School, where my five-year old son is in Prep. Although I have worked for many years in higher education, I have strong interests in all levels of learning from primary to adult education. I am currently Professor Emeritus at Durham University in the UK and an Honorary Fellow at the University of Melbourne. Previously, I worked at the University of London (Royal Holloway) and Ruskin College, Oxford.

I enjoy writing and publishing books, the most recent of which is The Penguin Book of Elegy. I am a regular contributor to the Australian Book Review and a Board Member of the Shiel Street Press in North Melbourne. I take a strong interest in local history and have recently joined the Hotham History Project. I am an active member of the Celtic Club of Melbourne. My other interests include music (classical, jazz and folk), soccer (English Premier League) and football (AFL).

I am looking forward to working closely with other members of the School Council to help shape the very best educational opportunities for local children and their families.

The rest of our school councillors will be introduced in our next newsletter!

Prep News