Our People

Phil has been Executive Officer at CEP for more than a decade now and has a wealth of knowledge regarding the function, benefits and challenges of rural and remote education.

Phil has been instrumental in a range of initiatives aimed at fostering enhanced education outcomes in rural communities.

He has further represented these communities through involvement in a range of government and education sector working groups, as well as peak national education bodies.

Matt has worked in special education for over two decades across Australia and the United Kingdom. He began his professional life in Education Support and has progressed through roles as a Teacher, Assistant Principal and Principal. He spent the previous ten years as Principal of Horsham Special School, developing a range of innovative programs that saw his team awarded the Victorian Award for Outstanding Inclusive Education and the Principals Association of Special Schools Award for Best Team in 2019.

Residing in Quantong in rural Victoria with his wife, Matt has a passion for supporting and developing initiatives that provide rural and disadvantaged youth the opportunity to shine. He is a strong advocate for people with a disability. He has worked tirelessly in his community and across western Victoria to support schools and educators in the provision of inclusive education for all, with a core focus on celebrating diversity.

Andy Bell (he/him) joins the CEP team in 2021 to support our staff team and Youth Ambassador Alumni in the development and expansion of our Rural Inspire initiative.

Andy, who now lives with his wife and two beautiful children in Aireys Inlet, spent the majority of this life living in country Victoria on the lands of the Gunditjmara, Dja Dja Wurrung, Taungurung and Wadawurrung people.

Andy did his schooling in Warrnambool before attending university in Geelong, Bendigo and Melbourne racking up degrees in outdoor education, public relations and community development (as well as a significant HECs debt).

Andy has spent the last fifteen years working both with and for young people with organisations such as YMCA Victoria, Australian Red Cross, the Royal Childrens Hospital Melbourne and Youth Affairs Council Victoria.

Andy knows the importance of programs such as CEP’s Rural Youth Ambassadors from his own experience as a student in a similar program which shaped his values and career, that opened up opportunities he had not ever even considered, and where he made life-long friends including his best friend, now wife.

Loni joins the CEP team as a Communication and Media Officer supporting both CEP and the Rural Inpsire iniative.

Hailing from South Gippsland in Victoria, Loni has since moved to Melbourne to undertake further study.

She has previously worked in Arts Administration for the National Gallery of Victoria, Moonee Valley City Council and with RMIT’s non/fictionLab.

Renae grew up in Kaniva, a small country town in Victoria just 10kms from the SA boarder. She went to high school at Kaniva College where she finished year 12 in 2017 alongside a class of 8 others. Renae has been living in Adelaide for four years studying a Bachelor of Education (middle/Secondary)/ Health Science (PE teaching) at Flinders University. She wants to be a PE and Agriculture teacher in the country. Hopefully one day (years down the track) she can be a principal. 

Renae is passionate about ensuring all students gain a quality education no matter their location and CEP advocates for this. She likes seeing change happen in the education sector that supports every student.

Caitlin is a recent alumni ambassador that has joined the team as an intern. She grew up in Maryborough Victoria always being involved in the community through sport and volunteering. Caitlin has recently made the move to geelong to study exercise and sport science.