Corporate - The John Flynn College

College Council

To ensure our policy reflects the needs of residents and staff, the College Council is comprised of members representing a number of College interests. These members include nominees of the Uniting and Lutheran Churches, elected undergraduate and postgraduate resident representatives, a nominee of the University Council, our College Principal and the President of the Students’ Association.

It is through this democratic process that The John Flynn College continues to assess and uphold quality academic and residential services for the student body.

College Council Members – 2018

	Assoc. Professor David King Council Chair I joined the John Flynn Council in 2008 and have been treasurer since 2009. I represent the Uniting Church and am a member and Chair of the Church Council at Kirwan and Jensen Uniting Church. I have been working at JCU since 1990, teaching Geography and Planning, and researching Natural Disaster vulnerability and community resilience, and climate change adaptation. I am Head of the Environmental Management Academic Group. Before coming to JCU I taught at the University of Papua New Guinea for 10 years, and before that was a high school teacher for 7 years, including 3 years in a Methodist High School on the diamond fields of Sierra Leone, where I researched my PhD on the impact of the diamond rush. Three of my kids and their partners, and grandkids, now 9 of them, live close by in Kelso.
	Reverend Bruce Cornish Council Deputy Chair I joined the John Flynn College Council in January 2008 as a Uniting Church representative and one of the 2 Uniting Church ministers that the constitution requires to be on the Council. I have served as an ordinary member of the Council, the Deputy Chairperson and since January 2015 as Chair. I was ordained as a Uniting Church minister in 1985 and have served in 6 different placements, 5 of which have been in North Queensland including Tully, Ingham and Mt Isa. I have lived in Townsville since January 2005. I am married to Margie with 3 adult sons and we are privileged to have three grandchildren. I have an education background being a registered primary school teacher prior to entering the ministry. I retain my teacher registration. I have served on a number of boards of governance over the years in both church and non-church settings and bring that experience as well as my knowledge of the Uniting Church and education to the role on The John Flynn Council. For recreation I enjoy riding my motorbike, wood work and gardening.
	Reverend Barry Cox Secretary I was appointed to the John Flynn College Council by the Uniting Church in 2008 as one of the two Uniting Church Ministers which the Constitution outlines is necessary for governance. For the first couple of years I was a Council Member but lately I have held the position of Council Secretary. I am presently the Presbytery Minister Administration of the North Queensland Presbytery which has oversight for Uniting Church congregations from Bowen to Thursday Island and west to Mt Isa. I have two degrees, a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Theology. I am married to Jenni with 3 children and 3 grandchildren. Hobbies – movies, electronic tinkering and grandchildren.
	Mr Bruce Mills Treasurer I joined the John Flynn College Council in 2016 as a Lutheran Church representative. Apart from a brief foray into business, I have been a Townsville teacher for 30+ years in secondary, primary and special education. I am currently teaching at a beautiful small primary school at Rollingstone. Sharron and I have two girls and a boy who all have families of their own. Altogether there are eight grandchildren. My hobbies tend to be work related so everything is looked at as a teaching tool. My main interests are programming and coding for students and ecology. My students and I are currently undertaking scientific studies of a large block of land as we try to restore it to the native vegetation.
	Mr Joseph Walker Member I was privileged to join the John Flynn College Council in 2012 as the James Cook University Council representative. Following my retirement in July 2014, I had to resign as the Council representative and was honoured to be elected as a Uniting Church representative on the John Flynn College Council. Prior to my retirement I was employed as the Superannuation Manager at James Cook University for 24 years. I am married to my beautiful wife Sharon and have four children and four grandchildren. Currently studying for a Diploma in Financial Planning in order that I can open my own small superannuation consultancy business. In my spare time I enjoy photography, gardening, beekeeping, walking and Justice of Peace work.
	Mrs Sonia Muller Member I joined the John Flynn College Council in January 2014 as one of the two Lutheran Church representatives required by the Council's constitution. I am a mother of a 15 year old son, and a wife (25 years!) and have lived in Townsville for most of that time. I'm a north Queenslander through and through, having grown up on the Atherton Tablelands near Cairns, and have also spent time in western and southern Queensland. My day job is as a mediator, facilitator and conflict coach, dealing with criminal, commercial, workplace, community and family matters. I hold a Master of Alternative Dispute Resolution, however have worked in training and development, marketing, and animal science/husbandry with undergraduate qualifications in journalism and public relations. This year I join you as a 'student', starting my Master of Social Work at JCU. For several years I was Chair of the Townsville Lutheran Parish, and have served the church in a range of capacities including executive and committee positions for the church and church-run child care centre. I enjoy the diversity of the current council, and the wealth of experience and passion is evident in all my interactions. I can play three chords on the guitar and it remains my long term recreational goal!
	Mr Jonathan Churchill JCU Representative I joined John Flynn College Council in 2014 as the James Cook University representative, where I am Director ICT. I have almost 20 years’ experience in the IT industry, and have lived and worked in Australia, the UK and South Africa. I have extensive experience working in large complex organisations, and the Higher Education sector, as well as managing large numbers of people and substantial budgets to deliver services to a diverse client base. I hold two Masters degrees, including an MBA from the Australian Graduate School of Management, and a BSc(Hons) from Imperial College, London, one of the top ten Universities in the world (THES 2016). I am also a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and am experienced in serving on Boards. I am married to Meryl and we have lived in Townsville since 2013. We enjoy scuba diving, skiing and hiking.
	Mr Michael Bongers College Principal I started as Principal of The John Flynn College in January 2015. Before then I was the Rector (Principal) of St John’s College within the University of Sydney and (earlier again) Deputy Principal of St Leo’s College within the University of Queensland. My professional background is in education (my academic qualifications include Dip T., B.Ed., M.Ed. and I’m currently enrolled in an Ed.D.). For 19 years I worked in secondary schools – coaching sports and teaching Mathematics, Science and Religious Education. My wife, Moya, and I have five adult sons and two beautiful granddaughters. My interests are linked to family and friends, to sports of all kinds (rugby union and cricket are among my personal favourites), to spirituality in all its forms, and to life-long learning. Personal/ professional development is important to me and so too is the dignity found in all people - particularly those in society who find themselves (for whatever reason) excluded in small or large ways.