Welcome to our new Board Members!

Get to know our Board

Pictured above: Joanne Martin, Jack Schmidt, Mayor Kay Fraser, John Ferguson, Gemma Morgan, Dylan Shoesmith

The Place recently welcomed three new board members along with two previous members who are now filling Councillor positions. Our Board members come from a range of experiences and backgrounds with varying passions and interests for the community.

Cr Christine Buckley - East Ward Councillor

Cr Buckley is passionate about providing services to support those who are at risk. She was elected to local government in 2016 serving as Deputy Mayor from 2020 to 2021, and as community representative on The Place board for several years.

Cr Jack Antcliff - North Ward Councillor

Cr Antcliff is interested in youth engagement and futurefocused decision making. He was a founding member of The Bright Minds Project, a mental health awareness initiative, and was previously a Youth Representative on The Place board.

Dylan Shoesmith - Youth Representative

Dylan has served on local, regional and state-wide youth advisory committees. As a board member of The Place, he seeks to provide a voice for the young adults.

Jack Schmidt - Community Representative

Jack is passionate about engaging with his local community by getting behind causes that matter to them. Jack brings a wealth of organisation, project management, time management, communication, and networking skills.

Joanne Martin - Community Representative

Joanne is passionate about lifelong learning and improving the health and wellbeing of our community. She is community minded and values driven with considerable strategy and business development, leadership, and governance experience.

Our Board members haven a coherent goal of providing the community with opportunities and advocacy.

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Questacon STEM Network: Hunter Region Educator Meetups

by Cristelle Govender • 30 October 2025

Dates: Wednesday 5th November 2025 & Thursday 4th December 2025 Time: 5pm - 6:30pm (arrive from 4:45pm) Cost: FREE Tickets: HERE Are you a Hunter Region STEM educator with an interest in building your professional connections? Join in the launch of the Hunter Region STEM Network! Connect with fellow educators, get hands-on with STEM activities, and boost your STEM teaching confidence. Meet other educators and build your professional networks, engage in hands-on STEM activities, and discuss classroom implementation, gain insights into high quality STEM resources and programs, access Q.Ed Community, Questacon’s Education Community of Practice. With the support of local educators, Questacon facilitates state-based STEM network meetings, connecting educators with each other, with resources, and with the local STEM community. Each meeting you’ll hear from local educators about their classroom practice, connect to your local Questacon Regional Leader, complete a creative hands-on STEM activity, and explore how you can extend and enrich your STEM teaching. Things to know: Suitable for NSW primary and high school teachers, school lab techs, pre-service teachers and outreach educators, as well as those with an interest in STEM education Meetings are FREE to attend, but registration is essential to secure your spot Afternoon tea provided If the location or dates don’t suit you, you can express your interest in future opportunities via the application form Meetings are held each term, but places are limited. About the Program: Questacon Regional Leaders are in every state and territory, building networks of educator communities across the country. Q.Ed community is a hub for state-based communities of practice led by teachers and facilitated by Questacon. With regular, in-person and virtual meets, a Teams channel to chat, professional learning resources and grab'n’go activities and more, Q.Ed community gives you the access, networking and resources to elevate your STEM classroom, wherever you are. For more information contact: teachers@questacon.edu.au or view the event on the Questacon website