Amanda O’Yang is the warm, smiling face behind the College’s reception, welcoming all undergraduate, postgraduate and senior members into the St Paul’s residential community. Amanda works hard to make all residents feel comfortable in their ‘home away from home’. She embraces the unique college spirit that ensures each resident has the best possible collegiate experience.
Amanda’s career in the Hotel and Tourism industry began when she worked in numerous front office positions, before making a pivot. She has a career spanning over 16 years within the Recruitment and Human Resources field, responsible for supporting Recruitment and Human Resources Directors.
Amanda joined the St Paul’s team in October 2018, working alongside the administration and operations team. Her passion and commitment fuel an extremely engaged approach to her work, with Amanda driven to create a supportive community that allows St Paul’s residents to thrive as young, independent adults.
Amanda lives with her husband and two young daughters, as well as their recently adopted puppy.
Brad Skone is a cabinet maker by trade, and Brad was a part of the St Paul’s College maintenance team for over a decade, making his promotion to Facilities Manager a seamless transition. Brad enjoys meeting a variety of characters and personality types as he works across the St Paul’s campus. Every day poses a new challenge, with two days rarely the same as each other. A keen sportsman in his day, Brad is passionate about the sporting aspects of College life, and is a proud supporter of the Canberra Raiders.
Matthew Gerber BCom MIntStud(Syd) was first elected as a Fellow of Paul’s College in 2010, Matthew is also a two-time attendee of the College. He first attended as an undergraduate between 1993-1996 and then as a postgraduate in 2001. Matthew holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Honours) and a Master of International Studies (Merit) from the University of Sydney, as well as a Diploma of Investor Relations.
Matthew enjoyed an active residential life during his own years at the College, playing Warden’s Own Rugy, coxing the College Rowing Crew, singing in the Chapel Choir, conveyancing events and tutoring as a postgraduate. He was elected as Treasure of the Students’ Club Committee in 1995 and Senior Student in 1996.
Enjoying a broad-ranging career, Matthew has worked in stockbroking as an equity analyst within the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (including a diplomatic posting to Pakistan and a short-term posting to Timor Leste) and as a Singapore-based role as a political and security risk analyst covering the Asia Pacific and China.
After returning to Australia in 2008, Matthew’s career in corporate affairs and investor relations saw him working for several ASX-listed companies in the resources and agribusiness sectors. Here, he gained experience and expertise in stakeholder engagement, strategic communications, risk management and financial planning – skills he brings to his role as an elected Fellow of the College.
Matthew is a member of the congregation at Christ Church St Laurence (Railway Square) and lives in Enmore with his wife Elizabeth and their two children.
Ralph Goninan BCom BE(Civil)(Syd) was a member of St Paul’s College from 2003-2006, culminating as the Senior Student in the College’s sesquicentenary year. During his time at the College, Ralph was an active participant in athletics and rugby, leading and organising the inaugural College Kokoda Trek. Ralph also held positions such as The Intercol Rep and Providore. Ralph joined the Council in March 2017. Ralph’s study of Civil Engineering and Commerce has led him to work primarily on large and complex infrastructure projects across both Australia and Hong Kong since 2006.
Ralph lives on the Northern Beaches with his wife and their four children and enjoys time in the outdoors and in the surf.
Cameron Blake joined St Paul’s in 2019, helping to develop the food and service offerings across campus. Having previously headed up catering for the Corporate Suites at the iconic Melbourne Cricket Ground, as well as overseeing restaurant operations at Sydney’s Taronga Zoo, Cameron brings a wealth of extensive leadership and mentoring experience within the hospitality industry.
In Cameron’s spare time, he can be found enjoying various food and wine offerings, as well as following his beloved AFL team, the Melbourne Demons.
Professor Julia Horne PhD(UNSW) is a Professor of History and University Historian at the University of Sydney. In this role, Julia helps promote understanding of the university’s extensive and fascinating history and heritage, as well as contributing to the postgraduate teaching and supervision programs in the School of Humanities and the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
Julia’s career began in the GLAM sector (Galleries, Libraries, Archives and Museums). Her work as a curatorial assistant at the Powerhouse Museum grounded her subsequent work in the development and use of historical collections, first in community outreach in rural New South Wales and later as head of the Oral History Program in the UNSW Archives.
She regularly writes on the history and politics of higher education, women, and war, as well as the history of landscape and travel. Alongside her publication in academic journals, Julia writes occasional opinion pieces, most recently for The Australian Book Review and The Conversation.
She is the author or co-author of six books: The Pursuit of Wonder (Miegunyah, 2005), Sydney: the Making of a Public University (with Geoffrey Sherington, Miegunyah, 2012), Preserving the Past: The University of Sydney and the national unified system 1987-96 (with Stephen Garton, MUP, 2017) and the new co-edited collection (with Matthew Thomas), Australian Universities: A Conversation about Public Good (SUP, 2022).
Julia is the co-director of Beyond 1914 – The University of Sydney and the Great War, a biographical website of men and women who served in the First World War, and co-convenor of History of University Life, a public forum on higher education. Julia also serves on the executive councils of both not-for-profit and government cultural institutions.
The Rev’d Kimberly Sawyer is the Priest in Charge at St John’s Anglican Church Cooks Hill in the Diocese of Newcastle.
Kimberly is the first woman priest in the 160-year-old parish of St John and was ordained in May 2019. Prior to that she was a Deacon for 26 years, her previous ministry was in the Parish of Hunters Hill in the diocese of Sydney. It had been a long and varied ministry in that diocese, as a school chaplain and also within the parish environment.
Kimberly joined the Council at its August 2024 meeting to replace retired Clerical Fellow Rev’d Kate Heath.
David Roberts BEc LLB(Syd) was elected to the College Council in 2015 and serves on the Finance Committee. A resident of St. Paul’s himself from 1981-1984, David was Treasurer of the Students’ Club during his time as a Pauline.
David holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics and Law from Sydney University and has pursued a 30-year career in banking and corporate finance across Sydney, New York and Hong Kong alike. His son, Hugh, was a student at St. Paul’s, and his daughter, Eloise, attended Women’s College.
David is a firm believer in the value of collegiate life in providing emotional, social and academic support to young people and the role it plays in enriching the university experience. David is also committed to ensuring the College’s financial sustainability, delivering flexibility, independence and confidence for the long-term future of St. Paul’s.
Roberto Sgroi began his career in hospitality in 2000, working in numerous iconic restaurants and hotels across Sydney. During his time at the Hilton Hotel, Roberto accomplished 4 years as an apprentice, steadily working his way up from this foundation. One of his greatest achievements was working as a junior sous alongside celebrity chef Sean Connolly at Astral Star City, an award-winning one-hatted restaurant. It was here where Roberto gained most of his knowledge of and respect for food.
Roberto also enjoys a great love of boxing and rugby league when he’s not in the kitchen.
Sarah Siegloff is the Manager of Major Gifts. Sarah joined the St Paul’s College Community Advancement Team in 2023, working with Richard Morgan and Julie Lam, to engage with the St Paul’s College community and support its goals into the future. Sarah is focused on major gifts and planned giving.
After initially working in banking Sarah spent many years living overseas with her husband and two children. It was while living in the Netherlands that she first started working in schools in various community leadership roles and realised her admiration of and enthusiasm for supporting outstanding educational institutions. Most recently she was the Vice President of the Ascham Parents’ Association, where her two daughters attended. This involved collaborating with a variety of stakeholders on events, projects and fundraising.
Sarah has been impressed by the generous welcome she has received from everyone in the St Paul’s Community. She thoroughly enjoys interacting with all the students, staff, parents, alumni and friends of the college, and looks forward to making a significant contribution to the college as part of an outstanding team.
