Meet our board
As an Independent Public School, Harrisdale Primary’s School Board has a strategic role of setting the long-term direction for the school and maintains oversight (not management) of the School Business Plan.
The School Board:
- contributes to the School Delivery and Performance Agreement and the Business Plan;
- endorses and reviews the annual budget; reviews the performance of the school;
- assists with Principal selection when a vacancy arises; approves arrangements for sponsorship or advertising;
- liaises with other committees within the school;
- and holds one open meeting each year to report to the school community.
The School Board does not:
- run the day to day operations of the school;
- discuss individual issues relating to teachers, staff or parents;
- represent specific interest groups, or permit special interest to dominate meetings;
- intervene in the educational instruction of students; nor
- performance manage the principal or any other staff member.
It is not about running the school – that is the job of the Principal – but rather, providing additional expertise to help the school achieve the best outcomes for students. The role of the School Council (board) is outlined in the Education Act 1999.
The Harrisdale Primary School Board consists of 11 members that each bring experience as parents, educators and/or community members. Parents are welcomed to contact Ben Foster, Board Chair
The Harrisdale PS Board welcomes your input into our school. If you wish to contact the Board Chair and School Principal please use the below form.
Contact the HPS School Board
Harrisdale PS School Board

Ben Foster
Chairperson
A bit about me, I live locally and my daughter Hannah and son Fletcher attend Harrisdale. My family is committed to the area and we are all excited about how the school is developing and the role it will play in how our young community develops. I welcome the opportunity to help the school develop into the shining light at the heart of our community that the students, parents and staff want it to be.
Professionally I am a Chartered Accountant working for an Aged Care organisation so I have some experience with government departments and the uncertainties that can unfortunately exist around government funding. I also completed my MBA with Curtin in 2011 and believe these skills could allow me to be an effective contributor on the school board.
Personally I believe strongly in the power of education and the importance of strong, well run and well- funded public schools to deliver the best educational experience and equip children to take advantage of the opportunities that life will present to them.
Opening a new school is an enormous challenge, but also a tremendous opportunity and I welcome the opportunity to help the school develop the strategic direction necessary to achieve the vision that Karen and the rest of her team have set out already.

Megan Klompmaker
Executive Officer & Staff Representative
Having worked in the Education Department for the past 9 years, I feel very fortunate to have been chosen to work at a school that strives for excellence and achievement from both staff and students. I have strong established administration and financial skills, having spent many years working in the private sector for companies such as Westfield. Having two High School aged children, I was actively involved in their Primary School both through the P&C and School Board. I look forward to working with the School Board as we continue to grow as a community.

Karen Duncan
School Principal
As a child, I can’t remember ever wanting to be anything else other than a teacher and here I am many years later, living my childhood dream on a much larger scale than I ever would have believed possible. It is such an honour for me to win the position of Foundation Principal, Harrisdale Primary School and I look forward to leading this school to become a highly successful and high care school.
Graduating from the West Australian College of Advanced Education- Churchlands campus in 1981, I began teaching in 1982 and have worked in a variety of educational settings over my thirty six year career. I have taught in rural schools in the Pilbara and the Wheatbelt, and in metropolitan schools. I have taught a range of year levels from Kindergarten to Year 7.
Over the years, I have also worked in Central Office, Regional/District Office and WestOne K-12 Curriculum Services in the area of curriculum leadership.
I began working in an administrative capacity as a deputy principal initially in 2000, and won my first principal position in 2010 as principal of Medina Primary School. I have held principal positions at Medina, Koorana, Ardross and Harrisdale Primary Schools.
I have been very humbled in my tenures as principal to be :
- State Finalist in the WA Education Awards Primary Principal of the Year, 2013,
- Awarded a Certificate of Excellence by the Australian Council for Educational Leaders in 2014,
- Nominated for Outstanding Leader in Aboriginal Education (WA) in 2103,
- Winner of a WA Primary Principals’ Association ‘Leading from the Front’ Award in 2016 (with $10 000 grant for leadership development), and
- Nominated for inclusion (and participated ) in the Experienced Principals’ Program in 2017, a joint venture between WA Catholic Education and Department of Education.
My leadership of Harrisdale Primary, is a great honour. We have a highly supportive community and one that greatly values education. Whilst we hold the title of currently being the most rapidly growing primary school in WA, we can more importantly, hold our head up high and proudly announce, that we are a school that puts students and learning at the centre of all that we do and that we continually strive to develop the unique potential in each and every child.
My leadership has focussed on three pillars of:
- Student Success
- Excellence, and
- Innovation.
Respectful relationships, care and compassion are at the core of my leadership style. If you see me out and about, be sure to say hello.
My goal is for Harrisdale Primary School to be recognised as an excellent school, characterised by high student performance and high care.
I look forward to continuing to work with our school community to achieve this goal.
Karen Duncan
Foundation Principal, Harrisdale Primary

Aaron Bowling
Community Representative
I want to be on the School Board because I want to help ensure our school is the best possible place for our children. My son graduated year 6 in 2020 and I have a daughter in year 6 and a daughter in year 2. I have a lot of Board experience and I have been on our Harrisdale Primary School Board for 5 years. I have a Bachelors Degree in Business Management and an MBA as well as a lot of experience managing large projects. I am the President of another Non-profit and I have a good working knowledge of Board governance and financial management. I want to help our great school continue to thrive.

Lily Pu
Elected Parent Representative

Cam Busby
Elected Parent Representative

Ella Selfe
Staff Representative

Suma Kaja
Elected Parent Representative
I begin by acknowledging the traditional custodians of this land and pay respects to their elders past and present.
My name is Suma Kaja, I live with my husband Suresh Kaja and our 2 children in our neighborhood Harrisdale. Our children attend Harrisdale Primary.
I hold bachelor’s degree in Engineering. I am a certified management professional, working for Rio Tinto as a Project Manager. I’ve held several other positions prior and accomplished significant milestones. I specialize in management, have worked in various sectors such as mining, utilities, banking etc., and have a passion towards technologies.
Proficient in Providing Strategies, Plans, Budget management and Cost Controlling methods, defining, and redesigning processes and policies, defining vision and planning road maps to achieve the same. Have identified areas of improvement and implemented changes seamlessly to keep up with the current world.
In business or for community, I believe in innovation, at times I also go back to traditional methods depending on the scenario. I have had an opportunity to work with leaders from diverse backgrounds such as police, community services, and educationalists fora Non-Profit Organization’s project via Leadership WA to help them with Marketing Strategy.
Being a board member, I would like to extend my services to the school in every possible way I can which includes but not limited to reviewing objectives from time to time, help in financial planning, track performance, consult students and parents as per the need, set up of educational programs, general policies, advising, sponsorships, fund raising etc.
I am confident that my skills, professional and personal experiences are strengths to hold board member position. Looking forward to closely working with the principal, other board members, the students, and the families.

Nicky Grandidge
Staff Representative
My name is Nicky Grandidge and I joined Harrisdale Primary School this year, currently teaching Year 1. I have been teaching for six years and had experience in range of diverse schools, teaching primarily years 1-3. I am passionate about building strong foundations in the early years and instilling a love of learning that children will carry throughout their schooling. It is a privilege to be a member of the collaborative and dedicated school board. I look forward to applying my experience to contribute to Harrisdale Primary School’s success, ensuring that each student is known, valued and cared for.