Mr Ash Hams MBA. BTech
Chairman of Council
Mr. Hams has a Bachelor of Technology in Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering from the University of South Australia as well as an MBA from Deakin University in Victoria. Mr Hams is the General Manager of an international mining services company. He is the current Chair and former Deputy Chair of St Ann’s College.
Mr Hams resided at St Ann’s College from 1990-1994 and has served as a Tutor and Senior Tutor (two years) at the College.
Dr Vyla Ellis BDS, GAICD
Dr Ellis is a general dentist with a wide range of clinical skills. She leads a team dedicated to delivering quality dental care to rural communities. Health and education are her passions and she is dedicated to improving the provision of these for country people. Vyla was a director of the Keith and District Hospital (2016 to 2019). She is experienced in corporate governance, leadership, social media marketing, strategy, public speaking, general dentistry and Invisalign. In 2019 Dr Ellis was a Telstra Business Women’s Finalist.
Dr Ellis was a Senior Tutor at St Ann’s from 2008-2010, has been on the College Council since 2008 and was appointed Deputy Chair in 2018. Dr Ellis’ involvement with St Ann’s began in 2006. “I moved to Adelaide to study dentistry, and what started off as a year in college to meet people turned into five years. Living in a supportive community of like-minded students had a profound impact on my success at university. St Ann’s provides excellent leadership opportunities for students and I took up one of these as Senior Tutor in my final years. Nothing less than excellence was expected of me in this managerial role, holding me in good stead for the work place. I have now been a member of the St Ann’s Council for 10 years. I am a great advocate and supporter of St Ann’s because I’ve seen first-hand how significant the college is for rural students during the crucial transition to university.”
Mr Brodie Ryan
Mr Ryan is the LAND 19 Phase 7B Program Manager at Raytheon Australia, a company which provides state-of-the-art electronics, systems integration and other capabilities in the areas of sensing; effects; and command, control, communications and intelligence systems; as well as a broad range of mission support services to the Australian Defence Force.
Among his qualifications is a Master’s Degree in Engineering (Military Systems Integration) from the University of South Australia. Brodie resided at St Ann’s College from 2004-2006 and was the College Club President in 2006.
Mr Robert Spiby FCA, CTA, RITP, BCom, Grad Dip ICAA
In addition to being a Management and Business Advisory Partner at PKF, Mr Spiby joined St Ann’s College in May 2007 as the Bursar. Mr Spiby says, “over my time at St Ann’s I have been lucky enough to see many students grow from country kids to young professionals and become leaders in their field of choice. The College provides an environment to allow students to excel and I am proud to be a part of that”.
“Outside of work I have three young children and still manage a kick of the soccer ball from time to time,” Mr Spiby says.
Ms Denise von Wald BA, FAICD
Ms von Wald is the Principal and CEO of St Ann’s College. She also is currently a Director of Adelaide Venue Management, a Director of Regional Development Australia (Adelaide), Council Member for the International College of Hotel Management and Chair of WAY (Welfare of Adelaide Youth). Previously, she was a Business Ambassador for the State of South Australia, a member of the Board of the International Education Association of Australia from 2009 to 2011 and a Director of St. Peters’ Girls School.