Ros Marsland

Chair

Ros Marsland is a dedicated professional, serving as the Manager of the Strategic Projects Department of Education in Western Australia. Her unwavering passion for enhancing school design was ignited during her pivotal role in coordinating the redevelopment of a prominent high school in Perth. With a steadfast commitment to her field, Ros's 16-year membership with Learning Environments Australasia (LEA) has been an invaluable source of support and reward. Her influential leadership was evident as she chaired the WA Events committee from 2007 to 2009 and assumed the role of Chair Elect/Chair for LEA WA from 2012 to 2016. Furthermore, Ros's impact extended to the Regional Council, where she served as a member from 2012 to 2016. Her steadfast involvement with Learning Environments Australasia since 2006 underscores her unwavering dedication to improving educational spaces and advancing the field of school design.

Derek Bartels

Chair-Elect (2026)

Derek Bartels, our new Regional Chair-Elect (2026), is renowned for his innovative approach to contemporary learning and innovative environments across several Australian states. With leadership experience across states and nationally, Derek has drawn from cutting-edge research to shape learning practices within Lutheran schools and beyond. His leadership extends globally, inspiring educational communities to adopt contemporary pedagogical practices, innovative learning environments and whole school transformation. Derek’s passion for future-focused learning environments positions him as a visionary for LEA’s continued evolution and collaboration. He will assume the role of Regional Chair in November 2026, providing us with a guiding light for innovation and progress.

Felicity Lewis

Treasurer

Felicity is the Director-Architecture of Studio GL, a boutique Architecture-Urban Design practice whose focus is the creation of places for people. For the past 10 years, Felicity's experience has shifted to Urban Design, focusing on town Centres and Strategic planning and city-shaping. Prior to establishing Studio GL, Felicity worked in educational design on a wide range of projects within the Catholic school system and for TAFE NSW. Her emphasis was on functional designs that supported the educational goals and enhanced the school community. Felicity was the Chair LE NSW Chapter for 2020 and 2021 and is the current Assistant Treasurer for LEA.

Deb O’Riley

International Director

Deb O’Riley is an Education Consultant for Learning Space Design - previously Director, New Schools, for the Department for Education, South Australia. Deb is an enthusiastic and passionate educator with a real commitment to improving outcomes for all learners. She has held teaching, principal and other leadership roles in a variety of schools and education settings in South Australia. Deb has previously held the position of Chair for Learning Environments Australasia (LEA). Deb’s focus has been to understand elements critical to the successful delivery of contemporary learning environments. Deb believes that learning environments need to encourage and promote multiple modalities of learning and support contemporary pedagogy. International Director October 2022 - October 2025.

Dani Martin

Secretary

Dani is a Senior Associate at Gray Puksand in Brisbane and has been an LEA member since 2010. She was one of the founders of The Mayfield Project in 2009 and continues her commitment to making learning more accessible for young professionals through her advisory role in supporting the current Chair of The Mayfield Project. Working as Communications Chair in two different Chapters and now sitting on the Regional Executive, Dani has a passion for celebrating and sharing the work and activities of the LEA community and the positive experiences learning environments can create.

Daniel Smith

Past Chair

Daniel is the Managing Director of Leaf Architecture, an architectural practice  that creates Human centred, research driven designs. Daniel strongly believes in the power of design to help facilitate greater education outcomes. He is passionate about the impact of space in learning and is building his career based on an in-depth understanding of pedagogy, learning and space. Previous LEA Roles: NSW Chapter Chair 2018 – 2019; LEA Sydney Conference Co-Convenor 2018.

Deb Zabenko

Administration Manager

Deb Zabenko is an accomplished professional with a proven track record in administration and management. As the Administration Manager for Learning Environments Australasia, Deb brings her expertise in streamlining operations and enhancing organisational efficiency. A proactive problem-solver and a collaborative team player, adeptness in resource allocation, budget management, and process optimisation leads to smooth execution of projects and initiatives under her purview. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation makes her a valuable asset to the organisation. Deb’s office is located in the Yarra Valley, Victoria.

Nicola Payne

Communications & Marketing

Nicola has an eclectic range of skills in events, marketing, communication, social media, mentoring and leadership. She has conceptualised and implemented end to end events, led major organisational rebranding projects, designed key websites, developed & implemented organisational/business strategic plans and has been instrumental in leading a range of other major projects. Her career spans over 28 years and she has worked within educational, government, non-government, not for profit and private sectors. Her unwavering commitment to excellence and innovation makes her a valuable asset LEA and the education community at large. Nicola’s office is located in Brisbane | Meanjin, Queensland.