Living Learning Pakenham is governed by a voluntary team of industry experts from the community. The Board meets monthly and sets the overall direction and strategy of the organisation and monitors its financial viability and sustainability. If you are interested in being a Board Member of LLP email your resume to admin@livinglearning.org.au
President – Dr Ian Fraser
Ian Fraser began his career as an economist at the Reserve Bank of Australia. In 1975 he moved to RMIT becoming Deputy Dean of the Business Faculty from 1996 to 2005. He then became the inaugural Director of the RMIT International College retiring in 2010.
Ian has had various voluntary roles on Boards including as Treasurer at St Margaret’s School and at Haileybury where he is a Life Governor.
Vice President – Mr Tony Ross
Tony lives in Bunyip and is an educator with four degrees from Monash University.
He is a schools inspector and advisor, Director at Bunyip BB Bank. He also assists managing voluntary work in the Philippines.
Treasurer – Mr Frank Piccolo
Bio available soon.
Secretary – Ms Tina Valentine
Secretary – Dr Marian Matic
During nearly 30 years working in tertiary education institutions, Marian has gained experience in many fields including intellectual disability, adult education, migrant education and international education. Early in her career she was also a registered psychologist. During the 10 years preceding her retirement in 2012, she was the academic manager of RMIT University’s Foundation Studies programs. She has a Master’s degree in psychology, a graduate diploma in Education and a PhD in English. Since retiring, she has spent much of her time doing voluntary work, hiking, sewing, reading, learning German and solving the cryptic crosswords in Friday’s Age.
Member – Ms Prachi Beniwal
Prachi is currently a full-time university student studying Medicine at Monash University and living in Officer. She was deputy mayor and mayor on the Cardinia Shire’s first youth council and has since also worked with the culturally and linguistically diverse advisory committee. She’s passionate about representing the local youth and ensuring that their needs of our increasingly diverse community are catered for. In her free time, she enjoys reading, writing and spending time in nature.
Member – Mr Brijal Parikh
Brijal is an Australian citizen who migrated from Mumbai, India in 2002, and follows the Pushti Marg (Hindu) faith. His journey has been shaped by a deep commitment to family, community, and professional excellence. He’s been married to his wife Dhwani for 21 years, and together they are proud parents to their son, Priyansh.
With over 26 years of experience in the workforce, Brijal is a highly skilled IT and Telecommunications Project Delivery Consultant, driven by the belief that “for every problem, there is a solution.” Throughout his career, he’s led and delivered complex, high-value projects across infrastructure deployment, managed services, governance, quality assurance, and vendor/contract management.
Brijal brings a strategic mindset and divisional leadership experience, paired with a dynamic, adaptable, and solutions-focused approach. He is known for his proactive attitude, strong attention to detail, and ability to navigate challenges with composure and clarity.
In addition to Brijal’s technical and management capabilities, he excels in communication, stakeholder engagement, and negotiation—building trusted, long-term relationships across diverse teams and business environments.
Outside of work, Brijal is passionate about giving back to the community. Community service has played a vital role in his life since his teenage years, shaping who he is and reinforcing his belief in the power of local solutions for lasting impact.
Member – Ms Laureen Walton
Bio available soon