A Knights Leadership Breakfast with Dr Debra Sayce, Tara Peters & Syona Fernandez

A KNIGHTS LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST WITH DR DEBRA SAYCE, TARA PETERS & SYONA FERNANDEZ

LIVING CATHOLIC MISSION: IDENTITY, LEADERSHIP AND VOCATION IN TODAY'S WORLD

Join us for a special Catholic breakfast in Perth featuring three inspiring leaders in Catholic mission and formation—spanning health care, education, archdiocesan leadership and emerging voices in the Church.

Our distinguished guest speakers Dr Debra Sayce, inaugural Head of Mission Enhancement and Outreach – Archdiocesan Agencies for the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth, Tara Peters, Chief Mission Integration Officer at St John of God Health Care, and Syona Fernandez, Head of Learning Area – Religious Education at Lumen Christi College and Young Catholic Women's Fellow, will share their personal insights on living a clear Catholic identity in complex, secular workplaces and a rapidly changing world.

Drawing from decades of combined experience in Catholic health care, education and ministry leadership—and fresh perspectives from the next generation—our speakers will explore what it really looks like to integrate mission authentically, whether in hospitals, schools, parishes, agencies or everyday life.

In this engaging presentation, we will explore:

• What Catholic mission and identity look like in practice

• Practical principles on culture and leadership

• The emerging voice of Catholic women in leadership and mission

• How to see your ordinary responsibilities as places where God is already at work

• Wisdom for living your vocation more fully—whether clergy, educator, professional or layperson

Join us to be encouraged and equipped to "Serve God, Serve Others" and make every moment matter in your own context.

ABOUT DR DEBRA SAYCE

Dr Debra Sayce serves as the inaugural Head, Mission Enhancement and Outreach – Archdiocesan Agencies for the Catholic Archdiocese of Perth. Her distinguished career includes serving as Executive Director of Catholic Education Western Australia and becoming the first lay Director of Religious Education in WA.

Shaped by her long-standing motto "Serve God, Serve Others" and her involvement in bodies such as the Plenary Council 2020 and national Church councils, Debra brings a wealth of experience in Catholic formation, governance and mission.

ABOUT TARA PETERS

Tara Peters serves as Chief Mission Integration Officer at St John of God Health Care, one of Australia's largest Catholic health care providers. Her career includes leadership as Director of Mission Integration at St John of God Midland, senior roles with Impact Catholic Ministry, and a professional background spanning finance, HR and workforce planning.

Theologically trained and formed in Catholic leadership at The University of Notre Dame Australia, Tara combines head and heart: fidelity to the Church's mission with a deep care for people on the margins and on the front line.

ABOUT SYONA FERNANDEZ

Syona Fernandez serves as Head of Learning Area – Religious Education at Lumen Christi College and brings significant experience in social justice and youth ministry. She holds a Bachelor of Biomedical Science and a Master of Teaching.

In 2024, Syona was selected as one of only eight participants nationally in the Young Catholic Women's Fellowship, a two-year academic and missionary formation program connected with Australian Catholic University's Women's Leadership for Mission program. She is currently undertaking a Graduate Certificate in Theological Studies as part of this fellowship, representing an emerging generation of Catholic women leaders in the Australian Church.

Series proudly sponsored by The University of Notre Dame Australia