Northern Australian Conference of Seventh-day Adventists FIND OUT MORE

Simon comes from North Queensland originally, he grew up in Ravenshoe in the Atherton Tablelands. Before entering full time ministry, he worked as a Plumber. He has previously served as the Youth Director in the Greater Sydney Conference for five years. He is married to Brittany and together they have two beautiful daughters named Vienna and Violetta.

Simon likes to spend his spare time with his family, at the gym, reading, or studying the Bible. He is passionate about seeing local churches become healthy communities that share the Good News of Jesus with those around them.

Matthew Pearce was Born in Charters Towers as the second youngest boy in a family of boys and four sisters. He was raised in Torrens Creek and completed the last 3 years of his schooling in Mackay. After finishing school, Matt left the region for Townsville and later followed his older brother, Mark, to Stanthorpe. In 1996, Matt met Jodie, and the couple we were married in 1997.

Over the years, Matthew has worked in various jobs, including dairy farming, Australia Post, and as a groundsman at Northpine Christian College and Watson Park.

In 2007, he decided to pursue ministry and went to college, graduating from Avondale University in 2012. Matthew began his ministry journey in 2013 with the Greater Sydney Conference, where he served as the local pastor for a number of churches up until 2020. Afterward, he joined C4 Church in the North New South Wales Conference, then relocated back to Mackay in 2022 where he has been serving as the local church pastor.

Dr. Tawanda Mutandwa is joining NAC from Adelaide where he was working as a Financial Manager with a transport and logistics company. He and his family relocated to Australia from Zimbabwe.

Tawanda earned his PhD in Business Administration from the University of The Free State, South Africa. He also holds a Master of Business Administration degree, a Higher Diploma in Accounting, and several professional certifications, including CPA (Zim) and Chartered Secretary.

Tawanda has worked across various industries, including the public sector, manufacturing, services, and the transport logistics industry.

He served as an Executive Board member of the South Australian Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and engages in various committees, including Audit and Property and Development, to advance the governance structures and mission of the church.

I have had a blessed life.  Born to missionary parents I spent my early years in PNG, India, the USA and Singapore, before becoming a student at Avondale College in 1976. In 1977 I married my girlfriend, Caroline, and we became the proud parents of two girls, Natalie and Jodie. I graduated from Avondale in 1979 with a BEd in Manual Arts and Business and in 1980 accepted a call to be Head of Business at Sonoma College in New Britain.  From 1981 to 1986 I was called to Lilydale Adventist Academy in a number of roles including Business Manager, teacher and Boys Dean.  Our family moved to Queensland for personal reasons at the end of 1986.

From 1987 to 1994, God had me up skilling for the future doing my apprenticeship in plumbing and working in that trade around Brisbane for nearly 7 years. During this time, I felt a strong calling to teaching ministry and was blessed to join the teaching team at Brisbane Adventist College (BAC) in 1995. I worked a BAC for 10 years, first as a teacher then Deputy and for the final 7 years as Head of Secondary.  I became Principal of Northpine Christian College in 2005, and have really enjoyed the challenge of growing Northpine. In the last 18 years our numbers have grown to approximately 950 students and Northpine is now a three stream P -12 School.

As I follow the call of God to lead the education ministry in Northern Australia, I am excited for the opportunity to be a part of the team and the opportunity I have to support our Schools in their educational and evangelistic ministries.

Travis Siutu was born in Auckland, New Zealand, and has Samoan heritage. Has lived in Australia since he was 7, mainly in Sydney. After graduating from Avondale College in 2011, he has served in Adelaide, South Australia Conference for the last 8 years in different roles such as School Chaplain, Youth Pastor and Church Pastor. Travis believes that our young people are leaders of today and that our churches should focus on mission over tradition.

Peter is a Mackay Local and was brought up an Adventist till he left at 15 years of age and returned to a stronger walk with the Lord through the Adventist church at 50 years young. He started his career in the Army and is currently self employed in sales. Peter is a father and grandfather who has been called to this mission as God’s purpose for his life. Men’s Ministries ‘The Fellowship of Men’ movement statements are; Our Vision – To be Christ Centered, Balanced, Strong, Discipled Men. Our Mission – Supporting Men and God’s Purpose For their Lives through Spiritual, Mental and Physical Strength and Wellness.

Jano Runturambi graduated from University with Bachelor’s Degree in Business. After working for about 33 years in the areas of accounting and finance with banking, construction and international mining companies in Indonesia, Laos and Australia and finally he decided to join as Education Accountant/Business Manager at Adventist School Northern Australia Conference.

He and his wife Lolyta have four children Sharon & Clinton (Twins), Sheryl and Jenifer. He is living in Australia for about 14 years and now glad to join with Northern Australia Conference to serve God’s mission and to be prepare for Jesus second coming.