A team of dedicated educators work in partnership with the School Council to create a welcoming environment at Great Southern Grammar. With a focus on academic rigour, community development, and knowing every child, the Leadership Team is here to help your child shine during their years at Great Southern Grammar.
I knew I was going to be a teacher at 14. Music was an important part of life and I loved the notion of being a conductor. The thought of bringing people together and playing music with all the moving parts was captivating. I must admit, leading others was a very attractive idea.
30 years on, I have the absolute honour and privilege of leading Great Southern Grammar.
I have a great desire to positively impact the young people in my care, to see them flourish, become active participants in civic life and experience personal success.
I met my wife Liz at the age of 17 and 26 years on, we still like hanging out together! I have three children, Ella, Freya and William, and we all enjoy holidaying and exploring Western Australia together.
Outside school, I love politics, jazz piano, local history, kayak fishing and my ride on mower! Finding the next best coffee is also a passion.
As Deputy Principal, I’m all about making sure our students love to learn. That means creating a school environment which encourages exploration and growth for all our learners; and my students will tell you there’s a fair amount of fun on the way.
As an avowed curriculum nerd I love to spend time with colleagues prioritising and poring over results with a fine-toothed comb to make sure each child experiences success. I also manage communication, daily events, the school calendar, staff and student safety. In short, it’s my job to make sure your children are safe at school, and that they’re learning.
Outside school, I’m a food tragic — I love to cook and learn new techniques. Spending time with my family at the beach and exploring the world also bring me joy.
I’m genuinely enthusiastic about procedures and processes that make GSG an even happier place to be, so if you have a question or suggestion, my door is always open.
I’m thrilled to join the Great Southern Grammar team as Deputy Principal – Head of Secondary. My teaching career has spanned over 17 years and I have taught every year group from Year Four to Year Twelve. My classroom expertise lies in teaching Humanities and my favourite subject is History. I have a real passion for character education during the adolescent years, helping students develop themselves and their interests, work collaboratively with others, live their values through their actions and always strive for personal excellence.
I look forward to working alongside the staff at GSG to lead a vibrant school community where our students’ wellbeing and opportunities for success are always at the heart of our decision making. I also look forward to working alongside our parents to ensure that we work in partnership towards this goal. I pay special tribute to our boarding families for the trust they put in us to help raise their children for long periods of time whilst they live away from home during these important years.
My family has relocated to Albany after falling in love with the area after many visits and we look forward to integrating ourselves into the community. I have always kept my eye out for opportunities at GSG after touring the school many years ago and we are very excited to be here now. Our three children are enrolled in the school and are looking forward to making the most of their GSG education alongside our wonderful staff here.
Outside of school, I love camping, boating, golfing, watching my kids play outdoors and relaxing with family and friends. Now that I am in Albany, one hobby that I would like to get into is horse riding. I haven’t ridden since I was a child and now my kids are keen to join a pony club.
Over the years, I’ve seen first-hand that deep learning happens when children feel safe, seen and celebrated at school. So much so that community and rapport building have become key priorities as an educator and now in my role as Head of Primary.
As head of Primary School, I focus on innovative learning practices that spark joy, wonder and curiosity in our students and create a place where they have the courage to be themselves. My team and I engage our students in a way that creates a sense of belonging, encouraging them to develop independence within an engaging, child-centered environment.
Over my teaching years, I've witnessed firsthand the power of early childhood education when children feel secure, valued, and engaged in joyful learning experiences. As Head of Primary School - ECC, I prioritise fostering a playful, community-oriented environment that supports children's wellbeing.
My team and I are dedicated to inquiry, play-based learning practices that ignite curiosity and create a strong sense of belonging among our students. We encourage independence within a nurturing, child-centered atmosphere where each child's unique journey is celebrated.
Outside of school, I thrive on time with my family, exploring our local wonders. Watching my own children learn and grow enriches my perspective, influencing how I approach education by emphasising the importance of active learning and holistic development in children's lives.
As Head of IT and Innovation, it’s probably no secret that I’m passionate (obsessed, perhaps!) about all things technology! Fresh out of secondary school, I started studying Information Technology after being a non-starter in a journalism degree program. After my IT studies, I landed in education, working as an IT Technician supporting students and teachers in their IT use. Technology use was very different in 2005! Working with students ignited a passion to hit the books again, not IT this time but Secondary Education and Economics. I am so lucky to now teach Digital Technologies and Computer Science in our upper Primary School and Secondary School. This is all alongside management of our school technology programmes – managing the demands of what innovative technology use looks like in our school, alongside ensuring that school IT systems are secure and safe from ever-increasing threats of cyberattacks.
What gets me out of bed each morning is looking forward to continuing the shared journey with our young people as they discover who they are, supporting them on their own unique pathway to success. I’m particularly interested in the ways innovative technology, such as game-based learning, can help drive interest and engagement in the learning process. That interest has led me to academic research, where I am currently looking at technology use in classrooms to support our neurodiverse students.
When I’m not at school, I might be found at my small farm in Kendenup, watching a movie with my family, tending to the veggie patch (that seems to get larger and larger every season!), or with our small herd of dexter cattle, and maybe playing a few co-op video games with my sons. Oh, and listening to lots and lots of podcasts on the drive between Kendenup and Great Southern Grammar each day.
In the early 2000s, I was a tax accountant in a large firm. Then I got itchy feet.
I hopped in the Magna and set off around Australia. When I arrived in Albany in 2001, I was hooked. For a bushwalking, mountain biking, ocean-loving sports fan, I felt like I’d found the promised land. I soon found work with a builder — and our main project was building Great Southern Grammar.
In 2017, after gaining experience in retail and agribusiness, I made my triumphant return to GSG as Business Manager. These days, I work to ensure the success of the school through sound financial management, risk management, and governance.
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