Board

Meet our ACPPA Board of Directors

Directors from each State and Territory are the conduit between Principals, local Associations, and the ACPPA. They are the first contact point to raise issues, ask questions or suggest initiatives. 

Phil Schultz

Board Director and President: South Australia

 
Principal: St Francis Catholic Primary School, Lockleys
 
 
Phil is an educator and leader with over 37 years experience, and his vision is for schools to be centres for excellence and innovation in teaching and learning.  Relationships are at the heart of successful school communities and Phil looks to foster strong and beneficial partnerships with all stakeholders.

Annette Quirk

Board Director and Vice President: Western Australia

 

Principal: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bunbury

e: annette.quirk@cewa.edu.au

Annette considers it a privilege to have lead three vastly different regional schools in Western Australia over the past 13 years. She is passionate about promoting quality Catholic Education in regional schools. In her role as CPPAWA President (2022-2023) and CPPAWA executive member (2018-2023) she has passionately advocated for the wellbeing of principals and the support of school leaders to ensure schools are places where all community members can thrive. 
 
The opportunity to be part of ACPPA and APPA since 2022 has solidified Annette's commitment to educational success for students and advocacy for principals on both a state and sector level.

Jason Perry

Board Director and Vice President: Tasmania

Principal: St Anthony's Catholic School, Riverside

e: jason.perry@catholic.tas.edu.au

Jason has recently joined the ACPPA Board and is passionate about helping all learners to be their best (self included) and takes great pleasure in seeing people reach their goals.
 
He is a runner with many ultra marathons completed and is looking for his next running goal. 

Rachel Smith

Board Director: Australian Capital Territory

Principal: St Vincent's Catholic School

e: Rachel.Smith@cg.catholic.edu.au

Rachel has worked in a range of small and large schools across Canberra and regional NSW for over 25 years, with over 22 years of experience in school leadership. 
 
Rachel's educational journey has provided her with the chance to work alongside a diverse group of individuals, all striving towards the shared objective of enhancing student achievement and well-being. She believes that every student has the potential to learn when provided with a positive learning environment, effective leadership, a dedicated and skilled education team, a supportive community, and an encouraging family. 

Sarah Lowe

Board Director: Australian Capital Territory

Principal: St Matthew's Catholic School

e: Sarah.Lowe@cg.catholic.edu.au

Sarah has served as a Principal across both the ACT and NSW jurisdictions as part of Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn. She was the Principal of St Mary’s Primary School, Crookwell, for seven years before taking on her current role at St Matthew’s Primary School, Page, ACT, where she is in her second year.

Passionate about high-impact teaching practices, staff development, and student-centred learning, Sarah is committed to fostering excellence, collaboration, and strong community connections. She actively engages with families and leads with a dedication to faith, well-being, and innovation in education.

Beyond her professional life, Sarah is the mother of four young adult children and resides on a sheep and cattle farm in the Southern Tablelands, NSW.

Mark Bateman

Board Director: New South Wales

Principal: St John the Apostle Primary, Narraweena in the Diocese of Broken Bay
 
 
Mark is passionate about Catholic education, developing leaders and working collaboratively in the communities in which he is involved. Outside of school he is a Manly Sea Eagles supporter, despite recent rough times and has an interest in the Sydney Swans! He loves travel, the odd game of golf and enjoys spending time with grandchildren and family. 

Alistair Stewart

Board Director: New South Wales

Principal: St Joseph's Catholic School, Wee Waa NSW

e: astewart1@arm.catholic.edu.au

Alistair Stewart has been the Principal of St Joseph’s Primary School in Wee Waa since 2019, operating within the Diocese of Armidale. He is deeply committed to advancing inclusivity in education, particularly in rural areas. His leadership is characterised by collaboration with community stakeholders to enhance student's educational experiences within Wee Waa and the wider diocese of Armidale. 
Outside of school, he is a passionate NZ Warriors supporter. He prioritises quality time with his wife and three boys and enjoys travelling with them around the country.

Kellie McGinlay

Board Director: Northern Territory

Principal: Murrupurtiyanuwu Catholic Primary School, Wurrumiyanga, Bathurst Island
 
With over 25 years of experience in educational leadership, Kellie has had the privilege of working across diverse school settings in Japan, New Zealand, and throughout Australia. Her journey has taken her from remote and urban areas of North Queensland to various indigenous communities in the Cape, Gulf, and Torres Strait regions. For the past 5 years, Kellie has been Principal at two schools in the Northern Territory, serving two very remote Indigenous communities.
 
These experiences have deeply shaped Kellie's commitment to ensuring quality education for all students, especially in remote and very remote settings. She firmly believes that every student can thrive given the right supportive environment. 
 
In her free time, Kellie is an avid scuba diver and skier who loves to travel and explore new cultures.  
 

Paula Sellars

Board Director: Northern Territory

Principal: Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School, Wanguri
 

Paula is the Principal of Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School, which is situated in the northern suburbs of Darwin, a job she loves and enjoys. 
 
Her teacher training began at ACU, Ballarat in 1989.  Paula has taught in Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory in Catholic Schools for 30 years. 
 
Paula's motivation and goal through education is to always have students' best interests at heart.  Our children are our future.
 
She is an outdoor person and makes the time each morning to start the day with a walk, and is also a passionate follower of AFL and a great supporter of Carlton Football Club.  Like schools, we continue to go through changes and challenges. With this in mind, our schools continue to work together for our children. 

Paul Mitchell

Board Director: Queensland

Principal: St Catherine's Catholic Primary School, Wishart

                                                      e: plmitchell@bne.catholic.edu.au

As a teacher and leader for 26 years, Paul is passionate about shaping a vision of academic success for all students. Paul builds a culture where students and staff do not come to school to be better than others but rather, they come to school to better themselves by working with others. He believes that it is only through empowering leadership and responsibility that students and staff can reach their full potential. As a principal, he is committed to innovation, character-building, and nurturing students toward a bright future where they create change for a better world. 

Roycelyn Wilden

Board Director: Queensland

Principal: All Saints Parish School, Albany Creek, Brisbane
 
 
This is Roycelyn's 20th year of principalship across Qld and a brief time in the ACT.  She has worked as a speech and drama teacher and this has sparked a keen interest in promoting the importance of speech and language development in the early years and the activating student voice throughout the primary years.

Nick Wright

Board Director: South Australia

Principal: All Saints Catholic Primary School, Seaford
 
 
Nick is an educator with over 25 years of experience in both the UK and Australia, the last 15 within Catholic education. He has a wealth of knowledge, loves data and is driven to provide the best teaching and learning opportunities from a research basis. Nick is passionate about education, his role as a leader and supporting the young minds of today become a new generation of faith-filled leaders.
 
Outside of school life - he has a very good understanding of the importance of well-being and work-life balance - he is a father of 3, a husband and a football (soccer) coach.

Annette Diassinas

Board Director: South Australia

Principal: Star of the Sea Catholic Primary School, Henley Beach
 
 
As Co-Principal of Star of the Sea, Annette is passionate about fostering academic excellence and supporting the holistic development of every student. Throughout her career in education, she has had the privilege of working in various rural and city teaching and leadership roles, which have allowed her to develop a deep understanding of curriculum innovation, staff professional growth, and inclusive practices. Annette is committed to creating dynamic learning environments where both students and staff feel inspired, valued, and supported. Her leadership style is collaborative, and Annette believes in the power of strong relationships to build a vibrant, thriving school community.

Damian Howard

Board Director: Victoria

Principal: Carlo Acutis Catholic Primary School, Wollert

e: principal@carloacutis.catholic.edu.au

Damian Howard has been appointed as the Foundation Principal of Carlo Acutis Catholic Primary School in Wollert, one of Melbourne's fastest-growing growth corridors. Before taking on this new school, Damian was the principal of St Raphael's Catholic Primary School, Preston West and initiated and led a 21st-century approach to learning and teaching.
 
Damian has been recognised for his leadership skills and was invited to participate and present at various national and international conferences and events. In 2018, he attended the Global Foundation’s Co-operative Globalisation Rome Roundtable at the Vatican, where he discussed transformative pathways to rebuild confidence and coherence in societies worldwide. In 2019, Damian presented at the International Confederation of Principals in Shanghai, China, where he shared his expertise on educational excellence.
 
In 2022, Damian was recognised as one of Australia’s Top 50 most influential educational leaders by The Educator, an acknowledgement by his colleagues of his contribution to his school community during the uncertainty of the Covid pandemic.
 
He has been the Chairperson of the Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS) North Central Zone Principal Network, promoting educational excellence for Catholic schools and support for principal colleagues.

Rachel Holdsworth

Board Director: Victoria

Principal: Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School, Manifold Heights
 
Through collaborative leadership and shared vision, we've created an environment where students thrive, staff feel empowered, and families are genuine partners in education.
 
Leading a Catholic school is a bit like conducting an orchestra – not all the instruments are always in tune, and I am certainly not an expert at playing any of them; skills and passions vary, but practice helps us make unique music! Through faith, dedication, and a sprinkle of humour, we've built something special at Holy Spirit, where every day brings new opportunities to nurture young minds and strengthen our faith-filled community.
 
Beyond school life, I'm a proud mum of three, and nothing brings me more joy than camping adventures with my husband, family, and friends. My day begins with a peaceful beach walk – a magical time that reminds me to be grateful for this full and blessed life.

 

Megan Richardson

Board Director: Tasmania

Principal: Mount Carmel College, Sandy Bay
 
 
Megan has held a range of leadership roles and is also a member of the CPAT Executive who represent Tasmanian Catholic Principals. She is passionate about nurturing faith-based communities, curriculum development and the wellbeing of every member of her community.

Andrew Colley

Board Director: Western Australia

Principal: Hammond Park Catholic Primary School, Hammond Park
 
 
Member of the Catholic Primary Principals Association (WA) Executive. Husband and father of two, enjoys reading, cycling and hiking.

Gez Mulvahil

Executive Officer

Gez is an educator with thirty years of experience in Catholic education.  She is a life long learner who is passionate about wellbeing and self improvement, and loves the excitement and opportunities of change management.
 
Outside of work, Gez enjoys embracing the Darwin lifestyle and is involved in the local AFL and Athletics communities, and loves going fishing.  She is a passionate Collingwood supporter.
 
Gez and her family enjoy travelling both within Australia and overseas, making the most of the opportunities and experiences that travel has to offer