Governance and Leadership Our College

Governance

St Rita’s College is governed under the sponsorship of Mercy Partners. The ministry was entrusted to Mercy Partners by the Queensland Congregation of the Presentation Sisters on 27 May 2014.

The Mercy Partners ministerial PJP assumes the role of the canonical sponsor of St Rita’s College. The civil relationship is that Mercy Partners Limited is the sole Member of the organisation that operates the Ministry. The day-to-day operations of St Rita’s College remains under the governance of their Board of Directors.

Mercy Partners commits to ensure that their ministries flourish as a Catholic ministry that contributes to the emergence of a world where the healing, liberating and life-giving mercy of God is experienced.

St Rita's College Board of Directors
Mrs Erin Bledsoe
Mrs Louise Burke
Ms Kirstie Day
Mrs Catherine Dunbar
Mr John Fraser (Acting Chair)
Dr Gordon Howell
Ms Lee McLean
Mr Peter Selwood
Mr Michael Senior
Mrs Julie Tealby

Mrs Erin Bledsoe

Mrs Erin Bledsoe, BEcon (Hons), BCom 

Erin is a past student of St Rita’s College. She is an Economist, holding a Bachelor of Economics (Hons) and a Bachelor of Commerce from The University of Queensland. She currently works for Shell Australia as Head of Regulatory Affairs and Compliance for the Australian Energy Marketing and Power business. Prior to joining the energy sector, Erin spent a number of years as an Economist working for the Federal Department of the Treasury on microeconomic and financial sector reform. On returning to Brisbane, she held numerous roles in the energy sector and had the opportunity to represent major corporations on energy and greenhouse policy and influence the national policy agenda. She is passionate about empowering women in the workplace, particularly in areas with lower female participation. In her spare time, Erin enjoys reading and playing tennis. She is married to James and they have two sons.

Mrs Louise Burke

Louise Burke – B Bus(Man), GCertAppFin, GAICD

Louise is a seasoned executive with 20 years’ experience working in healthcare and professional services in Australia and the United Kingdom. Her career has spanned strategy, operations, funding, performance, digital health and infrastructure project delivery at a senior leadership and executive level across government and the private sector. Louise is principles-based and outcomes-oriented, with a focus on meaningful stakeholder engagement to achieve the vision.

As an AICD graduate and current director on several Boards, Louise has a proven ability to work effectively with directors, executives, staff and the College community to implement strong governance, and drive dynamic and practical solutions to complex challenges.

Louise brings a strong grounding in Catholic values and has a longstanding association with St Rita's College as a second generation alumni, as well as through her extended family who were teachers at the College. 

Ms Kirstie Day

Ms Kirstie Day, LLB

Kirstie is a Queensland Law Society Accredited Family Law Specialist. Having completed her secondary education at St Rita’s College, Kirstie undertook a Bachelor of Laws at the Queensland University of Technology before commencing her Articles of Clerkship in a boutique family law firm. Kirstie has over 20 years of experience in all aspects of family law, including complex financial matters. She was appointed to the Queensland Law Society’s Special Accreditation Family Law Advisory Committee in 2019 and also sits on the Queensland Law Society’s Family Law Committee. Kirstie is a strong and passionate supporter of women and particularly enjoys her mentoring relationships with young professional women.

Mrs Catherine Dunbar

Mrs Catherine Dunbar, BA, DipEd, MA Ed, Cert IV (Christian Ministry and Theology)

Catherine was born and educated in Brisbane and was taught by the Presentation Sisters at Our Lady of Angels in Wavell Heights and at St Rita’s College. She undertook a Bachelor of Arts and a Diploma of Education at the University of Queensland before commencing as a teacher at Cavendish Road High School. After marrying her husband Peter, they moved to the Burkedin District where Catherine transferred to the local High School. In her second year there Catherine was promoted to Assistant Principal, in charge of the wellbeing/behaviour management of the female students and acting History Coordinator. From there Catherine and Peter moved to Rockhampton where they had their three children and Catherine took time out from teaching to be a full time mother. When her youngest child started kindergarten, she accepted a role running a personal development program for ‘at risk’ students at the local High School until a change in government policy brought such programs to an end. Catherine then began teaching at Rockhampton Grammar School where she became Head of Languages and Performing Arts and acted as Deputy Principal on occasions. In 2002, Catherine was appointed Deputy Principal at St Ursula’s Yeppoon and completed her Master of Education. In 2005 she was appointed Principal and held that position until 2020. Catherine now works as a consultant in education.

Mr John Fraser (Acting Chair)

Mr John Fraser BA LLB

John Fraser has been a Barrister since 1985. He specialises in criminal defence work both in trial and in appellate courts. John was admitted to practice as a Barrister in 1985. He worked for the Commonwealth Department of Public Prosecutions for a number of years and later for the Queensland Department of Public Prosecutions as a Senior Crown Prosecutor. John then worked as a senior in House Counsel at Queensland Legal Aid, often in complex criminal cases. 

Since 2002 John has practiced at the private bar in Brisbane, practicing almost exclusively in criminal law. He has appeared in over 400 jury trials and has conducted a significant number of appeals in the Court of Appeal (Queensland) and in other courts exercising appellate jurisdiction. He has appeared in the Mental Health Court, in coronial inquiries, disciplinary hearings and in relation to applications brought pursuant to the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offenders) Act.

John has appeared in a wide variety of cases including murder, manslaughter, attempted murder, serious drug cases including lengthy trafficking trials, fraud and sexual assault and sexual abuse cases as well as Commonwealth cases. He has appeared in application brought pursuant to the Dangerous Prisoners (Sexual Offender) Act and has appeared in the Mental Health Tribunal/Court. John has appeared in coronial inquiries and disciplinary hearings, and has also accepted briefs to appear and has appeared in family law and civil matters.

He has appeared in New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and Tasmania.

John is admitted to practice in Queensland, New South Wales, the Australian Capital Territory and the High Court of Australia.

Dr Gordon Howell

Dr Gordon Howell, B.AppSc., B.Sc (Hons), Dip Ed, Grad Dip Com Comp, MBA, EdD, MACS, MAICD

Dr Gordon Howell has in excess of 25 years’ experience within education and technology management. He holds an MBA in technology management and a Doctorate which investigated academic adoption and use of technology.

He is the former Director Learning Environments and Technology Support at Queensland University of Technology. In this role Gordon was responsible for the technology deployment in the $230 million Science and Engineering Centre at QUT’s Gardens Point Campus, and the technology brief for the Education Precinct at Kelvin Grove Campus. Previous roles have been Research Fellow (UQ) for the ALTC-funded Next Generation Learning Spaces Project which investigated the nexus between pedagogy, technology, and space; Director ITS and Associate Director Client Support Services at ACU.

Ms Lee McLean

Lee is a 35-year veteran of the Australian communications industry and is currently Queensland General Manager of national public relations and communications network, Thrive. Lee develops and leads proactive communications campaigns which promote goods, services or a cause; educate stakeholders; motivate action; or grow a brand.

Lee’s reputation management skills help prepare and guide organisations for potential issues. She is also a reputable communications trainer designing and delivering programs in public speaking, media interviews and communications writing.

Lee is a Fellow of the Public Relations Industry of Australia and has represented the association through Board positions, conference presentations and positions on Awards judging panels.

Mr Peter Selwood

Mr Peter Selwood, Diploma of Financial Planning, Bachelor of Business - Accounting, Grad Dip (Health Administration and Information Systems, MBA, FCPA, FAICD

Peter has been employed by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1990 first as the General Manager of the Archdiocesan Development Fund and since 2001 as the Executive Director of Centacare. Centacare is a large social services provider for disability and aged care, child care, family services and chaplaincy.

Peter has served on many boards and committees including boards of Yourtown 2002-2011, Catholic Superannuation and Retirement Fund 2003-2014 and Mercy Health and Aged Care Central Queensland 2016-2019. He has also served on Finance Committees for several independent Catholic Schools and is currently Chair of the Marist College Ashgrove Advisory Council.

Prior to being employed by the Archdiocese Peter worked in commercial finance and merchant banking.

Peter is a fellow of CPA Australia and a fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Peter is married and has four children.

Mr Michael Senior

Michael Senior – Dip Teach, BEd, MEd

Michael worked as a teacher for 40 years and has held various positions across three schools from classroom teacher to Principal. Michael began his teaching journey at Nudgee College in 1980 where he was fortunate enough to experience the roles of full time teacher, Head of Year, Assistant Deputy Principal, Head of Boarding, Deputy Principal and two appointments as Acting Principal.

In 2003, Michael ended his Nudgee journey after 24 years to take up the appointment as Principal of Nudgee Junior College. In response to enrolment demand Michael was appointed as Founding Principal of Ambrose Treacy College that saw the closure of Nudgee Junior College and the growth of a Catholic boys schools catering for Years 4 to 12. Michael retired in 2019 when the first cohort of Year 12 students graduated as the first senior class.

Michael has worked with numerous Boards and has served on a variety of Boards, Committees and Advisory Councils. He previously served on the Education Sub Committee of the St Rita’s College Board.

Mrs Julie Tealby

Julie Tealby - CPA, FGIA ,FCIS, MAICD

Julie is an experienced senior executive and company secretary with extensive knowledge, experience and skills in corporate governance, company secretarial, risk management, compliance, assurance, finance, and executive management. Julie has held previous Company Secretary roles for ASX Listed companies and Non-Executive Director roles in the not for profit area.

Julie brings extensive risk experience including advising board and management on strategic and operational risk, developing appropriate risk management policies, procedures and systems, and building and maintaining a strong culture of risk and compliance management by championing the implementation of best practice risk and compliance frameworks.

Julie has had an extensive association with St Rita's College as a second generation alumni and is also a mother of three daughters who attended the College. Julie is a member of the College’s Governance Committee, a position she has held since 2021. She previously volunteered as a parent and was Secretary of the P&F Association for a two year period. Julie is the niece of a Presentation Sister and has an understanding and commitment to the Presentation traditions. 

College Leadership Team

Principal: Mrs Maree Trims BEd, Grad Cert (Religious Education), MEd (Leadership), Cert II Systemic Theology, GAICD

Deputy Principal – Studies: Ms Lara Morgan BA, BEd (Secondary), MEd (Leadership)

Deputy Principal – Students: Ms Catherine Allen BA, Grad Dip Ed (Secondary), Cert III Theology, MA (Religious Education, Theology)

Assistant Principal – Mission: Mrs Erica Qureshi BA, BEd, MEd (Leadership)

Assistant Principal – Learning and Teaching: Mr Martin Lobb BEd, Dip T

Director of Business and Finance: Mr Edward Gleeson BEcon, BCom, CPA, CIP