QCT Board

Emeritus Professor Wendy Patton

Chair
Nominee of the Minister

Wendy completed her degree in secondary education at James Cook University. Following periods working as a teacher, curriculum developer and guidance officer, she joined the former Brisbane College of Advanced Education as a lecturer in 1989. She completed Honours and a PhD in Psychology part-time throughout this period at The University of Queensland, and her PhD was awarded in the same year BCAE became Queensland University of Technology.

Wendy was appointed Professor and Head of School of Learning and Professional Studies in the Faculty of Education in 2002, and in 2006 was appointed Executive Dean of the Faculty.

In 2016 Wendy received The Miller-Grassie Award for Outstanding Leadership from the Australian Council for Educational Leaders, and presented the Miller-Grassie Oration at the Queensland Annual Awards Celebration. In the same year, Wendy received an award from the Australian Council of Deans of Education for Outstanding Contribution to Education and the ACDE Board. Later in 2016, the QUT Council conferred the title Emeritus Professor in recognition of Wendy’s extensive leadership in, and service to, the university and to teacher education, and her significant contribution to research in the field of career development.

Wendy is a graduate of the Company Directors course of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

First appointed 4 August 2017.
Reappointed for the term 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2026.

Aleisha Connellan

Deputy Chair
Practising teacher nominated by the Queensland Independent Education Union (QIEU)

Aleisha is an Assistant Principal at St Francis College.

I have been an employee of Brisbane Catholic Education and a member of IEU-QNT since I started teaching some 30 years ago. Experienced in various roles across the primary school spectrum, I am currently Assistant Principal at a vibrant, highly multicultural P–12 college in Logan. I have completed a number of post-graduate courses, including two Masters, and am a graduate of AICD. I am passionate about education of teachers and students.

I advocate for the development of policies based on research that enhance the reputation of the teaching profession and result in professional standards and codes of practice which appropriately reflect the values, needs and expectations of teachers, students, other educational stakeholders and society.

First appointed 1 January 2009. Current appointment ends 31 December 2024.

Andrew Beattie

Practising teacher nominated by the Queensland Teachers’ Union (QTU)

Andrew has over 20 years of experience in a broad range of educational settings. Originally a Mathematics/Science teacher, he moved into school leadership in 2009. Andrew has fulfilled Deputy Principal and Principal roles in both primary and secondary state schools.

Andrew is a member of the Queensland Teachers’ Union’s Education Leaders’ Committee and the Australian Education Union’s National Principals’ Committee.

Andrew has extensive experience as a QTU Principal Union Representative and represents the QTU on principal selection panels. He is a current member of the QTU State council and has previously served multiple terms on the QTU Executive.

Andrew is passionate about ensuring the standing of the teaching profession in the wider community is continually promoted and enhanced. He also has an interest in the development and retention of new career teachers.

Appointed from 8 April 2021 to 31 December 2021.
Reappointed for the term 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024.

Professor Lori Lockyer

Practising teacher educator nominated jointly by universities providing an approved preservice teacher education program

Lori has been a teacher educator for more than 25 years. She has designed curriculum and delivered units in undergraduate and graduate entry teacher education programs and has extensive involvement in teacher professional development. Lori is an expert in educational technology – focusing on how teachers and students use and learn with technology.

Lori is Executive Dean of the Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice at Queensland University of Technology. She has held previous roles as Head of School of Education at Macquarie University and Associate Dean (Research and Graduate) of Faculty of Education at the University of Wollongong. In these roles, Lori has provided leadership through state and national initial teacher education policy reform and accreditation processes.

Lori has contributed to several education committees, including the Initial Teacher Education Committee and the Research and Development Committee, NSW Board of Studies, Teaching and Educational Standards (now known as NSW Education Standards Authority). Lori is a graduate of the Company Directors course of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and has held numerous board and senior leadership roles with responsibility for strategy, governance, and financial management.

Appointed for the term 7 March 2024 to 31 December 2024.

Linda Eager

Elected State school practising teacher

As the Director of Kelvin Grove State College’s Teacher Enhancement Centre, Linda Eager has been instrumental in beginning teachers staying longer in rural, regional and remote schools. A long-standing member of the QCT Professional Standards Committee, Mrs Eager has worked across primary, middle and high schools, has led school-wide curriculum, professional learning and expert teaching teams, and is a regular Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership panellist for the national accreditation of teacher education programs.

Appointed for the term 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024.

Vicky Walduck

Practising teacher representing State schools, nominated by the Director-General, Department of Education

Vicky has over 20 years’ experience in a range of educational settings. She has taught in remote and metropolitan areas of Queensland and has been in leadership roles since 2012. She is currently Head of Department - Prep to 6 at North Lakes State College.

Vicky is a passionate educator and curriculum leader who enjoys working with teachers to develop an engaging curriculum that allows all students to be successful. She believes strongly in providing quality education for all, by empowering teachers and building their capability and confidence when differentiating for individual learners.

Vicky hopes the credibility and profile of teaching continues to grow in the community and that teachers can be acknowledged for the vital role they play in shaping Queensland’s future.

Appointed for the term 7 December 2023 to 31 December 2024

David Bliss

Nominee of the Association of Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ)

David is an experienced school leader in the Independent Schooling Sector. He has taught for 38 years in public and independent schooling sectors.

He is currently the Principal of St Andrews Lutheran College, an Early Learning to Year 12 school of more than 1400 students at Tallebudgera on the Gold Coast.

He has served in an extensive range of positions, including in rural and semi-remote schools in Queensland. In the past decade, prior to commencing at St Andrews, he was Principal of Immanuel Lutheran College on the Sunshine Coast for eight years and served for two years as the Executive Director of Lutheran Education Queensland. As such, he is richly experienced in both the operational and strategic oversight of schools, including the challenges and opportunities which befall the schooling sector up to and including the Ministerial level. He has a particular interest in Teacher Education Training and ongoing professional development of teachers.

As a Graduate of the Company Directors Course of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, he is well equipped to understand and execute sound contemporary practice in corporate governance.

David has been an ISQ Board Member since 2017 and was first appointed to the Board of the Queensland College of Teachers in 2019.

Appointed for the term 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024.

Amanda Chissell

Nominee of the Queensland Council of Parents and Citizens’ Associations (P&Cs Qld)

Amanda is a human resources and training professional with an award-winning track record in the provision of strategic training & development and graduate recruitment in the private sector for over 25 years.

Amanda has previously served on the Board of P&C’s Qld and has performed the role of Area Coordinator for P&C’s Qld MET East region. Amanda continues to represent the QCPCA on the Education Queensland State and Regional Showcase judging panels and previously served on the inaugural Education Queensland Q-Parent IT Portal committee and the Education Queensland Early Years strategic planning committee.

Amanda is passionate about supporting public education & parent and community engagement and has volunteered for many years as the P&C President for her children’s primary school in the Redlands.

Appointed from 16 July 2020 to 31 December 2021.
Reappointed for the term 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024.

Brent Woollett

Elected State school practising teacher

Brent has been a proud member and strong advocate of the teaching profession since beginning his career as a teacher in Charters Towers.

In his 33 years of service, he has worked in a range of remote, regional, and metropolitan settings across primary, special, and secondary schools. He is currently the principal of a school in the South-East region.

Brent’s scope of experience provides a depth of knowledge and perspective to his appointment and enabled him to represent the views of a broad profession that spans Queensland communities.

He views his position on the board as a legacy for the students of Queensland, their teachers and school leaders. He believes that it is particularly important to have a school leader voice on the QCT board to support the great work occurring in schools.

Appointed for the term 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024.

Louise Kliese

Practising teacher representing State schools, nominated by the Director‑General, Department of Education

Louise has over 30 years of experience in a broad range of educational settings. She has taught at Palm Island, in a variety of Metropolitan schools including a two teacher’ school, and worked in London as a classroom teacher.

Louise has expertise in provisioning for high ability students as she was an extension and enrichment teacher, and later a pedagogy coach, supporting teachers to cater for the specialised needs of these students.

Louise has coached student teams in Future Problem Solving for over 10 years at Indooroopilly. Two teams from Indooroopilly State School won this academically demanding national competition, two years running. Both teams went on to represent Australia in the global arena in the USA. Louise is also a Future Problem Solving National Fellow and Nationally accredited Future Problem Solving evaluator. She is passionate about enhancing STEM skills, and is a member of the executive committee of the annual Kids’ STEM Convention, which sees over 300 students attend this 3 phase event.

In 2018, Louise was a state finalist in the ‘Teacher of the Year’ category at the Department of Education Showcase awards, for her programming and provisioning for high ability students.

As a lifelong learner, Louise recently completed a Master of Education and has qualified as an international Growth Coach. She has an active interest in mentoring the sustained advancement of new career teachers, and provisions professional development to enhance their long term wellbeing.

Louise is currently Head of Department – Numeracy, at a metropolitan State School.

Appointed for the term 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024.

Candi Dempster

Practising teacher representing non-State schools, jointly nominated by the QCEC and ISQ

Candi has been a teacher in Catholic Schools for 28 years, predominately teaching in secondary schools around Australia, including Alice Springs and Tasmania, and has held a variety of Leadership positions in Queensland over the past 11 years, in Brisbane, Charters Towers and Townsville. She is currently Principal of Ryan Catholic College a large P-12 College in Townville.

Candi is a passionate and driven advocate for the teaching profession, its status, credibility and contribution to societal outcomes for all students. Her broad experience in regional and metropolitan schools across P-12 provides her with deep insight into the contemporary and strategic demands on education.

Appointed for the term 29 June 2023 to 31 December 2024

Wayne Crase

Joint nominee of the Federation of Parents and Friends Associations of Catholic Schools in Queensland and the Queensland Independent Schools Parents’ Network

Wayne is a community focused Senior Executive with proven success in complex, multi-site operational management and more recently, the community and aged care sectors, he is passionate about building values-driven and high-performance organisations that realise exceptional quality of care for the communities and clients they serve.

Prior to his executive career, Wayne served in the Australian Defence Force for 15 years. Since then, Wayne has transitioned into the commercial sector, transforming and mobilising multimillion-dollar service contracts with market leaders including Macquarie Telecom, Serco Sodexo and Brookfield Global Integrated Solutions.

Wayne has been the Independent Chair for Catholic School Parents Queensland (CSPQ) for the past six years, a member of the State Council of CSPQ for ten years. He also sits on the Executive of Catholic School Parents Australia (CSPA), of which he has been a Queensland representative for six years.

Wayne has a Master of Business Administration and is a graduate of the Oxford Executive Leadership Programme at the Said Business School, Oxford University.

Wayne is a Chartered Manager, Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders and a Member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Appointed for the term 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024.

Dr Andrea O’Brien

Nominee of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC)

Andrea has over 40 years’ experience as a teacher, principal and system level leader within Catholic education across the state of Queensland. Beginning her professional life as a secondary teacher in Mt Isa, Andrea continued to serve as principal at St Margaret Mary’s College and Ryan Catholic College in Townsville, and at Clairvaux MacKillop College in Upper Mt Gravatt, in Brisbane. Experience at the system level includes work as a Project Officer at the Catholic Education Office in Townsville, a Senior Leader with responsibility for School Improvement and Review within Brisbane Catholic Education and currently as the Director of School Effectiveness (Secondary and P-12) with Catholic Education Services, Cairns.

Areas of interest include women and leadership, the complexities of the role of the principal and principal wellbeing and sustainability.

Appointed from 16 July 2020 to 31 December 2021.
Reappointed for the term 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024.

Chris Lassig

Nominee of the Director‑General, Department of Education

Chris is the Assistant Director-General – School and Region Reviews overseeing the Department of Education’s program of school, region and system reviews supporting continuous improvement in Queensland state schools. He is a highly accomplished and experienced educator with more than 30 years in roles across Queensland. Chris has been a teacher, Head of Department, Deputy Principal and Principal prior to holding leadership roles across the department including Assistant Regional Director North Coast Region and Executive Director. He has worked with both large and small school communities across Queensland metro, rural and remote locations and is a passionate advocate of school improvement and improved outcomes for all students and school communities. Chris has a deep understanding and recognition of the important work of teachers and the teaching profession.

Appointed for the term 29 June 2023 to 31 December 2024

Bryce Goldburg

Elected non-State school practising teacher

Bryce is an Executive member of the Independent Education Union – Queensland Northern Territory, and a practising teacher.

Bryce has degrees in Applied Science, Educational Studies, and Leadership, enabling him to work with and for his teaching colleagues. He has always been a teacher and unionist, and was awarded the Queensland Independent Education Union Founders Award for his involvement in 2017.

Bryce is passionate about teacher wellbeing and is mindful of the ever-expanding role of teachers. He is currently a member of the Anglican Working Party on HAT and LT, and the convenor of the IEU-QNT Industrial Committee.

Bryce hopes to bring emotional intelligence and more than 30 years of teaching interactions to the Board.

Appointed for the term 1 January 2019 to 31 December 2021.
Reappointed for the term 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2024.