Governance

MRS PADDY NICHOLLS – CHAIR

Paddy Nicholls has over forty years experience in education with more than ten years in senior leadership positions.  She has successfully led and managed the re-invention of organisations, achieving significant cultural change whilst maintaining financial stability.

Paddy was Chair of the Southern Queensland Institute of TAFE Council, a Board member of Federation Health, as well as participating in a number of government reviews.  Most recently she facilitated Executive Insights for Local C Suite Executives.

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MRS JESSICA JONES – MEMBER

Jessica joined The Glennie School Council in 2022 and is a proud Glennie old girl and Glennie mum. After her time at Glennie, Mrs Jones undertook study at Bond University, where she completed a double degree, namely, a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of International
Relations (Business).

With experience in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP), Mrs Jones was first
called to the bar in February 2012 and shortly thereafter became a Crown Prosecutor for the Qld, receiving her permanent commission at the age 23. Mrs Jones now practices as a barrister based at the private bar in Toowoomba.

In addition to her extensive legal experience, Mrs Jones has worked on various boards and committees, including; the committee for the Women Lawyers Association of Queensland, and a member of the Qld Bar Association Regional Issues Committee. 

Previously Mrs Jones was a Board Member for the Queensland Rural, Regional and Remote Women’s Network.

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MR DAVID KNOTT – MEMBER

David Knott has extensive knowledge of, and experience in, wealth management and investment banking, through a number of senior roles at Byron Capital (Financial Planning), and Ord Minnett (Stockbroking). David has considerable executive management and board experience, having spent the past 5 years on the Byron Capital board. This has provided David with experience in financial markets, funds management, financial management, risk management, regulatory reporting and governance.

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MR JASON LIPP – DEPUTY CHAIR

Jason has been a career NAB banker for the last 35 years and is currently the Business Banking Executive for the Toowoomba region.  As a former Glennie parent, he has been involved with the Glennie Parents and Friends’ Association (P&F) over many years, having served as both the Treasurer and the President at different times, and has been a member of The Glennie School Council for the last six years.

Jason holds a Bachelor of Commerce, CPA and Diploma of Financial Planning (1-4), completing his secondary schooling at Toowoomba Grammar School.  Jason was raised on a family farming property on the Eastern Darling Downs.  

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MR MARK NORMAN – MEMBER

Mark joined The Glennie School Council in November 2015.

He and his wife Liz have three children. Both of their daughters are Glennie Old Girls. Mark attended The Southport School as a boarder for his secondary education.

After 13 years in the cotton industry, Mark and his family relocated to Toowoomba from the Goondiwindi district in 2003 to open an appliance retail franchise, Mr Rental and have been awarded Best Australian Store in the Mr Rental franchise network on four occasions.

In 1995 Mark was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study rotation crops for cotton in the US and was also a Shire Councillor of the Waggamba Shire Council from 1996 to 1998. He is a member and Past President of the Rotary Club of Toowoomba and has been awarded for his service to the community and Rotary as a Paul Harris Fellow.

Mark was a Director of The Glennie School Foundation Limited for 10 years and, with Liz, is recognised at the level of Benefactor.

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JADE GARDINER – MEMBER

Jade was born and raised in Toowoomba and is a Glennie Old Girl, graduating in 1996.  Jade studied a Bachelor of Commerce at USQ from 1997 – 1999 and began her accounting career at PricewaterhouseCoopers in Brisbane in 2000 as a naive, but eager graduate.  Since then, Jade has spent many years “climbing the corporate ladder” in large global organisations, including PwC, Minter Ellison and Worley.

For the last 13 years, Jade has held a number of global executive roles within Worley, including  Finance Director for the company’s Australian operations and Delivery Lead for the establishment of the company’s first shared service centre in Kuala Lumpur.  Notably, Jade led the finance team responsible for merging two global companies, following the $4.5B acquisition of Jacobs ECR by WorleyParsons in 2019. This meant integration of hundreds of systems and 57,600 employees across 51 countries. Jade now heads up the Finance Transformation Office for the company and leads a high performing team located across the world.  Jade leads with uncompromising integrity, authenticity and more than a little bit of humour to bring the best out of her teams.

Her global roles enabled Jade and her family to relocate from Brisbane, back to Toowoomba. Jade believes her upbringing in Toowoomba and living here now, keeps her grounded when engaging with corporate execs across the world. Remaining driven by excellence whilst raising her two beautiful daughters, both current Glennie girls, is a challenging and often tiring journey. Jade has learned being in balance must include belting out a piece on the piano (often in between meetings each day), booking a family holiday or spending time with her friends, many of whom are Glennie Old Girls.

Jade is a true believer that women, with the right amount of self-belief, can achieve anything they set their mind to!

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MS MARY ANNE EVANS (EX OFFICIO) – PRINCIPAL

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MS SHERRIL BUTTERWORTH – MEMBER

Prior to joining the Anglican Church Southern Queensland as the Executive Director of the Anglican Schools Commission in 2014, Sherril practised as a lawyer and for seven years was on the St Hilda’s Council, three of which were as Chair.  Since coming to the ASC Sherril has been responsible for development and operation of the Queensland Anglican Schools System, student protection and online safety, mission, staff development and networks, financial management and risk as compliance as well as meeting the Approved Authority’s responsibilities for 19 Early Education and Care services.

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MR JOHN GREGG – MEMBER

John has over 26 years’ experience in Education commencing as Business Manager at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School in 1997 before moving into a consulting role at William Buck Education.  John joined the Diocese in 2005 as a Financial Analyst at Anglican Financial Services (ANFIN) where he was responsible for monitoring the financial performance of Diocesan owned and controlled schools.  John moved on to become Manager at ANFIN before joining the Anglican Schools Commission in 2017 as Manager of System Finance.  During his time with the Diocese john has worked closely with the finance teams at Anglican schools assisting them in financial management and strategic forecasting.

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MS SUZANNE BAIN – MEMBER

System level experience working for Peak Bodies and Associations at State and National level on behalf of non-government schools.  Knowledge, experience and skills in corporate governance as a Board Chair, Company Director, CEO, School Principal and Consultant.  Strong strategic and innovative leadership, human, physical and financial resource management leading to the successful implementation of strategy and the successful growth and development of independent schools. 

Strengths in building organisational knowledge and capacity and adding value to educational outcomes as a Principal /CEO and a consultant to independent schools throughout Australia and in New Zealand.  Experienced professional educator with 20 years successful strategic futures-oriented leadership as Principal in the establishment and development of Anglican Schools in Queensland; leadership and management of the restructure and strategic renewal of a group of Brisbane independent schools.  Quality outcomes focused teaching in early years, primary and secondary settings in government, catholic and independent schools. 

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MR ROBERT NETTLETON – MEMBER

Robert has over 20 years’ experience within the Education and Heavy Construction industries, specialising in Project Management, Risk, Compliance and Financial Management, with more than ten years in senior leadership positions within these sectors.  Robert has previously held the role of Interim Business Manager at Glennie in 2020, and continues to support the School through his role on the School Council and in his role with the Anglican Schools Commission.  Robert has significant governance experience, most recently in his role as a Director of Cannon Hill Anglican College Pty Ltd as well as holding the role of Chair of their Finance Committee.

Additional Sub-committee Members

MR SHANE FISHER
CO-OPTED MEMBER – AUDIT AND FINANCE COMMITTEE

Shane is a licensed financial adviser with extensive experience in the financial services industry.   Beginning his career in the financial sector in 2001, Shane has been advising clients on various financial matters from income tax to wealth accumulation and retirement planning.  Shane enjoys forming valuable and long-lasting relationships with his clients and believes helping his clients to identify and exceed their goals is one of the most rewarding aspects of his profession.

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MR DAVID HUNT
CO-OPTED MEMBER – RISK AND COMPLIANCE COMMITTEE

Currently retired from full-time employment, David has enjoyed a career working to implement asset management plans and strategies to improve business results.  David has a Bachelor of Engineering in Mechanical Engineering from UNSW, and a Master of Business Administration (Technology Management) from Deakin University.

With experience primarily in the mining industry, the organisation’s safety, reliability of plant, financial consistency, and compliance measures are of high priority to David.