168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø

Principal
Ros Curtis AM
BA(Hons), DipEd, MLitSt, MEd, ASDA, FACE, FACELQ, FIMIL, GAICD

Ros began her career as a History and Drama teacher and has held a variety of roles from teacher to senior leader in six schools - Shailer Park State High, Moreton Bay College, Brisbane Girls Grammar School, St Hilda’s School, St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School and 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s Anglican Girls School. In 2011, she was appointed Principal of 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s. 

Upon completing her Masters of Education in Leadership and Management in 2005, Ros received the Australian Council for Education Leaders (QLD) award from Queensland University of Technology for Academic Excellence in postgraduate study in Educational Leadership. Throughout her career, Ros has developed interest in school leadership structures and their effectiveness, curriculum leadership, mentoring aspirant leaders, effective governance and change leadership and management. In 2011, Ros received the John Laing Award for her significant contribution to the professional development of Senior Leaders in Schools. In 2018, Ros received an Excellence in Educational Leadership Award from The Australian Council for Education Leaders (QLD), recognising outstanding educational leadership across the teaching profession and contributions to advancing learning for students and aspirant leaders. In 2020 and 2021, Ros received an Excellence Award for School Principal of the Year – Non-Government in the Australian Education Awards.

Ros is a Queensland Fellow of the Australian Council of Education Leaders, the Institute of Managers and Leaders and the Australian College of Educators. Ros is the Queensland Branch Chair of AHISA (Association of Heads of Independent Schools), a member of the Board of Independent Schools Queensland, and a member of the Advisory Board of the Business School at Bond University.

Deputy Principal
Karen Gorrie
BA, GradDipEd, MEd, MACEL

Karen is an educator with over 20 years experience teaching Japanese to both primary and secondary students. She has also taught Geography and Religious and Values Education. Karen is passionate about providing quality pastoral, curriculum and leadership opportunities for girls. She has written articles for various publications and has presented at national and state conferences in the languages area and in leadership.

Karen’s previous experience was as a member of the Educational Leadership Team at St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School where she held the position of Dean of Students and Academic Welfare for Years7-9 from 2014, after previously being the Associate Dean of Studies. Prior to this she had experience in middle leadership roles both in Brisbane and in North Queensland.

Karen Gorrie was appointed as Deputy Principal of 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s Anglican Girls’ School from January 2017. She is keen to work collaboratively with staff, students and families to provide quality opportunities and to achieve the best possible outcomes for students.

Director of Business and Operations - SSA
Toni Williams 
BBus(Acc), BBus(InfoSys), GAICD, GIA (Affiliated)

• Immediate Past President, Association of School Business Administrators, Qld Chapter (ASBAQ)
• Past Director, Association of School Business Administrators Limited
• Member, Finance Committee, Independent Schools Queensland

Toni Williams has been in the Independent Education sector for over 20 years and for the past 14 years has been Director of Business and Operations for 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s and St Aidan’s Anglican Girls Schools. Prior to her current role, Toni was the foundation Business Manager for St Andrew’s Anglican College. Her current role incorporates the responsibilities of Chief Financial Officer, Company Secretary and Business Operations, including management of large capital projects.

Toni’s experience also extends into the retail and tourism sectors, having been a Business Manager for Coles Myer and holding management positions in various Queensland Resorts prior to joining the independent education industry.

School Chaplain
The Reverend Jasmine (Jazz) Dow 
BTh, MTh

Jazz has been a priest for over 12 years. She has served in various ministry contexts, including parish, and higher education institutions. Prior to joining the 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø's community, she spent eight years working in tertiary settings where she undertook roles in pastoral care, chaplaincy and lecturing in theology. Jazz also worked at the national church level for the Anglican Board of Mission creating resources and experiences for education and engagement for social and ecological justice. Jazz is greatly inspired by the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent and their mission to care for and empower girls and women. She believes education (building academic, social, religious, and emotional literacy) has the power to equip individuals and communities to be able to celebrate diversity, build resilience, nurture spirituality, learn from different perspectives and lead change for the common good.

Dean of Academics
Caitlin McCluskey
BSc, DipEd, MACEL

Caitlin has worked at St Joseph’s, Gregory Terrace, as a Middle School Science and Maths teacher, and prior to her 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø's appointment, at St Aidan’s Anglican Girls School, where she held the roles of House Coordinator, Assistant Head of Faculty – Mathematics and Head of Faculty – Mathematics. In 2020, she was the recipient of the St Aidan’s Staff Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. Caitlin holds a Bachelor of Science degree in the field of Mathematics and a Masters in Education – Leadership and Management. Caitlin has demonstrated her commitment to the philosophy of the Sisters of the Society of the Sacred Advent and her dedication to the education of young women and girls is unquestioned. She strives to develop capacity, confidence and resilience in all students. 

Dean of Studies
Chris Dunn
BSc (Biomedical Sciences), MTeach(Sec) Melb, MEd(Leadership and Management), MACEL

Chris Dunn began his teaching career in Victoria, working at St Kevin’s College as a secondary teacher in Science and Biology. In the subsequent years, Chris worked in both pastoral and curriculum leadership roles before joining 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s in 2018 as the Head of Faculty – Science and Technology. Chris has a strong interest in effective curriculum and assessment design, and as a curriculum leader, has implemented several evidence-based practices to promote better learning outcomes for students. In 2020, Chris received a Peter Doherty Award for Outstanding Teacher of STEM for his leadership of several STEM initiatives across the Secondary School that saw enrolments in senior STEM-based subjects significantly increase. Chris holds a Bachelor of Science degree, majoring in Biomedical Sciences, from The University of Queensland; a Master of Teaching, from the University of Melbourne; and a Master of Education (Leadership and Management) from Queensland University of Technology. In 2022, he was awarded the ACEL-Q Prize for Outstanding Academic Achievement in his postgraduate study at QUT.

Dean of Students
Nikki Townsend MEd(Guid & Coun), MEd(LEM), BSc, GradDipEd(Sec), GradDipEd(EC), GradCert(Ed Law)

Nikki Townsend is an experienced leader in education, with her experience prior to 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s including Head of House, Head of Year, Head of Mathematics, Dean of Pastoral Care Programs, Assistant Dean of Co-Curricular Programs and Director of Sport. Nikki has taught in many areas in her career including Mathematics A and B, Junior Science, Physical Education, and Religious and Values Education. In her many and varied roles, Nikki has designed and developed personal development programs relevant to the needs of adolescent girls, implemented student leadership programs and demonstrated a particular focus on encouraging female students in the area of STEM (Science, Mathematics, Engineering and Technology). Nikki is passionate about encouraging women in senior leadership and how organisations can benefit from women in these roles

Head of Primary Angela Drysdale
DipT, GradDipEd(EC), MEd(Research), ASDA

Angela has held two formal leadership positions, however, her leadership journey started in the classroom, over 30 years ago, where she demonstrated leadership in collaborative planning, presenting to the wider educational community at conferences and seminars, and as a member of various committees. She is the longest standing committee member of the Educating Young Children journal editorial committee. She has two held two leadership positions, Head of Infants School at John Paul College, and in 2003 was appointed to Head of Primary at 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s. Angela holds a Master of Education (Research). Her research focus was on the teaching of Proportional Reasoning in Early Childhood. Angela is passionate about primary education with a deep interest in early childhood education as it lays the foundation for future learning.

Assistant Head of Primary – Wellbeing and Operations
Annette Box
BA, BEd(Hons), MEd(Leadership and Management)

Annette has over 20 years of experience as an educator teaching Drama, Dance, Visual Art, Japanese and English across primary and secondary contexts. She has previously worked at Sheldon College and Somerville House, where she also fulfilled the role of Head of Drama. She is a recent past president of Drama Queensland, the professional association of Drama Teachers, and in 2020, she was awarded a Women in Leadership Bursary by the National Council of Women of Queensland (NCWQ). From 2018, Annette fulfilled the role of Head of Faculty – Arts and Design at 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s, before she was appointed Assistant Head of Primary – Wellbeing and Operations in 2021. She holds a Bachelor of Arts with a major in Drama, a Bachelor of Education (Honours) and a Master of Education (Leadership and Management) through QUT. She is currently a member of the Events Committee of the Queensland chapter of the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS). Having taught in girls’ schools for 15 years, Annette is passionate about educating girls and helping them realise their full potential as engaged citizens and leaders of the future.

Assistant Head of Primary - Curriculum
Kate Frewin BA, BTeach

Joining 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s in 2020 Kate Frewin is an experienced educator with over 20 years experience in Primary education. Completing dual degrees (Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Teaching) in Victoria,  Kate and her husband moved to Queensland where she served The Springfield Anglican College for fifteen years across numerous roles including classroom teacher, academic extension teacher, pedagogy coach, digital and design technologies specialist and Assistant Director of Teaching and Learning. Kate is passionate about designing flexible and rigorous learning opportunities for girls that will allow them to thrive in our rapidly changing world.

Head of Boarding

Lesa Fowler
BA, GradDipEd

Lesa has 25 years experience in education across a number of different educational settings. She has taught in the private and state system including all boys, co-educational and girls schools. Her experience has included living and working in many boarding schools from Melbourne, Rockhampton and Brisbane. Lesa has been at 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s since 2008 as Head of Boarding and also teaches within the day school. As the Head of Boarding, she ensures through her work on the Educational and Senior Leadership teams that the boarding house is at the forefront of decision making.  

Lesa has been a member of the Australian Boarding Schools Association and held the position of Chair of the Queensland Board and a member of the Australian Board. She is passionate about boarding and has been involved and presented at conferences on Risk Assessment and Leading a Boarding School. Lesa has a particular interest in cultural diversity within boarding and works extensively to ensure that all girls in boarding have a global view of the world.  

Director of Human Resources

Kate Curran 
BBus MAHRI

Kate joined 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s in 2010, after returning to the workforce post the birth of her second child. An experienced human resources professional, in her career Kate has been drawn to human resources roles within service industries including catering, a short stint in an external recruitment agency, an airline and, now, education. Kate has a particular interest in recruitment and attracting the best candidates and has accreditation to use and interpret a range of SHL psychometric testing and DDI targeted selection. Kate believes that people make an organisation and is extremely grateful to work with the professional, innovative and caring staff at 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø’s.   

Director of Marketing and Communications
Wendy Johnston BEM
BA(Journalism), GCertDM, GCertWEP, Professional Diploma in Digital Marketing

Wendy spent 20 years in the tourism industry, primarily in various marketing roles for Tourism Queensland. She worked in Vancouver, Canada, for the Australian Pavilion at World Expo '86, and was Operations Manager for the Queensland Pavilion at World Expo '88, for which she was awarded a British Empire Medal. Wendy moved into education marketing and communications in 2004, working firstly for Cannon Hill Anglican College, then for seven years as Communications Manager at Brisbane Grammar School. A 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø's Old Girl (nee Giddens, '79), Wendy was a 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø's Foundation board director from January 2014 - June 2017. She joined 168¿ª½±¹ÙÍø's in her current role in June 2014. Wendy has raised two children, and her daughter is also a past student ('11).

Chief Information Officer SSA Greg Anderson

As Chief Information Officer for SSA Schools, Greg provides leadership for the continued development of an innovative, robust and secure information technology environment throughout the schools. Greg's focus is on ensuring teachers and students have access to the best technologies available and that as a team they provide excellent customer support. Greg has been involved in the Information Technology field for over 25 years, with a number of those being in management positions in the Higher Education space in South Africa. Greg is married and has two young boys.