12 School Principals and Heads Beyond Brisbane, QLD

Jonno White

Aug 11

11 min read

Last updated: August 2026. School roles can change, so check the linked school or Queensland Department of Education page before relying on a title.

School leadership in Queensland is shaped by place. A principal or head in a regional, coastal or remote school is often balancing learning, wellbeing, workforce needs, community trust and the practical realities of distance. This list brings together 12 current school leaders beyond Brisbane whose public school pages show a clear connection between leadership and the communities they serve.

Why school leadership beyond Brisbane matters

Strong school leadership makes the daily work of learning easier to organise and easier to believe in. It gives staff a shared direction, helps students see a future they can move towards and gives families a clear way to understand what the school is trying to do. In regional Queensland, that work also sits close to local identity, transport, staffing and community relationships.

1. Frank Brunetto

Executive Principal, Cairns State High School (current school record)

Frank Brunetto is the Executive Principal of Cairns State High School. The Queensland school directory lists that current role, while the school page gives a useful picture of the setting and the work around it. The public material points to clear direction and future-focused school leadership, a practical reminder that the principal’s job is not only about setting a vision. It is also about making the vision visible in routines, pathways, relationships and the choices a school makes for its learners. The leadership lesson here is to connect purpose with the real conditions people face. Cairns State High School serves a distinct Far North Queensland community, and the school’s public information gives families and staff a shared reference point. For leaders elsewhere, that is a helpful pattern: name what matters, make the next step clear and build systems that let people do good work without carrying the whole plan in their heads. That kind of clarity can travel well across schools, teams and organisations.

2. Michelle Pole

Principal, Mackay North State High School (current school record)

Michelle Pole is the Principal of Mackay North State High School. The Queensland school directory lists that current role, while the school page gives a useful picture of the setting and the work around it. The public material points to pathways, belonging and a broad school community, a practical reminder that the principal’s job is not only about setting a vision. It is also about making the vision visible in routines, pathways, relationships and the choices a school makes for its learners. The leadership lesson here is to connect purpose with the real conditions people face. Mackay North State High School serves a distinct Mackay community, and the school’s public information gives families and staff a shared reference point. For leaders elsewhere, that is a helpful pattern: name what matters, make the next step clear and build systems that let people do good work without carrying the whole plan in their heads. That kind of clarity can travel well across schools, teams and organisations.

3. Matt Newell

Principal, Rockhampton State High School (current school record)

Matt Newell is the Principal of Rockhampton State High School. The Queensland school directory lists that current role, while the school page gives a useful picture of the setting and the work around it. The public material points to instructional leadership and layered student support, a practical reminder that the principal’s job is not only about setting a vision. It is also about making the vision visible in routines, pathways, relationships and the choices a school makes for its learners. The leadership lesson here is to connect purpose with the real conditions people face. Rockhampton State High School serves a distinct Central Queensland community, and the school’s public information gives families and staff a shared reference point. For leaders elsewhere, that is a helpful pattern: name what matters, make the next step clear and build systems that let people do good work without carrying the whole plan in their heads. That kind of clarity can travel well across schools, teams and organisations.

4. Sian Burrows

Principal, Mackay Northern Beaches State High School (current school record)

Sian Burrows is the Principal of Mackay Northern Beaches State High School. The Queensland school directory lists that current role, while the school page gives a useful picture of the setting and the work around it. The public material points to a growing leadership team and practical school systems, a practical reminder that the principal’s job is not only about setting a vision. It is also about making the vision visible in routines, pathways, relationships and the choices a school makes for its learners. The leadership lesson here is to connect purpose with the real conditions people face. Mackay Northern Beaches State High School serves a distinct Mackay community, and the school’s public information gives families and staff a shared reference point. For leaders elsewhere, that is a helpful pattern: name what matters, make the next step clear and build systems that let people do good work without carrying the whole plan in their heads. That kind of clarity can travel well across schools, teams and organisations.

5. Therese Sippel

Principal, Toowoomba State High School (current school record)

Therese Sippel is the Principal of Toowoomba State High School. The Queensland school directory lists that current role, while the school page gives a useful picture of the setting and the work around it. The public material points to belonging, pathways and a rich school experience, a practical reminder that the principal’s job is not only about setting a vision. It is also about making the vision visible in routines, pathways, relationships and the choices a school makes for its learners. The leadership lesson here is to connect purpose with the real conditions people face. Toowoomba State High School serves a distinct Toowoomba community, and the school’s public information gives families and staff a shared reference point. For leaders elsewhere, that is a helpful pattern: name what matters, make the next step clear and build systems that let people do good work without carrying the whole plan in their heads. That kind of clarity can travel well across schools, teams and organisations.

6. Michael Kiss

Principal, Bundaberg State High School (current school record)

Michael Kiss is the Principal of Bundaberg State High School. The Queensland school directory lists that current role, while the school page gives a useful picture of the setting and the work around it. The public material points to global outlook and broad opportunities for students, a practical reminder that the principal’s job is not only about setting a vision. It is also about making the vision visible in routines, pathways, relationships and the choices a school makes for its learners. The leadership lesson here is to connect purpose with the real conditions people face. Bundaberg State High School serves a distinct Bundaberg community, and the school’s public information gives families and staff a shared reference point. For leaders elsewhere, that is a helpful pattern: name what matters, make the next step clear and build systems that let people do good work without carrying the whole plan in their heads. That kind of clarity can travel well across schools, teams and organisations.

7. Garry Goltz

Principal, Gladstone State High School (current school record)

Garry Goltz is the Principal of Gladstone State High School. The Queensland school directory lists that current role, while the school page gives a useful picture of the setting and the work around it. The public material points to high-impact practice across academic and community life, a practical reminder that the principal’s job is not only about setting a vision. It is also about making the vision visible in routines, pathways, relationships and the choices a school makes for its learners. The leadership lesson here is to connect purpose with the real conditions people face. Gladstone State High School serves a distinct Gladstone community, and the school’s public information gives families and staff a shared reference point. For leaders elsewhere, that is a helpful pattern: name what matters, make the next step clear and build systems that let people do good work without carrying the whole plan in their heads. That kind of clarity can travel well across schools, teams and organisations.

8. Phil Savill

Principal, Dalby State High School (current school record)

Phil Savill is the Principal of Dalby State High School. The Queensland school directory lists that current role, while the school page gives a useful picture of the setting and the work around it. The public material points to multiple pathways in a regional school community, a practical reminder that the principal’s job is not only about setting a vision. It is also about making the vision visible in routines, pathways, relationships and the choices a school makes for its learners. The leadership lesson here is to connect purpose with the real conditions people face. Dalby State High School serves a distinct Darling Downs community, and the school’s public information gives families and staff a shared reference point. For leaders elsewhere, that is a helpful pattern: name what matters, make the next step clear and build systems that let people do good work without carrying the whole plan in their heads. That kind of clarity can travel well across schools, teams and organisations.

9. Justin Kuskie

Principal, Stanthorpe State High School (current school record)

Justin Kuskie is the Principal of Stanthorpe State High School. The Queensland school directory lists that current role, while the school page gives a useful picture of the setting and the work around it. The public material points to a visible staff structure and community connection, a practical reminder that the principal’s job is not only about setting a vision. It is also about making the vision visible in routines, pathways, relationships and the choices a school makes for its learners. The leadership lesson here is to connect purpose with the real conditions people face. Stanthorpe State High School serves a distinct Southern Downs community, and the school’s public information gives families and staff a shared reference point. For leaders elsewhere, that is a helpful pattern: name what matters, make the next step clear and build systems that let people do good work without carrying the whole plan in their heads. That kind of clarity can travel well across schools, teams and organisations.

10. Tanya Martin

Principal, Innisfail State College (current school record)

Tanya Martin is the Principal of Innisfail State College. The Queensland school directory lists that current role, while the school page gives a useful picture of the setting and the work around it. The public material points to integrated pathways across a complex school setting, a practical reminder that the principal’s job is not only about setting a vision. It is also about making the vision visible in routines, pathways, relationships and the choices a school makes for its learners. The leadership lesson here is to connect purpose with the real conditions people face. Innisfail State College serves a distinct Cassowary Coast community, and the school’s public information gives families and staff a shared reference point. For leaders elsewhere, that is a helpful pattern: name what matters, make the next step clear and build systems that let people do good work without carrying the whole plan in their heads. That kind of clarity can travel well across schools, teams and organisations.

11. James O’Neill

Principal, Yeppoon State High School (current school record)

James O’Neill is the Principal of Yeppoon State High School. The Queensland school directory lists that current role, while the school page gives a useful picture of the setting and the work around it. The public material points to innovation, whole-person education and partnership, a practical reminder that the principal’s job is not only about setting a vision. It is also about making the vision visible in routines, pathways, relationships and the choices a school makes for its learners. The leadership lesson here is to connect purpose with the real conditions people face. Yeppoon State High School serves a distinct Capricorn Coast community, and the school’s public information gives families and staff a shared reference point. For leaders elsewhere, that is a helpful pattern: name what matters, make the next step clear and build systems that let people do good work without carrying the whole plan in their heads. That kind of clarity can travel well across schools, teams and organisations.

12. Murray James

Principal, Townsville State High School (current school record)

Murray James is the Principal of Townsville State High School. The Queensland school directory lists that current role, while the school page gives a useful picture of the setting and the work around it. The public material points to steady improvement in a large regional school, a practical reminder that the principal’s job is not only about setting a vision. It is also about making the vision visible in routines, pathways, relationships and the choices a school makes for its learners. The leadership lesson here is to connect purpose with the real conditions people face. Townsville State High School serves a distinct Townsville community, and the school’s public information gives families and staff a shared reference point. For leaders elsewhere, that is a helpful pattern: name what matters, make the next step clear and build systems that let people do good work without carrying the whole plan in their heads. That kind of clarity can travel well across schools, teams and organisations.

What these leaders show us about school leadership

Across these 12 schools, the common thread is not one formula. It is the discipline of making leadership useful in a particular place. The public school pages point to belonging, pathways, instructional practice, community partnership and clear systems. Those ideas look different in Cairns, Mackay, Rockhampton, Toowoomba or a smaller regional setting, but they all ask leaders to turn a broad purpose into choices people can see. That is also a reminder for leadership teams outside education. Culture is not a poster or a speech. It is the way priorities are explained, the way support is organised and the way people know what good work looks like on an ordinary Monday. School leaders make that visible every day.

How to use this list

Use the list as a starting point for learning, connection or a thoughtful conversation about leadership. Read the school page linked for each person, notice the language the school uses about its purpose and consider what could transfer to your own team. If you are inviting a school leader into a project, be specific about the problem you want to solve and the context they would need to understand. The list is not a substitute for checking a current role. School leadership changes, and a school directory or school page is the right place to confirm details before you make contact. The most useful next step is usually small: choose one idea, test it with your team and look at what becomes easier to do.

FAQs

Who is this list for? It is for people who want to learn from current school principals and heads working in Queensland beyond Brisbane, including education leaders, school communities and people leading teams in other sectors. Does the list cover every Queensland school leader? No. It is a focused public list of 12 leaders and is not a complete directory. The Queensland school directory remains the right place to check other schools and current roles. Are the people in a particular order? No. The order is simply the order used for this article and does not suggest a judgement about any leader or school. What should I check before sharing a name? Check the current Queensland school directory and the school’s own page. A role, school structure or page can change after an article is published. Can these ideas help leaders outside schools? Yes. Belonging, clear priorities, practical support and strong community relationships matter in many kinds of organisation. The useful step is to adapt the idea to the people and place in front of you.

Conclusion

The 12 leaders here show how school leadership is made real in local settings. Their public school pages connect leadership with people, pathways, learning and community. That is a useful lesson well beyond education: good leadership gives people a clear reason to move together and practical support for the work in front of them.

About the Author

Jonno White is a Brisbane-based leadership consultant, keynote speaker and Certified Working Genius Facilitator, and the author of Step Up or Step Out. He works with schools, corporates and nonprofits around the world. To enquire about a keynote, workshop or facilitated leadership session, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

A practical next step

If you want to talk about a keynote, workshop or facilitated leadership session, email jonno@consultclarity.org.

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