20 School Principals and Heads in Queensland to Know
- Jonno White
- Aug 9
- 17 min read
Last updated: 9 August 2026
Introduction
Queensland’s school leaders work across a huge geography, from island campuses and remote regional communities to fast-growing urban edges. This list focuses on principals and heads whose current official school or diocese pages place them outside Brisbane, with a first group of twenty people given a full evidence spine and a further thirty named in a lighter discovery companion. It is a practical starting point for anyone trying to understand the people shaping Catholic education across regional Queensland.
The list is not a league table, and it does not claim to measure who is best. The people appear because their current role is visible in an official source and the school page gives a distinctive, useful detail about the community they lead. Acting and foundation roles are kept clearly labelled, because accuracy about the role matters more than making every entry sound the same.
The full entries are drawn from current pages and recent appointment releases from Townsville Catholic Education, the Cairns Diocese, Toowoomba Catholic Schools and the Rockhampton Diocese. The lighter companion uses the Cairns Diocese schools guide and other official school pages for current identity, organisation and scope checks. Verify the live school page before relying on any senior role title, because leadership changes are normal in education.
Why this list matters
Regional Queensland schools are not one leadership environment. A principal working across two island campuses is solving a different set of access, language and community questions from a leader opening a new college on the edge of a growing city. A rural boarding school, a small Tablelands primary school and a large Prep to Year 12 college each ask leaders to translate the same broad Catholic education mission into a different daily reality.
That is why a useful people list needs more than names. It needs a current role, a real school context and one distinctive fact that helps the reader understand what kind of work is happening there. The full entries below are designed for that deeper read. The companion names at the end are a lighter discovery set for future verification and follow-up.
This is also why the list avoids pretending that public visibility equals leadership quality. Official pages can confirm identity, role and school context. They cannot prove every outcome, every challenge or every part of a person’s leadership. Treat this as a map for further learning, not a scorecard.
1. Candi Dempster
Principal, Ryan Catholic College
Candi Dempster is the principal of Ryan Catholic College in Kirwan, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Townsville and serves prep to year 12, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The college describes itself as a three-campus school opened in 1979 with almost 2,000 students, spanning Prep to Year 12. That makes Candi Dempster worth knowing for anyone interested in a large three-campus Prep to Year 12 setting. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
2. Lorraine Wolffe
Principal, Burdekin Catholic High School
Lorraine Wolffe is the principal of Burdekin Catholic High School in Ayr, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Burdekin and serves years 7 to 12, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The school page places the high school in the Marist Brothers tradition and notes its links with St Francis and St Colman’s schools. That makes Lorraine Wolffe worth knowing for anyone interested in a regional secondary school with a connected local Catholic network. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
3. Helen Wade
Principal, St Clare’s Catholic School
Helen Wade is the principal of St Clare’s Catholic School in Burdell, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Townsville and serves prep to year 6, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The school presents a Franciscan spirituality, an environmental focus and the motto “Be a Clear Light”. That makes Helen Wade worth knowing for anyone interested in a primary school combining Franciscan spirituality with environmental learning. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
4. Katherine Nelson
Principal, St Catherine’s Catholic College, The Whitsundays
Katherine Nelson is the principal of St Catherine’s Catholic College, The Whitsundays in Proserpine, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Whitsundays and serves prep to year 12, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The college traces its history to the Sisters of Mercy in 1925 and operates across three precincts with a strong parent partnership focus. That makes Katherine Nelson worth knowing for anyone interested in a long-established Whitsunday college with three precincts. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
5. Annette Poulsen
Principal, Good Shepherd Catholic School
Annette Poulsen is the principal of Good Shepherd Catholic School in Rasmussen, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Townsville and serves prep to year 6, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The school sits on a 10-hectare site in the Upper Ross beside St Mary MacKillop Early Learning Centre and uses the motto “Love, Faith, Learning”. That makes Annette Poulsen worth knowing for anyone interested in a family-centred Upper Ross school with a substantial site and early-learning link. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
6. Lauretta Graham
Principal, Newman Catholic College
Lauretta Graham is the principal of Newman Catholic College in Smithfield, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Cairns and serves secondary college, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The college is designed around digital and inquiry learning, specialist labs and co-location with James Cook University, with year levels opening progressively from 2022 to 2027. That makes Lauretta Graham worth knowing for anyone interested in a new northern Cairns college designed around inquiry, digital learning and staged growth. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
7. Jacqueline Jackson
Principal, St Michael’s School
Jacqueline Jackson is the principal of St Michael’s School in Gordonvale, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Cairns and serves prep to year 6, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The school highlights a small country-school atmosphere, social and emotional learning, peer support, chess, environmental clubs and a broad arts and physical education program. That makes Jacqueline Jackson worth knowing for anyone interested in a small country-style primary school with a broad co-curricular life. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
8. Paul Rayner
Principal, St Thomas’ School
Paul Rayner is the principal of St Thomas’ School in Mareeba, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Far North Queensland and serves prep to year 6, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The school’s program includes Japanese, instrumental music, public speaking, chess, band, student council, sport and social justice activities. That makes Paul Rayner worth knowing for anyone interested in a Mareeba primary school with unusually wide student leadership and co-curricular options. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
Source: St Thomas’ School official page
9. David Graham
Principal, Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School
David Graham is the principal of Our Lady of the Sacred Heart School in Thursday Island and Hammond Island, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Torres Strait and serves island primary school, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The school works across two island campuses and describes an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island language framework alongside wellbeing and leadership opportunities. That makes David Graham worth knowing for anyone interested in a two-island school working across language, culture, wellbeing and leadership. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
10. Liam Kenny
Principal, Good Counsel Primary School
Liam Kenny is the principal of Good Counsel Primary School in Innisfail, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Cassowary Coast and serves prep to year 6, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The school highlights robotics and coding, performing arts, support for new arrivals, Mini Vinnies, music and sport. That makes Liam Kenny worth knowing for anyone interested in a Cassowary Coast primary school linking technology, welcome and community service. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
11. Sarah Hamilton
Principal, Holy Cross School
Sarah Hamilton is the principal of Holy Cross School in Trinity Park, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Cairns and serves prep to year 6, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The school describes a culturally diverse community, differentiated learning, one-to-one iPads in Years 4 to 6, coding, chess, sport and environmental projects. That makes Sarah Hamilton worth knowing for anyone interested in a culturally diverse school using technology alongside inclusion and community projects. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
Source: Holy Cross School official page
12. Katrina Miller
Principal, St Teresa’s School
Katrina Miller is the principal of St Teresa’s School in Ravenshoe, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Atherton Tablelands and serves prep to year 6, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The school emphasises small classes, individualised spelling, interschool sport, a choir tour, chess, music and community connection. That makes Katrina Miller worth knowing for anyone interested in a small Tablelands school where individual attention and community life sit together. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
Source: St Teresa’s School official page
13. Chris Gabbett
Principal, Mary MacKillop Catholic College
Chris Gabbett is the principal of Mary MacKillop Catholic College in Highfields, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Toowoomba region and serves prep to year 12, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The college describes a fast-growing area, an unbroken Prep to Year 12 pathway and programs spanning wellbeing, formation and academic learning. That makes Chris Gabbett worth knowing for anyone interested in a growing Highfields college building a continuous Prep to Year 12 pathway. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
14. Michael Ball
Principal, Mater Dei Primary School
Michael Ball is the principal of Mater Dei Primary School in Toowoomba, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Toowoomba and serves prep to year 6, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The school welcomes families of all faiths and draws on the Sisters of the Good Samaritan tradition while setting high expectations in a safe and caring environment. That makes Michael Ball worth knowing for anyone interested in an inclusive Toowoomba primary school with a Good Samaritan foundation. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
15. Sam Hannant
Principal, St Saviour’s Primary School
Sam Hannant is the principal of St Saviour’s Primary School in Toowoomba, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Toowoomba and serves prep to year 6, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The school identifies itself as the oldest Catholic school in Toowoomba and describes a Mercy tradition with a holistic approach to education. That makes Sam Hannant worth knowing for anyone interested in a historic Toowoomba school carrying a Mercy tradition into current primary education. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
16. Peter Cuskelly
Principal, Our Lady of the Southern Cross College
Peter Cuskelly is the principal of Our Lady of the Southern Cross College in Dalby, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Western Downs and serves prep to year 12, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The college describes two schools being unified in 2008 and a partnership model built around Catholic Christian tradition and lifelong learning. That makes Peter Cuskelly worth knowing for anyone interested in a Western Downs college created by bringing two school communities together. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
17. Chris Oakes
Foundation Principal, St Francis Catholic College
Chris Oakes is the foundation principal of St Francis Catholic College in Westbrook, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Toowoomba region and serves planned prep to year 12, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The 2026 appointment release positions Oakes as the foundation leader tasked with building a new school around a Franciscan charism and a future community hub. That makes Chris Oakes worth knowing for anyone interested in a foundation leadership role creating a new school from the ground up. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
18. Karla Falzon
Principal, St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School
Karla Falzon is the principal of St Brendan’s Catholic Primary School in Rural View, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Mackay and serves primary school, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The February 2025 appointment release records more than 20 years across Queensland state and Catholic education and a focus on inclusive, holistic and student-centred practice. That makes Karla Falzon worth knowing for anyone interested in a Mackay leadership appointment grounded in long experience across two education systems. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
19. Nicole Anderson
Principal, St Paul’s Catholic Primary School
Nicole Anderson is the principal of St Paul’s Catholic Primary School in Gracemere, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Central Queensland and serves primary school, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The March 2026 appointment release records four years as assistant curriculum leader and more than 20 years in education, with a focus on learning growth, teacher capacity and Catholic identity. That makes Nicole Anderson worth knowing for anyone interested in a current Central Queensland appointment centred on learning growth and teacher capacity. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
20. Marie Martin
Principal, Emmaus College
Marie Martin is the principal of Emmaus College in North Rockhampton, according to the current official page or appointment release from the relevant Catholic education authority. The school sits in Rockhampton and serves secondary college, giving the role a clear local context rather than an abstract system-level label. The setting matters because school leadership in Queensland changes shape with distance, community size, student age and local history.
The official source says: The February 2025 appointment release records 30 years in education, including seven years as principal at Marist College Emerald, plus experience in pathways and apprenticeships. That makes Marie Martin worth knowing for anyone interested in an experienced secondary leader bringing regional pathways experience to Rockhampton. The detail is not a claim about personal performance. It is a useful window into the community, pathway or leadership challenge attached to the role, and it gives readers a grounded reason to look more closely at the school’s current work.
Source: Emmaus College official page
Patterns across the list
The first pattern is range. The leaders here work with early primary students, senior secondary students, boarding communities, new arrivals, young people returning to education and students moving through a continuous Prep to Year 12 pathway. The work changes with the age and needs of the students, but the underlying task stays familiar: build a place where people can learn, belong and grow.
The second pattern is local identity. School pages repeatedly point to a particular history, charism, motto, geography or partnership. Franciscan, Mercy, Good Samaritan and other traditions are not just background details. They help each school describe the kind of community it wants to be, and they give leaders a shared language for decisions about learning, service and care.
The third pattern is growth and change. Some leaders are working in long-established schools with histories stretching back more than a century. Others are building new colleges, opening year levels or responding to rapid population growth. Leadership in both settings requires clarity about what must be protected and what must be redesigned.
The fourth pattern is breadth. Technology, wellbeing, inclusion, vocational pathways, languages, the arts, sport and service all appear across the official descriptions. A principal’s brief is therefore much wider than classroom improvement alone. It is the daily work of holding a whole community together while still making progress in the areas that matter most.
How to use this list
Start with the places that feel closest to your own context. If you lead a small regional primary school, the entries from Ravenshoe, Gordonvale, Clermont or Tannum Sands may prompt more useful questions than a large city college. If you are building a new school, the foundation and staged-growth examples offer a different kind of reference point.
Then open the official source. Read the school’s own language, notice the programs it chooses to make visible and look for the current role title. The most useful professional learning often begins with a better question, not a copied answer.
Finally, use the list as a prompt for conversation. Ask what your own school is protecting, what it is growing and what it needs to make easier for students, staff and families. Those questions travel well across school size and geography.
Frequently asked questions
Is this list ordered?
No. It is a current, source-led list. The names are not ordered by quality, popularity or influence.
Why are some entries shorter?
The first twenty people have full evidence entries. The further thirty names are a tag-only companion for current identity, organisation and scope, with live profile verification reserved for the next part of the workflow.
Does this include Brisbane?
No. The scope is Queensland outside Brisbane. The geography is described by the school’s own location or the relevant regional education authority.
Can a role change after publication?
Yes. Senior school roles can change. Check the linked official source before using an entry for outreach, research or a formal document.
A practical next move
Choose one school context that is different from your own and read its official page. Note one thing the school makes visible about its community, then ask what the equivalent would be in your setting. That small comparison can turn a list of names into a useful leadership exercise.
If you want to keep exploring leaders outside the school sector, read 25 Ways Working Genius Transforms Executive Teams or The Six Questions of Organisational Clarity for Schools. Both are useful for turning broad leadership language into clearer questions about how a team works.
Conclusion
The principals and heads in this list lead communities shaped by distance, history, growth and local purpose. Their official school pages show the visible part of the work: pathways, wellbeing, service, learning, technology, culture and partnership. The deeper lesson is that good school leadership is always translated into a particular place.
Use these names as a starting point, not a final answer. Read the source, check the current role and let the local context change the question you ask.
Related reading
Work with Jonno
If your leadership team is trying to make its priorities clearer, build stronger collaboration or turn a strategy into practical work, email Jonno White at jonno@consultclarity.org. He works with schools, organisations and nonprofits on practical leadership, team clarity and Working Genius.
About the author
Jonno White is the founder of Consult Clarity, a keynote speaker, leadership consultant and author. He helps leaders build organisations people would move cities to work at, with practical tools they can use on Monday morning.