Board

Meet our ACPPA Board of Directors

Directors from each State and Territory are the conduit between Principals, local Associations, and the ACPPA. They are the first contact point to raise issues, ask questions or suggest initiatives. 

Peter Cutrona

Board Director and President: Western Australia

Principal:     St Simon Peter Catholic Primary School, Ocean Reef 
 
Peter has worked in Catholic education since 1992 and spent the first 15 years of his career in multiple country locations around Western Australia, with leadership and Principalship in a number of those locations.
 
Being the first elected president from Western Australia of ACPPA is both an honour and a challenge for Peter. It has also been some of the best professional development that he has ever have undertaken.

Phil Schultz

Board Director and Vice President: South Australia

 

 
Principal: St Francis Catholic Primary School, Lockleys
 
 
Phil is an educator and leader with over 37 years experience, and his vision is for schools to be centres for excellence and innovation in teaching and learning.  Relationships are at the heart of successful school communities and Phil looks to foster strong and beneficial partnerships with all stakeholders.

Michael Gray

Board Director and Vice President: Victoria

President of the Victorian Association of Catholic Primary School Principals (VACPSP)
 
 
Michael has over 40 years experience working in a variety of roles across a range of schools in Victoria.  He has engaged in substantial professional development, including short course studies at Boston College University, USA and Tantur Ecumenical Institute of Notre Dame, Israel. 

Rachel Smith

Board Director: Australian Capital Territory

Rachel has worked in a range of small and large schools across Canberra and regional NSW for over 25 years, with over 22 years of experience in school leadership. 
 
Rachel's educational journey has provided her with the chance to work alongside a diverse group of individuals, all striving towards the shared objective of enhancing student achievement and well-being. She believes that every student has the potential to learn when provided with a positive learning environment, effective leadership, a dedicated and skilled education team, a supportive community, and an encouraging family. 


Principal: St Vincent's Catholic School

e: Rachel.Smith@cg.catholic.edu.au

Julie Wiley

Board Director: Australian Capital Territory

Principal: Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School & Early Learning Centre, Nicholls

e: julie.wiley@cg.catholic.edu.au

Julie has 30 years of experience teaching and leading in Catholic schools. She has worked in Victoria, Western Australia, New South Wales and the ACT. Currently, Julie is Principal at Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School and Early Learning Centre, Nicholls, ACT. 
 
In her spare time, Julie enjoys watching AFL, in particular, the Geelong Cats! She also enjoys walking, especially around Lake Burley Griffin, enjoying the company of her family and going to plays and musicals. 
 
Julie has welcomed the Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn's evidence-based approach to teaching and learning over the last few years. The Catalyst initiative has added depth to her knowledge of effective pedagogy and high impact teaching practices

Mark Bateman

Board Director: New South Wales

Principal: St John the Apostle Primary, Narraweena in the Diocese of Broken Bay
 
 
Mark is passionate about Catholic education, developing leaders and working collaboratively in the communities in which he is involved. Outside of school he is a Manly Sea Eagles supporter, despite recent rough times and has an interest in the Sydney Swans! He loves travel, the odd game of golf and enjoys spending time with grandchildren and family. 

Alistair Stewart

Board Director: New South Wales

Principal: St Joseph's Catholic School, Wee Waa NSW

e: astewart1@arm.catholic.edu.au

Alistair Stewart has been the Principal of St Joseph’s Primary School in Wee Waa since 2019, operating within the Diocese of Armidale. He is deeply committed to advancing inclusivity in education, particularly in rural areas. His leadership is characterised by collaboration with community stakeholders to enhance student's educational experiences within Wee Waa and the wider diocese of Armidale. 
Outside of school, he is a passionate NZ Warriors supporter. He prioritises quality time with his wife and three boys and enjoys travelling with them around the country.

Kellie McGinlay

Board Director: Northern Territory

Principal: Murrupurtiyanuwu Catholic Primary School, Wurrumiyanga, Bathurst Island
 
With over 25 years of experience in educational leadership, Kellie has had the privilege of working across diverse school settings in Japan, New Zealand, and throughout Australia. Her journey has taken her from remote and urban areas of North Queensland to various indigenous communities in the Cape, Gulf, and Torres Strait regions. For the past 5 years, Kellie has been Principal at two schools in the Northern Territory, serving two very remote Indigenous communities.
 
These experiences have deeply shaped Kellie's commitment to ensuring quality education for all students, especially in remote and very remote settings. She firmly believes that every student can thrive given the right supportive environment. 
 
In her free time, Kellie is an avid scuba diver and skier who loves to travel and explore new cultures.  
 

Paula Sellars

Board Director: Northern Territory

Principal: Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School, Wanguri
 

Paula is the Principal of Holy Spirit Catholic Primary School, which is situated in the northern suburbs of Darwin, a job she loves and enjoys. 
 
Her teacher training began at ACU, Ballarat in 1989.  Paula has taught in Victoria, South Australia and the Northern Territory in Catholic Schools for 30 years. 
 
Paula's motivation and goal through education is to always have students' best interests at heart.  Our children are our future.
 
She is an outdoor person and makes the time each morning to start the day with a walk, and is also a passionate follower of AFL and a great supporter of Carlton Football Club.  Like schools, we continue to go through changes and challenges. With this in mind, our schools continue to work together for our children. 

Paul Mitchell

Board Director: Queensland

Principal: St Catherine's Catholic Primary School, Wishart

                                                      e: plmitchell@bne.catholic.edu.au

As a teacher and leader for 26 years, Paul is passionate about shaping a vision of academic success for all students. Paul builds a culture where students and staff do not come to school to be better than others but rather, they come to school to better themselves by working with others. He believes that it is only through empowering leadership and responsibility that students and staff can reach their full potential. As a principal, he is committed to innovation, character-building, and nurturing students toward a bright future where they create change for a better world. 

Roycelyn Wilden

Board Director: Queensland

Principal: All Saints Parish School, Albany Creek, Brisbane
 
 
This is Roycelyn's 20th year of principalship across Qld and a brief time in the ACT.  She has worked as a speech and drama teacher and this has sparked a keen interest in promoting the importance of speech and language development in the early years and the activating student voice throughout the primary years.

Nick Wright

Board Director: South Australia

Principal: All Saints Catholic Primary School, Seaford
 
 
Nick is an educator with over 25 years of experience in both the UK and Australia, the last 15 within Catholic education. He has a wealth of knowledge, loves data and is driven to provide the best teaching and learning opportunities from a research basis. Nick is passionate about education, his role as a leader and supporting the young minds of today become a new generation of faith-filled leaders.
 
Outside of school life - he has a very good understanding of the importance of well-being and work-life balance - he is a father of 3, a husband and a football (soccer) coach.

Megan Richardson

Board Director: Tasmania

Principal: Mount Carmel College, Sandy Bay
 
 
Megan has held a range of leadership roles and is also a member of the CPAT Executive who represent Tasmanian Catholic Principals. She is passionate about nurturing faith-based communities, curriculum development and the wellbeing of every member of her community.

Jason Perry

Board Director: Tasmania

Principal: St Anthony's Catholic School, Riverside

e: jason.perry@catholic.tas.edu.au

Jason has recently joined the ACPPA Board and is passionate about helping all learners to be their best (self included) and takes great pleasure in seeing people reach their goals.
 
He is a runner with many ultra marathons completed and is looking for his next running goal. 

Leon Colla

Board Director: Victoria

Principal: St Mary of the Cross Catholic Primary School, Point Cook
 
 
Leon has served in principalship for over 35 years with contracts spanning four schools in the western suburbs of Melbourne.
 
Leon works on his local principal network’s professional learning committee, is the Vice President of the Victorian Association of Catholic Primary School Principals (VACPSP) and is a Board member of the Australian Catholic Principals Association (ACPPA).

Andrew Colley

Board Director: Western Australia

Principal: Hammond Park Catholic Primary School, Hammond Park
 
 
Member of the Catholic Primary Principals Association (WA) Executive. Husband and father of two, enjoys reading, cycling and hiking.

Annette Quirk

Board Director: Western Australia

Principal: St Joseph's Catholic Primary School, Bunbury

e: annette.quirk@cewa.edu.au

Annette considers it a privilege to have lead three vastly different regional schools in Western Australia over the past 13 years. She is passionate about promoting quality Catholic Education in regional schools. In her role as CPPAWA President (2022-2023) and CPPAWA executive member (2018-2023) she has passionately advocated for the wellbeing of principals and the support of school leaders to ensure schools are places where all community members can thrive. 
 
The opportunity to be part of ACPPA and APPA since 2022 has solidified Annette's commitment to educational success for students and advocacy for principals on both a state and sector level.

Karyn Prior

Operations Manager

Karyn is an administrator and finance manager who takes great pride in her attention to detail and professional approach to her work.  She has over 20 years' experience working with Principal associations and also has had roles wherein she has been a PA to government Ministers and Chief Executives and various high-profile professionals within the private sector.
 
Outside of work Karyn is an avid reader and writer and has been awarded for her short story contributions and also has published a successful children's book.  Other interests include bushwalking on weekends and planning travel adventures for the future.
 

Gez Mulvahil

Executive Officer

Gez is an educator with thirty years of experience in Catholic education.  She is a life long learner who is passionate about wellbeing and self improvement, and loves the excitement and opportunities of change management.
 
Outside of work, Gez enjoys embracing the Darwin lifestyle and is involved in the local AFL and Athletics communities, and loves going fishing.  She is a passionate Collingwood supporter.
 
Gez and her family enjoy travelling both within Australia and overseas, making the most of the opportunities and experiences that travel has to offer