Education Lead on the Experience Gold Coast Board

With extensive experience in senior government and leadership roles, Hon Kate Jones is a prominent figure in the technology landscape. As the Executive Director of the Tech Council of Australia and an Independent Director on the Paralympics Australia board, Kate plays a crucial role in shaping the future of tech and sporting industries.

Her involvement as a Strategic Advisor at Australian tech company Soda further highlights her commitment to fostering innovation. Additionally, Kate's contributions extend to the realm of sports, serving as a Commissioner of the Australian Rugby League Commission and a board member of the Institute of Molecular Bioscience.

Previously, as a Minister in the Queensland Government, Kate held diverse portfolios including State Development, Education, Innovation, Tourism, and Major Events. Her visionary leadership led to the successful implementation of significant policy reforms, such as the whole-of-government's innovation agenda, "Advance Queensland," and Queensland's inaugural climate change strategy.

Notably, Kate played a crucial role in the triumph of the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games in 2018, showcasing her adeptness in delivering major events. Her involvement in the Olympic Candidature Leadership Group secured the 2032 Olympic Games for Queensland, underscoring her unwavering dedication to advancing Queensland's position on the global stage. Through her multifaceted roles, Kate Jones continues to leave an indelible mark on technology, sports, and beyond.

vice president global, griffith university

Professor Sarah Todd is Vice President (Global) at Griffith University, where she is responsible for the University's internationalisation strategy and activities. In addition to her role at Griffith, she serves on a number of other boards and committees related to international education, with current memberships including APAIE (Asia Pacific Association of International Education), of which she is immediate past president, as well as IEAA (International Education Association of Australia), and the global advisory boards for Studyportals, MSM, When in Culture and the UAE University's College of Business and Economics.

Professor Todd is also a member of Common Purposes' Global Students Strategy Group, as well as the Universities' Australia and the Innovative Research Universities' International Committees (both of which she has formerly chaired.) Sarah was Deputy Chair of the former Study Gold Coast management committee. 

VICE PRESIDENT (ENGAGEMENT), SOUTHERN CROSS UNIVERSITY

Dean Gould is a marketing and media professional with three decades of experience across the diverse sectors of higher education, tourism, and media. His current role at Southern Cross University oversees global and domestic student recruitment, marketing communications, alumni, partnerships and outreach initiatives. Dean was previously Director of the Office of Marketing and Communications at Griffith University and Executive Director of Corporate Affairs and Strategy at Destination Gold Coast.

For more than 20 years, he was a journalist and editor, working internationally before serving as Gold Coast Bulletin editor until 2011. Dean has an MBA from Central Queensland University and a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Queensland. He is Chair of the Gold Coast Music Advisory Group, life member and coach at Broadbeach United Soccer Club, former State Committee and Gold Coast Chair of White Ribbon Australia and was a nominee for Gold Coast Citizen of the Year in 2019. Dean represented Southern Cross University while sitting as a former committee member with Study Gold Coast.

VICE PRESIDENT FUTURE STUDENTS, BOND UNIVERSITY

Cheryl Jolliffe is the Vice President, Future Students at Bond University where she has strategic responsibility for the University’s international office, domestic student recruitment, strategic partnerships, brand and marketing, and admissions.

Cheryl has more than 20 years’ experience in higher education and has held senior leadership positions in international education across a number of Australian institutions, leading international market development and strategic partnerships.  Cheryl graduated from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) with a Bachelor of Mass Communication and has postgraduate qualifications in Executive Leadership from The University of Queensland (UQ).  Cheryl is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and is the current chair of the Universities Australia Deputy Vice-Chancellor International Executive Committee.  Cheryl represented Bond University whilst sitting as a former committee member with Study Gold Coast.

GENERAL MANAGER, TAFE QUEENSLAND GOLD COAST

Karen Dickinson is the General Manager for TAFE Queensland on the Gold Coast, a position she has held for 7 years. 

Karen has extensive executive level experience in public sector management across health, employment services and vocational education and training.   

Karen is passionate about sustainability and strongly believes that as a vocational education provider, we need to build holistic knowledge and skills that equips students to manage in a new sustainability focused world.

Karen has a Masters in Health Services Management, Graduate Diploma in Occupational Health and Safety and Bachelor of Health Science (Nursing) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

CEO/OWNER, IMAGINE EDUCATION

Over a 20 year career in secondary education, Bill Adler has held positions of responsibility including Head of Department, Director of International Programs and Head of School. In 2003 Bill started his own school, Imagine Education Australia. Imagine offers a variety of ESL, high school and post-secondary courses to some 1,700 students from all over the world.

Imagine Education also owns and operates two fully licensed Early Learning Centres on the same campus, which cater for local children and their parents. Mr Adler represented ordinary members (vocational education) while sitting as a former committee member with Study Gold Coast.

MANAGING DIRECTOR, INFORUM EDUCATION AUSTRALIA

Simon Craft is the owner and managing director of Inforum Education Australia, a boutique ELICOS college that has delivered high quality English language tuition to over 10,000 international students since opening its doors in 2007. Prior to establishing Inforum, Simon held the roles of Deputy Director at Griffith University’s English Language Institute and the Director of Studies, ELICOS at Southbank Institute of Technology.

Simon is highly versed in the international education sector, with over 30 years in the sector, and a skillset that covers teaching, adult education, curriculum design and student recruitment. Mr Craft would be a representative for the ELICOS sector.  

Business MANAGER, St Hilda’s School

Paul is currently Business Manager at St Hilda’s School on the Gold Coast, as well as Executive/Secretary of the St Hilda’s Foundation, managing the operational and financial aspects of the School and Foundation.

Mr Salter is a senior executive with extensive experience in managing medium to large, multifaceted organisations in a range of industries including education, sport, local government and private sector utilities. Mr Salter represented ordinary members (school sector) while siting as a former committee member with Study Gold Coast. 

Principal, Queensland Academies Health Sciences

Vanessa is an educational leader with 26 years of experience in state schooling, as Principal since 2019 of Queensland Academy for Health Science, a state high school uniquely co-located in the Gold Coast Health and Knowledge Precinct, an emerging innovation hub for the Asia-Pacific region. She leads a multicultural school community which recognises 48 different language and cultural groups, with year-on-year growth in student enrolments of 12% since 2018.

Vanessa holds a Bachelor of Laws and Arts from the University of Queensland and a Master of Educational Leadership from Griffith University. She has presented at national and international conferences on student wellbeing. Her expertise is in creating a culture of support in challenging confidently capable young people to achieve beyond world benchmarked results and accredited excellence in delivery of the International Baccalaureate Diploma Programme, a rigorous and globally recognised pre-university preparation curriculum.

Principal of robina state high

Mr Weeks was appointed Principal of Robina State High School in September of 2020.

Prior to this, Mr Weeks has held various executive level positions at both Southport State High School and Robina State High School. Ben has a passion for quality public education and ensuring all students and staff achieve their potential. He is a driven educational leader that works hard to build educational communities into futures focused centres of excellence with underlying cultures of high expectations and global mindedness. During his time at Robina High, Ben has brokered several partnerships with schools both locally and internationally, Universities, TAFE, business and community that all value add to student experience and outcomes.

Mr Weeks holds a Bachelor of Education, Accounting and Business Management with first class honours. He is also a member of the Queensland Secondary Principal’s Association. Ben is the Vice-President of the Gold Coast Secondary Principal’s Alliance and the Chair of the Department of Education International, Gold Coast School’s Alliance.

Ben has been acknowledged for his contributions to education, being awarded a Griffith University, Sir Samuel Griffith Scholarship, several Education Queensland Showcase Awards and was a finalist in the Principal of The Year Category at the 2023 Australian Education Awards.