Andrew Baker
Name: Andrew Baker
Current School: Nazareth R-12 Catholic College
Previous Position: Principal Gleeson College, Golden Grove
First Year as a Principal: 2014
The hope for my current school is: that it continues to be a place of genuine welcome for all students and families, and a place where the young people in our care feel safe and valued.
The Joy of Principalship is: journeying with young people and their families, and witnessing them strive to improve and ultimately flourish.
A Book I would recommend: Legacy, James Kerr
Fun Fact about me: I run every day and have completed several marathons.
My valued Well-Being Strategy: as above
Advice for a Beginning Principal: Don’t think that you need to have all the answers. Build a great team and allow them the freedom and flexibility to lead in the best way that they know how.
Inspiring Leadership Quote: “Be who you are, and be that perfectly” St Francis de Sales
What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book: “What are all the ‘T’s’ on the wall?” (Quote from a beautiful young person on a school tour referring to the crosses on classroom walls!)
Michael Lee
Name: Michael James Lee
Current School: St Mary MacKillop College, Canberra
Previous position: Principal, Hennessy Catholic College, Young
My Big Picture for the School is:
A Christ-centred Catholic school successfully meeting the challenge of being authentically welcoming of diversity and inclusion. MacKillop prioritises equity of access and aspires to fully engage with the community of Canberra, Australia, and the world.
The Joy of Principalship is:
The respect and trust given to me by my school community.
Favourite Book:
Fiction: The Langton Quartet by Martin Boyd
Non-fiction: No Ordinary Time by Doris Kearns Goodwin
Favourite Food:
A hot Four N Twenty pie at the MCG (with sauce).
Interests and Hobbies:
Reading American Presidential history, travel, cooking, following Essendon in the AFL.
Favourite Wellbeing Strategy:
Autumn lunch in the back garden with a Coonawarra red and a good friend/getting a load of washing done before school – good to achieve something in a day!
Advice for a Beginning Principal:
Be available and present to students and their parents and carers – remember that schools exist for students, not adults, but the most important people in schools are teachers. Don’t shrink from the difficult conversations. Have high expectations of self and others. Don’t worry about the money.
Favourite Leadership Quote:
“The presidency is like a soft leather glove. It fits the hand in it at the time. Every now and then, a president’s hand stretches the glove and it is forever enlarged; Washington did this, Lincoln did this too, and FDR stretched it in a way that those who followed him have struggled to wear the glove with any comfort.”
- George F Will
Title of my TED Talk:
Victory is arbitrary; faith and courage are believed, felt, and witnessed.
OR Social conservatism – the enemy of Catholic Education.
Brendan Stewart
Current School: St Mary’s College, Toowoomba
Previous Position: Deputy Principal, Ignatius Park College, Townsville
First Year as a Principal: 2021
My big picture for my current school is: To be the school of choice for young men in the Darling Downs
The Joy of Principalship is: I enjoy the challenge of Leadership and to help students to achieve their path beyond school
Favourite Book: The Leadership Challenge, Kouses and Pozner
Favourite Food: Anything Curry
Interests / Hobbies: Music, running
My Favourite Well-Being Strategy: Balance and variety
Favourite Leadership Quote: Leaders are made not born
Brenda Timp
Current School: Mercy College Chatswood
Previous Position: Assistant Principal, Mater Maria Catholic College 
First Year as a Principal: 2021
My big picture for my current school is: To grow great women who are confident in their ability to make the world a better place
The Joy of Principalship is: Seeing the joy in students’ faces when they achieve great things in their learning or in their co-curricular activities, and the gratitude in teachers’ faces when they know they have my support for an idea
Favourite Book: Anything Jane Austin
Favourite Food: Fish and chips
Interests / Hobbies: Yoga, walking, cooking, travelling
My Favourite Well-Being Strategy: Having a coffee with my husband every morning at our favourite coffee shop before we head off for the day
Advice for a Beginning Principal: Have a chat to at least a couple of staff members and students each day to start to get to know everyone!
Favourite Leadership Quote: “It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s that I stay with problems longer” (Albert Einstein)
What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book: “Children MUST graze their knees!”
Craig Deayton
Current School: Guilford Young College
Previous Position: Principal – Sacred Heart College Hobart
First Year as a Principal: 1995
My big picture for my current school is: Successfully bring the College through the major restructure of Catholic Secondary school in 2023, establish the new vision for Guilford Young College in adult learning in the senior secondary college model and guide the major expansion of VET in the GYC Registered Training Organisation
The Joy of Principalship is: working with young people and leading a marvellously dynamic and committed staff.
Favourite Book: To Kill a Mockingbird
Favourite Food: Korean BBQ
Interests / Hobbies: Writing, cycling, surfing, military history
My Favourite Well-Being Strategy: An hour in kindergarten
Advice for a Beginning Principal: Be open to seeing the joys and opportunities of the role. Problems come and go, but there’s no problem so unique and difficult that an experienced colleague hasn’t successfully managed so reach out, build a support network and actively seek out their advice – especially if you don’t think you need it.
Favourite Leadership Quote: “Leadership is not a person or a position. It is a complex moral relationship between people based on trust, obligation, commitment, emotion, and a shared vision of the good.” - Joanne Ciulla
What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book: At Any Price
Neil Aweyn
Current School: Kolbe Catholic College, Rockingham
Previous Position: Vice Principal, CBC Fremantle
First Year as a Principal: 2021
My big picture for my current school is: To continue to create a community-centred, Christ focused culture.
The Joy of Principalship is: having the ability to make a positive impact in the lives of your staff, students and families.
Favourite Book: Marching Powder by Rusty Young
Favourite Food: Anything Mexican
Interests / Hobbies: spending time with my family, watching my beloved Fremantle Dockers and West Ham United. Playing Poker.
My Favourite Well-Being Strategy: Give your permission to turn off and be present to your family and friends on a daily basis.
Advice for a Beginning Principal: I am a beginning Principal, so I will take all the advice I can get!
Favourite Leadership Quote: “You can't lead the people if you don't love the people. You can't save the people if you don't serve the people.”
What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book: The importance of finding joy in your profession.
Nicole Morton
Current School: St Johns College Dubbo
Previous Position: Assistant Principal -Xavier High School Albury
First Year as a Principal: Yes
My big picture for my current school is: To continue to build on the foundations of the schools traditions, to create a climate of engagement for all students and all families and to inspire futures of hope for all students.
The Joy of Principalship is: the opportunity to inspire futures of hope for all in the community
Favourite Book: To Kill a Mockingbird
Favourite Food: avocado
Interests / Hobbies: Gardening, singing and hanging out with positive people
My Favourite Well-Being Strategy: Day spa appointments!
Advice for a Beginning Principal: It’s all about relationships.
Favourite Leadership Quote: “To lead people, walk beside them. As for the best leaders, the people do not notice their existence … When the best leader’s work is done, the people say, ‘We did it ourselves!'” – Lao Tzu, Chinese philosopher
What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book:
It starts and ends with relationships…
“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” – Maya Angelou, poet and civil rights activist
Frank Ranaldo
Current School: Rostrevor College
Previous Position: Deputy Principal
First Year as a Principal: 2021 (Acting)
My big picture for my current school is: to inspire students to achieve their personal best in all endeavours and to become men for others who will make a positive difference in the world.
The Joy of Principalship is: Making a difference to the lives of our boys and having a greater influence on their learning outcomes by the decisions that are made at a higher level, as well as working with individuals and teams to solve problems.
Favourite Book: Leaders Eat Last, by Simon Sinek
Favourite Food: Pasta (of course)
Interests / Hobbies: Music, gardening & cooking
My Favourite Well-Being Strategy: Make time for myself to restore energy, reflect on the day/week, and plan.
Advice for a Beginning Principal: Find time to focus on self-care.
Favourite Leadership Quote:
Its amazing what you can accomplish if you don’t care who gets the credit – Harry S Truman
What Title would you give to your TED Talk or Book: Leaders Drink First