Meet the Executive

Terrie Jones

Principal

MEd, BA, GDipEd, GAICD, MACEL

“As an avid lifelong learner, my extensive career in education has brought me untold opportunity, satisfaction, pride and ultimately, joy.”

Terrie oversees CGGS with 25 years’ experience as an educator, and extensive capabilities in strategic leadership and complex organisational management. This is complemented by a comprehensive aptitude in the development of innovative, evidence-based curriculum that translates into meaningful student outcomes.

Across Terrie’s career she has been drawn to leading schools that are committed to excellence in learning outcomes, a strong ethos of pastoral care and a vibrant sense of community. Terrie is driven by a deep personal desire to advance knowledge to empower children and young people from the earliest days of their learning to the end of Year 12.

As a curious and committed learner herself, Terrie is constantly focused to improve and evolve. She holds a Masters of Educational Leadership, a Bachelor of Arts and Graduate Diploma of Education (English and History) and has partially completed a Master of Business Administration. Terrie is accredited by the ACT Teacher Quality Institute and was one of the first teachers in NSW to be accredited at the level of Highly Accomplished Teacher with the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL).

Terrie has taught in various contexts in government, independent, co-educational and single-sex schools, and has studied and presented across Australia, the UK and the US. Opportunities include the University of Minnesota’s Public Symposia series, the US National ServiceLearning Conference, the Australian National Values Education Forums, the AIS Educational Research Symposium, the Network Improvement Community at the Connected Intelligence Centre at UTS and the Carnegie Foundation Summit on Improvement in Education in San Francisco.

Terrie looks forward to the CGGS Centenary, and is dedicated to leveraging the strength of the School’s foundations to celebrate a century of inspired learning. She agrees that 100 years ago a revolutionary tone was set when the School was founded on the belief that to the young, anything is possible.

In Terrie’s view the dedicated CGGS community continues to astound and impress with their capacity, capabilities and spirit as they collectively work together to create a hope filled, more just future.

Kate Hill

Chief Operating Officer
BCom, CA

Kate is an experienced business leader with over 20 years of experience in business corporate accounting, financial management and operations.

Kate has an impressive record of success in leading finance teams and working collaboratively to implement innovative, results-oriented solutions. She is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants ANZ and is currently working towards her MBA from Deakin University. Kate joined CGGS after 12 years at Trek Bicycle Corporation, where she was the CFO for the Asia Pacific region.

Kate is Canberra born and bred, although has spent many years of her schooling and work life in Asia and the Middle East. She has a son at Marist College and a daughter at CGGS.

Peter McDonald

Deputy Principal, Head of Junior School
MEd, GradCertEd (Maths), GradCertBusAdmin, BEd, MACEL

Peter is an experienced primary educator and university lecturer who holds four university qualifications in the areas of Education, Mathematics, and Business.

With a firm commitment to international mindedness and delivering outstanding student learning, he has held various school leadership positions both in Australia and internationally. As a published academic focusing on teacher development and inquiry-based learning, he has presented at conferences in Japan, Singapore and Taiwan. A member of the global International Baccalaureate Educator Network, Peter supports IB schools throughout Asia and the Pacific as an IB workshop leader and programme leader. As a specialist Mathematics teacher, Peter holds a keen interest in supporting students to develop a passion for learning, using, and enjoying Mathematics.

Joanna Leaman

Executive Director (Staffing)
M.Ed (Admin), B.SC, DipTchg

Joanna rejoined CGGS in 2021 after having worked at the school from 2012–18, most recently as the Head of Mathematics.

She was the Academic Director in another Canberra school for three years before returning to girls’ education. Prior to this, Joanna worked as a Senior Advisor for the Royal Society of New Zealand (RSNZ), leaving that role when her family moved to Canberra in 2012. Joanna was a Deputy Principal in two Wellington (NZ) schools, prior to her role with RSNZ. As a Mathematics and Science teacher, Joanna is passionate about promoting Science, Mathematics and Technology as important subjects to consider when in Years 11 and 12

Ellena Papas

Executive Director (Operations)
BEd, BMus, ML

Ellena graduated from the University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Education majoring in Music (Primary and Secondary).

She also holds a Bachelor of Music, Performance from UQ. Ellena is an experienced senior leader, passionate about girls' education and a great believer in a holistic approach to the development of children and young women. She held the position of Dean of Co-curriculum at Brisbane Girls Grammar School for four years and prior to that was the Director of Music at Sunshine Coast Grammar, Moreton Bay College and St Margaret's Anglican Girls School. Ellena is a professional musician who has played with the Queensland Symphony and a Rhythmic Gymnastics Judge who has participated in the Sydney Olympics and the Commonwealth Games.