Meet the team

Anna Lillis – Board Chair

Anna is a Founding Director at Lillis Clark, an established strategic communications and public affairs agency. With an extensive background in government relations and media strategy, Anna brings a comprehensive approach to relationship management and communications. Her experience includes working in senior communications and advisory roles in the Beehive, managing high-profile public campaigns, and working with the technology, tertiary and international education, health and philanthropy sectors. Anna joined the QMC board in 2022 and sees her QMC Board experience as a chance to give back to her school as an Old Girl herself. Anna has two daughters at QMC.

Dr Sarah Burke - Deputy Board Chair

Dr Sarah Burke is co-owner of a psychology-based consulting business with offices in New Zealand, Australia, and Singapore. Sarah has a doctoral degree, a Master of Arts, and a Bachelor of Education degree and more than 20 years’ experience in business operations, sales, and marketing. She has two daughters at QMC.

Dr Richard Li - Board Governor & Chair, Digital and Data Committee

Dr Richard Li brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in Digital and Data, AI, and Cybersecurity. As a CIO and CISO in the public sector, he has led major transformations across New Zealand, USA, and China, and has contributed to international conferences and journals. As a QMC parent, Richard is passionate about independent education and helping QMC navigate digital transformation and future challenges.

Rev Dr Feiloaiga Taule’ale’ausumai (Fei)- Board Governor

Rev Dr Feiloaiga Taule’ale’ausumai (Fei) is a published theologian and leader in Pacific theology, with extensive experience in academia, church leadership, and community engagement. She has held key roles with the Council for World Mission, Knox Centre for Ministry and Leadership, and the Presbyterian Church of Aotearoa NZ. An Aotearoa-born Sāmoan, Fei holds a PhD from AUT and multiple theology degrees and she is a valued addition to our Board.

Feiloaiga “Fei” Taule’ale’ausumai Board 2025

Dr Odette Frost – Board Governor & Old Girls' Association Nominee

Dr Odette Frost is the Secretary of the Old Girls' Association. In 2020 she led the development of the Association’s Strategic Plan. She is an experienced policy and research practitioner and brings a curiosity about how evidence is used to inform the development of processes to her work on the Board. With a background in the public sector and a doctoral degree in Public Policy, she is currently a Senior Consultant at Allen and Clark and a board member of the Tunuma Creative.

Ursula Featherston

Ursula holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Spanish and Linguistics, and her professional journey has taken her across the world and into integral positions here in Aotearoa New Zealand. Currently, she serves as a dedicated Senior Strategic Advisor for Te Mātāwai, an independent statutory entity responsible for the Maihi Māori, the Māori language strategy for kāinga, hapori and iwi, whilst also pursuing a Master of Indigenous Studies. Ursula has a strong interest in Māori language revitalisation. She continues to apply her skills and experience to the goal of revitalising te reo Māori in Aoteaora New Zealand.

Alana Bicknell – Board Governor & Parents' Association President

Alana is President of the Queen Margaret College Parents’ Association. Of Ngāti Ruanui descent and with extensive experience in events in both the UK and New Zealand, she is currently Head of Sales at WREDA. She has one daughter at QMC.

Chris Redpath - Board Governor & Chair, Campus Development Committee

Chris is a Chartered Accountant and holds a Bachelor of Commerce & Administration with Honors in Accounting from Victoria University of Wellington. Chris has a history in leading finance teams and as an external auditor. He currently works as the Group Financial Controller for a global investment management firm and is responsible for its financial and management reporting, budgeting and forecasting, insurance and capital management.

Thu Phuong Truong - Board Governor

Thu Phuong Truong is an Associate Professor in Accounting at Victoria University of Wellington. She teaches financial accounting, financial statement of analysis, finance, and research methodology at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She aims to help to enhance the financial literacy skills of QMC students.

Kathryn Sutherland - Board Governor, Presbytery Representative, & Chair, Policy Committee

As an Associate Professor in the Centre for Academic Development at Victoria University Wellington, Kathryn's background is deeply-rooted in the education sector as an award-winning teacher and researcher who loves classroom teaching. Kathryn is the presbytery representative on the Board and hopes to strengthen the relationship between the kura and the university, and help to deepen our connections with Presbytery.

Claire Carruthers - Board Governor & Chair, Fundraising Committee

Claire's professional background allows her to bring an array of skills to the QMC Board. In 2021 she won the Fundraising Institute of New Zealand's Fundraising Leader of the Year Award. She leads creative teams who are future-focused and results-driven problem solvers by fostering an environment of support, innovation, a can-do attitude and the mantra that no idea is a silly idea.

Jennifer Wademan - Board Governor

Jennifer is an experienced litigator and family law expert with an extensive international family law practice. No matter what the legal issue at hand, she brings an empathetic and solutions-focused approach to her clients, ensuring their peace of mind at all stages of the process and confidence in the outcomes achieved. Her approach and experience are an asset to the QMC Board. She has two daughters at QMC.

Sam Cottier - Board Governor & Chair, Campus Development Committee

Sam Cottier is the Head of Commercial at an independent property consultancy and holds a Bachelor of Laws and a Bachelor of Arts. He has a history in commercial property law and is experienced in complex commercial property matters, acquisition and negotiation. Sam is looking forward to learning more about our ethos and using his experience to make QMC an even better place for our students to thrive.

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