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; she also has two daughters at QMC.

Jane Ball – Old Girls' Association Representative

Jane is the current treasurer of the Old Girls’ Association. Prior to retiring in 2010, Jane held various corporate roles in both the public and private sectors, specialising in administration, finance, project and event management, marketing, Board governance and support, and HR. Jane also owns a document production and formatting business, and currently has numerous personal property related business interests.

Dr Odette Frost – Old Girls' Association Nominee

Dr Odette Frost is the Secretary of the Old Girl’s 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.

Alana Bicknell – Parents' Association President

Alana is President of the 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.

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 Bachelor of Education degree and over 20 years’ experience in business operations, sales, and marketing. She has two daughters at QMC.

Chris Redpath - Board Governor

Chris is a Chartered Accountant and hold 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, including currently as the Group Financial Controller for a global investment management firm 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, research methodology at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She hopes to help to enhance the financial literacy skills of QMC girls.

Kathryn Sutherland - Presbytery Representative

As an Associate Professor in the Centre for Academic Development at Victoria University Wellington, Kathryn's background is deeply rooted in 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 kuraand the university and help to deepen the connections with Presbytery.

Claire Carruthers - Board Governor

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 that are future focused, problem solvers and results driven 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

Sam Cottier is the Head of Commercial at an independent property consultancy, and holds a Bachelor of Laws & 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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