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 and ELC
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.

Tara Dunstall

Deputy Principal, Head of Senior School

BA, LLB (Hons), GradDipLegPrac, GradDipEd

Tara joined CGGS in 2008 to teach legal studies after a career as a Senior Solicitor with the Australian Government Solicitor.

In her time at CGGS, Tara has also taught business, commerce and geography. After a brief stint teaching business law at the Canberra Institute of Technology and communications at the Australian Defence Force Academy, Tara returned to CGGS and was appointed the Head of the Geography and Social Sciences Faculty in 2012. Tara acted as Director of Curriculum from April 2015 until she was appointed Director of Studies in October 2015.

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

Karen Unwin

Executive Director (Communications and Engagement)

Karen joins CGGS with 15+ years of brand, marketing and communication expertise. Her experience spans public, commercial and member-based organisations, as well as agency, with a focus on the energy, healthcare and financial sectors.

As a qualified Graphic Designer, and a creative at heart, Karen has had the privilege of overseeing some of Canberra’s most iconic brands such as ActewAGL (Brand and Marketing Manager) and Brand CBR (Program Manager). Also working at Medibank (National Communications Manager) and Commonwealth Superannuation Corporation (Brand and Communications Manager) she led multi-disciplined teams, delivering long-term brand strategies and concurrent integrated marketing campaigns to drive critical commercial growth.

Karen holds a lifelong, genuine connection to the Canberra region and is thrilled to support the CGGS heritage brand as it ushers in its next century.