School Governance

Sunshine Coast Grammar School Council is made up of up of nine members including two PMSA Board members, up to six independent School Council members appointed from the school’s community, and the school Principal, who is a non-voting member. The Sunshine Coast Grammar School Council is delegated the responsibility to govern and administer the performance of the school. The School Council’s role includes:

• establishing and implementing Grammar business and strategic plans.
• monitoring the management of risks within Grammar.
• overseeing Grammar’s financial and operational performance against KPIs.
• ensuring Grammar adheres to all policies and procedures including child protection.
• overseeing new School Council member appointments.
• being actively involved in the process of appointing the school Principal.
• managing the ongoing performance of the school Principal.

The School Principal reports to the School Council and is responsible for the daily operations of the school.

When positions on the Sunshine Coast Grammar School Council are vacant, they will be advertised on the Grammar website, the school newsletter, the PMSA website, and appropriate websites for board positions available. 

School Council Charters and Delegations of Authority

The current Sunshine Coast Grammar School Council members are:

Dr John Glaister
BSc (Hons), MSc, PhD (Mar Biol), MBA, PhD (Anth Soc), GAICD

John Glaister has been a CEO of many large organisations and has experience in government relations at the State and Federal level, high level policy skills, and commercialisation of IP in a University environment.

In his current role as director of Glaister Consulting, John has experience in conceiving, drafting and delivering policy; change management and restructuring organisations; grant writing; and stakeholder engagement.

• Deputy Chair – Sunshine Coast Grammar School Council (first appointed 2016, current term until 2020)
• Director – Glaister Consulting
• Deputy Chair – Bendigo Community Enterprises Ltd (Bendigo Bank)
• Chair – NORMAC (Northern Prawn Management Advisory Committee-AFMA)

Mr John Hall
BEc, BComm, MBA, FAICD

John is an experienced company director, with more than 30 years experience with listed public companies, unlisted public companies, government business enterprises, government public authorities and private businesses.  The diverse entities involved include sand mining, tourism and events, superannuation, investment and funds management and debt raising and management. 

John has held a variety of board related roles including Chairman, Deputy Chairman, Company Secretary and Audit and Risk Committee Chairman. He is a Fellow of the Australian lnstitute of Company Directors (AICD) and has a Company Director’s Diploma from the AICD.

John holds degrees in Economics and Commerce and has a Masters of Business Administration.  He has extensive management experience in both the public (government and statutory authority) sector and the private sector, including 25 years at Chief Executive level.  He specialises in corporate governance, strategic planning, finance and economics.

• Councillor – Sunshine Coast Grammar School Council (first appointed 2014, current term until 2021)
• Fellow – Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Board member – Caloundra Branch, Bendigo Bank
• Board member – Visit Sunshine Coast
• Chairman – Pelican Waters Probus Club

Mr Wayne Knapp
PG Cert (Applied Mgt), PG Dip (Bus Admin), PG Cert (Bus Admin)

Appointed by the Presbyterian Church, Wayne Knapp has more than 20 years experience on not-for-profit boards for both the Presbyterian and Uniting Churches including Chairman of the board roles at the Wesley Hospital Townsville and PresCare. He also served for five years on the St Andrews War Memorial Hospital Board during a time of significant change. He is currently the Chair of the Presbyterian Church Property Board and a member of the Finance and Administration Board.

Looking forward to the challenge of governance change, Wayne has extensive experience in governance, risk management and leadership on boards.  A former police officer retiring as an Inspector, Wayne is currently in a policy development and administration role for the Presbyterian Church ensuring denominational compliance to Work Health and Safety and Child Safety legislation. 

• Councillor – Sunshine Coast Grammar School Council
• PMSA Board member (first appointed 2012, current term until 2021)
• Retired police officer
• Chairman – Property Board, Presbyterian Church of Queensland 
• Director – Finance and Administration Board, Presbyterian Church of Queensland
• Member – Presbyterian Church of Queensland 

Mr Bruce Swan
BBus, ICAA

Bruce has more than 30 years’ experience as a Chartered Accountant, both in Queensland and overseas.

He has a wealth of experience in the practice area of audit, particularly through his work with not-for-profit and charity organisations, companies, and body corporates on the Sunshine Coast.

In addition, Bruce has worked with a number of small and medium sized businesses, providing business advisory guidance.

• Councillor – Sunshine Coast Grammar School Council (first appointed 2017, current term until 2020)
• Partner, BDO

Mr Ken Watson
MA (Strat Studies), CSC, GAICD

Ken is a retired Air Force Air Vice Marshal and current parent at Sunshine Coast Grammar School. Ken is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors course and the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School and his 36-year career experience has prepared him well for committee work, policy development, public advocacy, risk management, strategic development, personnel management/leadership.

• Councillor – Sunshine Coast Grammar School Council
• Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Retired Air Force Air Vice Marshal
• Principal Consultant/Advisor – KNW Consulting
• Past Board member, Darwin Hospital
• Past Co-Chair, HQ Central Command ISR Management Board

Mr Chris Wright
BSc Info Proc, BSc(Hons) Computer Science, CDE, GAICD, MACS

Chris is an entrepreneur, investor and mentor and experienced company director with director experience in commercial and not-for-profit organisations. A past parent of Brisbane Boys’ College and a current parent at Somerville House, Chris is a strong supporter of the Christian ethos that PMSA schools provide.

He has a personal interest in education, particularly around changes driven by digital information technology advances and looks forward to bringing his expertise in board governance and compliance; his passion for values-based, for-purpose business strategy development and team building; and his diverse skills in enterprise information technology to the role.

• Councillor – Sunshine Coast Grammar School Council
• Graduate, Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Principal, CPSZ Consulting Pty Ltd
• Non-Executive Director, Process PA
• CEO & Director, Tutis Compliance Solutions
• Co-Founder and past executive, Oniqua Pty Ltd

Mrs Maria Woods, Principal
M Ed, B Ed, Dip T, Cert Residential Care MAICD MACEL MACE AIMM  

Ms Lyn Stokes, Business Manager
BA, MCom, CPA, GradDip App Corp Gov, FGIA

All PMSA schools play an important role in educating and guiding young people with values for life. Founded on strong Christian values – relationships, care, ethics, personal development, excellence and celebration – Sunshine Coast Grammar School and other PMSA schools share these collective values. The four schools work collaboratively to share their knowledge and expertise to enhance the educational experience across all schools.

MORE ABOUT PMSA CHRISTIAN MISSION, VISION AND VALUES