Executive Leadership Team

​Qualifications: BA, Dip Ed, MEd (Leadership and Management)​

Mr Craig Merritt was appointed as the sixth Principal of John Paul College in 2023. Craig’s teaching and learning experience in co-educational schools spans more than 30 years. Before commencing at JPC, he was the Principal of St Luke’s Anglican School in Bundaberg.

After graduating from the University of Queensland, Craig commenced his teaching career at Ipswich State High School, before moving into leadership positions at Hillbrook Anglican School and Whitsunday Anglican School.

Craig is committed to academic excellence; inclusive and diverse leadership within a modern multifaith context; building a strong sense of community. Craig’s wish for all JPC students is for them to feel empowered to develop a strong sense of positive character, to be optimistic, to excel, and ultimately to be an instrument of positive influence in their communities. He will continue to deliver on our promise to all students - ​An unwavering commitment to educate and develop exceptional individuals who courageously enrich society.

​Qualifications: MEd (Lead), BEd (Sec), MACEL​

Mr Jacob Elms commenced as Deputy Principal – Head of Secondary School at John Paul College in 2025​. He is a dedicated and relational educational leader with broad experience across pastoral care, curriculum design, compliance, and strategic school leadership in independent school settings.

Before joining John Paul College, Jacob was Head of Secondary School at A.B. Paterson College, where he led all aspects of the Secondary School’s operations and strategy. His work focused on building high-performing teams, enhancing student outcomes through data-informed practice, and fostering a culture of care, excellence, and continuous improvement. He has also held senior leadership positions including Dean of Academic Welfare, Acting Dean of Studies, and Acting Deputy Principal, with a strong focus on empowering students and staff to thrive.

Jacob holds a Master of Education (Leadership), a Bachelor of Education (Secondary), and is a member of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders. His leadership is driven by a belief in the transformative power of education, and he is deeply committed to ensuring every student experiences success in a safe, supportive, and challenging learning environment.

​Jacob leads with integrity and empathy, placing people at the heart of his leadership. He is deeply committed to building authentic relationships with students, staff and families, creating a culture of trust, care and high expectations. With a strong strategic mindset and a values-driven approach, Jacob focuses on purposeful, future-oriented change that aligns with the mission of John Paul College and fosters a community grounded in unity, learning and service.

Qualifications: B.Ed. (Prim), MLDrshp.

​Since commencing at John Paul College in 2011, Miss Lindsay McQuattie has undertaken a number of leadership roles including Year Five Team Leader, Primary Curriculum Leader and Dean of Pedagogy (Primary). Lindsay holds a Master of Leader​ship (Curriculum and Pedagogy) and is a well-respected International Baccalaureate PYP Workshop Leader and School Visitor. In 2020, Lindsay was appointed to Head of Primary, whilst continuing in her role as a workshop leader in the International Baccalaureate Education Network.

Graduating from the Queensland University of Technology, Lindsay commenced her teaching career in West London, followed by five years teaching at the Australian International School in Singapore where she was first introduced to the International Baccalaureate Organisation. In recent years, she has completed a Master of Leadership through Monash University which has given her greater insight into leading pedagogical and curriculum change and innovation.

With a career spanning two decades, Lindsay's educational philosophy is underpinned by the belief that every student has the ability to achieve individual success and excellence within a culture of high standards and high expectations. As a student-centred leader, she encourages all members of the school community to be active, engaged participants in their own learning experiences. Her leadership focuses on both the learners and the learning of the school, demonstrating ethics of care and justice within inclusive learning environments.

​Qualifications: GCertBus, MEd, GradDipEd(sec), BHum(Hons)​​​​

Mr David Ferguson has been working in the International Education and Training (IET) industry since 2007, beginning his career as an English as a Second Language teacher. With a wealth of experience both abroad and in Australia, David leads John Paul College’s international operations and John Paul International College. After joining John Paul College in 2016 managing international study groups, David served as the Deputy Head of International Operations from 2019 to 2022. In 2023, David was appointed as Director, John Paul International College.

David taught English as a Second Language in New Zealand and Germany whilst studying linguistics and language acquisition. Following his five years in Germany, David embarked on further studies in the fields of Education and Business Administration at the University of Queensland and Queensland University of Technology.

At the start of 2023, David began serving as the Chair of the Education Working Group for the Australia China Business Council QLD Branch. In 2021, David was the first person to be awarded ‘Master Practitioner’ status by the National ELICOS Accreditation Scheme (NEAS) and is a NEAS endorsed English Language Teaching Professional.

David’s leadership delivers data-led solutions that are customer centric, removing barriers and creating positive outcomes for Overseas Students and their families. David is an enthusiastic contributor to IET discourse communities at conferences and networking events.

Qualifications: BBus, MBus, GradCertProjMgmt​, GAICD, CPM​​

With a passion for Marketing and Engagement, Mrs Claire Henkey brings more than 25 years' of marketing and student recruitment experience to John Paul College from the education, retail and franchise industries. Previously General Manager of Future Students at Bond University, Group Marketing Manager at Terry White Chemmart as well as Marketing Manager roles at Hans Smallgoods and Lenard's Poultry, Claire's strategic skillset has shaped the admissions, student services, marketing, public relations, fundraising, community engagement and Alumni functions of the College.

Claire is committed to creating a memorable and unique customer experience for new families from the first point of contact. Her work in the digital touchpoints within the College, ​from the new website to digital communications will help build a str​onger connection within the JPC community. Claire enjoys spending time within the community to understand what is important to our JPC Family and how we can improve our engagement programs to build a deeper community connection.

A member of the Board for Hockey Queensland and Vice President, Claire is also the Marketing chair for the Queensland Committee for Educate Plus.

​Qualifications: BSc, BIT, JP (Qual)​​​​

Mr ​Mark Pearce, with over 25 years of experience in IT leadership, joins John Paul College as Chief Information Officer (CIO). He brings extensive expertise in strategic planning, business transformation, and the implementation of innovative information systems. As the former Director of Information Systems at Accor Apartments & Realty, Mark led large scale technology initiatives, enhancing operational efficiencies, developed AI and RPA capabilities, significantly contributing to improved productivity and cost savings. His proficiency in change management, coupled with a track record of managing large-scale infrastructure, has supported organisations with assets exceeding $8 billion.

Mark's strong financial acumen has driven substantial savings through effective budget management and negotiation. He is well-versed in IT security, compliance, and risk management, ensuring alignment with standards such as PCI-DSS and GDPR. Mark holds a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Information Technology and is certified in ITIL V3 and Prince2 Project Management, among others. Mark’s leadership style is grounded in fostering high trust teams and nurturing a collaborative environment, making him well-suited to drive technology initiatives at JPC. His commitment to leveraging technology to support educational excellence aligns perfectly with the College’s strategic vision for the future.

Mark is also a long-time supporter and volunteer with the Kokoda Youth Foundation having been involved with Kokoda Challenge events since 2006 and was appointed to the Board of Management in 2019.

He is greatly looking forward to helping the College fulfill its strategic vision, delivering outcomes that positively impact the education and future success of all our students. ​

​Qualifications: BCom CA GAICD GIA(Cert)​​​​

Kerryn Campbell brings over 30 years of experience as a Chartered Accountant to her role as Chief Financial & Operations Officer at John Paul College, specialising in strategic leadership within the independent education sector.​

Most recently serving as Chief Financial Officer and Company Secretary at Cannon Hill Anglican College for 13 years, Kerryn has demonstrated exceptional capability in financial stewardship, corporate governance, and capital development. Her expertise spans master planning, enterprise risk management, ICT strategy, and stakeholder engagement, with a proven track record of successfully managing capital projects valued between $1 million and $35 million.

As a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and member of the Governance Institute of Australia, Kerryn currently serves as a director on two independent school boards across Queensland. She is known for her values-driven leadership approach, combining strategic acumen with emotional intelligence and a genuine commitment to service.

Beyond her professional achievements, Kerryn is actively involved in community service, supporting homelessness, women's cancer charities and environmental regeneration projects—commitments that align closely with the College's core values of Mutual Respect, Integrity, Compassion, and Excellence.​ ​