TGS Executive & Trustees

The Board of Trustees and the Executive provide strategic and operational leadership and governance, ensuring a sustainable Toowoomba Grammar School for future generations

The Executive

Headmaster

Dr John Kinniburgh was raised in Gunnedah in north-west NSW and this regional upbringing provided a strong foundation and work ethic. He was awarded a scholarship to attend Sydney University, where he studied a Bachelor of Arts degree and upon completion of his degree, he was offered the role as a Geography teacher at The King’s School in Sydney in 1996.

Deputy Headmaster

Mr John Anderson is the School’s Deputy Headmaster. Mr Anderson commenced this role in 2018 following his position as Head of Senior School from June 2012. Prior to this appointment he was the School’s Director of Sport and Activities for eight years. Before coming to Toowoomba Grammar School, Mr Anderson was the Acting Principal of Blackheath and Thornburgh College in Charters Towers.

Head of Senior School

Mr Mark Oliphant was appointed Head of Senior School in 2018. In 2005 Mr Oliphant was employed at TGS as a teacher of Health and Physical Education and Science and Boyce Boarding Housemaster from 2009 until he departed in 2011. He then worked at Newington College in Sydney as Boarding Housemaster and Director of Athletics and Cross Country, and at Anglican Church Grammar as the Director of Boarding from 2015 – 2017.

Head of Junior School

Mr Ken Raven, Head of Junior School was appointed in 2023. Mr Raven holds a Masters in Education, Leadership and Management and an Executive MBA. Prior to joining Toowoomba Grammar Mr Raven was Head of Junior School at Great Southern Grammar in Albany, Western Australia and previously Director of Junior School at Canberra Grammar School.

Director of Advancement

Mrs Tammy Wilson commenced as the Director of Advancement in 2021. She has a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Public Relations and Communications from the University of Southern Queensland, a Graduate Certificate in Management from Queensland University of Technology and is also an accredited Certified Digital Marketing Professional. Mrs Wilson previously worked in media and communications in London serving two Prime Ministers and numerous senior ministers. She has also held business development, community engagement and philanthropic roles in Toowoomba.

Director of Studies

Before commencing as the Director of Studies at TGS in 2016, Dr Alison Young was Head of the Science Faculty at Anglican Church Grammar. She has a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in Biology from the University of Queensland and a Master of Teaching and Master of Learning Innovation (Leadership), from Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Dr Young spent five years teaching Senior Biology at Brisbane Grammar School and is also a former lecturer in Anatomy and Physiology.

Director of Sport and Activities

Mr Steve Fryer was appointed the 1st XI Head Coach and teacher of Health and PE in 2016 before being promoted to Director of Sport and Activities in 2020. He was formerly the Director of Cricket at the Anglican Church Grammar School and previously worked as a High-Performance Coach at Queensland Cricket. Mr Fryer holds a Bachelor of Education majoring in Physical Education from Queensland University of Technology.

Director of Boarding

Mr Nick Byron commenced as Director of Boarding at TGS in 2022. He was previously Head of House and Head of Residence at Brisbane Grammar School since 2016. He has a Bachelor of Arts majoring in Geography and English from the University of Queensland and a Graduate Diploma of Education at the Wellington College of Education in New Zealand along with a Masters of Education in Leadership and Management at the Queensland University of Technology. He has taught at Tenbury High School and Lord Wandsworth College in England.

Director of People and Culture

Ms Louise Strachan commenced with TGS as the Director of People and Culture in 2021. Louise holds a Master in Business Administration degree specialising in Human Resources Management. She has an undergraduate honours degree in business education from the Queensland University of Technology, and has taught at St. Rita’s College, Clayfield. Prior to joining TGS Louise was Head of Human Resources at MLC School, Sydney.

Chief Financial Officer and Secretary to the Board of Trustees

Mrs Christina Onley was appointed Chief Financial Officer in 2018. Mrs Onley is a Chartered Accountant with over 30 years’ experience in financial and project management across the infrastructure, agribusiness and health sectors. She has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Graduate Diploma of Environmental Management, both from the University of Queensland.

The Board of Trustees

By statute, Toowoomba Grammar School is governed by a Board of Trustees. The Board has a dual role as a government statutory body and as a governing board. Specific responsibilities of the Board of Trustees include:

Policy making
Appointing the Headmaster
Planning, goal setting and appraisal
Overseeing financial resources
Overseeing school resources

The Board delegates to the Headmaster the tasks of recruiting, appointing, appraising, promoting and disciplining staff. The Headmaster also has authority over student enrolments.

Mr Brendan Baulch (Chairman)

Mr Brendan Baulch was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2017 and elected Chairman in 2019. Mr Baulch is the principal of Baulch & Associates, a Toowoomba-based accounting practice providing taxation, audit and management accounting services to small and medium-sized enterprises. He is a Chartered Accountant & a current Toowoomba Grammar School Parent. He is also a Director of Heritage Bank.

Dr Russell Domrow (Deputy Chairman)

Dr Russell Domrow was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2009 and is the parent of two Toowoomba Grammar School Old Boys. Dr Domrow graduated in Medicine from the University of Queensland and has practised in Toowoomba since 1986. Dr Domrow has also been an Honorary Lecturer at The University of Queensland and an Examiner for the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners.

Mr Barry O’Sullivan

Mr Barry O’Sullivan was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2018. Mr O’Sullivan is the Director of Newlands Civil Construction and Newlands Commercial Construction, based in Toowoomba, which specialise in civil and commercial construction. Mr O’Sullivan is also involved in a number of other companies within Toowoomba and is a current Toowoomba Grammar School parent.

Mrs April Cavanagh

Mrs April Cavanagh joined the Board of Trustees in 2019. She is currently the National Manager, Agribusiness, of the Suncorp Group and a Director of the Toowoomba Surat Basin Enterprise (TSBE). Previously she has worked in finance, agriculture and manufacturing in Brisbane, Sydney, London and regional Australia. Mrs Cavanagh is a current Toowoomba Grammar School parent.

Mr Harrison Humphries

Mr Harrison Humphries was appointed to the Board of Trustees in 2020. Mr Humphries attended TGS from 2001 to 2005 and was Senior Prefect in 2005. He is a Director and the Head of Litigation + Dispute Resolution at Clifford Gouldson Lawyers. He is also a past President of the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce and is presently Toowoomba Cricket’s Commissioner.

Mrs Karina Hepner

Mrs Karina Hepner has over 25 years’ experience as an educator in Australia, Canada and France in the areas of English, History and French. She has held positions of Head of Middle School and Head of Department. She has a Bachelor of Education (Sec) from QUT and a Master of Arts (English Literature) from UNE. Mrs Hepner is a current TGS parent, and the mother of a young Old Boy.

Mrs Bec Statton

Mrs Bec Statton is a current TGS parent, and mother of two young Old Boys, as well as being a TGS Junior School teacher from 2001-2005. She has a Master of Education from USQ and was a teacher for over 20 years. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Interior Design (Commercial) and is a joint director of The Toowoomba Gallery. Mrs Statton has been involved with the Grammar Art Show Committee since 2015 and is currently the Art Show Coordinator.

Mr Paul Herbert

Mr Paul Herbert is currently employed with the Toowoomba Catholic Schools Office and is also a Director of ‘Toowoomba Trails”. He holds a Bachelor of Arts with Honours (UQ), Graduate Diploma in Teaching and a Master of Professional Studies (Research) from the University of Southern Queensland. He is currently studying a Graduate Certificate of Religious Education. Mr Herbert is a member of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders and the Toowoomba Chamber of Commerce. He is also a parent of a TGS Old Boy.