Headquarters:

1-46 Stringybark Road, Buderim, Sunshine Coast, 4556, Queensland

Year founded:

1990

Number of employees:

700

Phone:

07 5477 3200

Email:

tjackson@mfac.edu.au

Website:

mfac.edu.au

LinkedIn:

linkedin.com/school/matthew-flinders-anglican-college

“We prioritise embracing cutting-edge technologies, creative problem solving and continuous improvement to enhance our premium funding solutions and provide exceptional value to our clients”

Michelle Carroll

Principal

Trudi Edwards

Head of Primary

Anita Gibson

Head of Secondary

Leadership

As the fifth principal of Matthew Flinders Anglican College, Michelle Carroll is an outstanding leader with a passion for and academic interest in adolescent health and wellbeing. Prior to commencing at Flinders in January 2024, she was the principal of St Catherine’s School in Melbourne, a leading all-girls school, for over 10 years. In previous roles, she was deputy principal at St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School and dean of students at Ipswich Girls’ Grammar and Junior Grammar School. Carroll also worked as a teacher across science, health and physical education subjects at Brisbane Girls Grammar School, Loreto College and an international school in Singapore. In 2021, she was awarded a two-year School Leader Fellowship by the Menzies Foundation, which saw her work closely with laureate professor John Hattie and Victorian school leaders. Carroll has gained certifications and professional licences from the Melbourne Business School, the Harvard Graduate School of Education and the Cranlana Centre for Ethical Leadership. As college principal, she is committed to upholding Matthew Flinders Anglican College’s core values of compassion, courage, integrity and respect, nurturing a thriving community of learning, active participation and a sense of belonging.

Principal

Michelle Carroll

Trudi Edwards joined Matthew Flinders Anglican College in 2018 as the head of primary. She enjoys driving educational initiatives that enhance student achievement and character. She oversees the development of innovative precincts as part of the Matthew Flinders Anglican College Masterplan, including the Wonderarium learning centre and the Flagship Centre. In 2023, with Edwards at the helm, Matthew Flinders Anglican College was proudly named the Primary School of the Year (Non-Government) in the Australian Education Awards. Over the past 20 years, Edwards has served in curriculum leadership roles at leading independent schools in Brisbane, Perth and New Zealand, with a focus on developing high-performing, stimulating, collaborative and joyful learning environments for students and staff. Ideally, these environments are marked by intellectual curiosity, excellence, trust, grace, integrity and a commitment to making a positive contribution to the world.

Head of Primary

Trudi Edwards

Anita Gibson is a highly experienced and qualified education leader, with a wealth of skills and expertise in high-impact teaching and learning, underpinned by a business intellect that assures viable, accountable school operations. She understands and values the importance of creating connections and engaging with all members of a school community. Gibson joined Matthew Flinders Anglican College in 2018 as the head of middle school and commenced the role of head of secondary in January 2023. Prior, she acted as the deputy principal at Coomera Anglican College in 2017. She holds a Master of Education (Leadership & Management) and a Bachelor of Education with First Class Honours from Queensland University of Technology.

Head of Secondary

Anita Gibson

BRETT BASTOW, IQUMULATE PREMIUM FUNDINGs

Leadership

Heidi Müller

Director of Business and Operations

As the director of business and operations at Matthew Flinders Anglican College, Heidi Müller provides strategic direction and leadership of the college’s commercial activity. She contributes vast experience, qualifying as a Chartered Accountant while at KPMG, and has worked in various independent schools. She also worked at Microsoft for over nine years in roles responsible for the finance functions of various regions in Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands. Müller also has a Postgraduate Certificate in Education, which enables her to teach Secondary School Economic Management Sciences and Accounting. Her roles in education environments include St Peter’s School in Johannesburg, South Africa and Masada College in New South Wales.

Director of Business and Operations

Heidi Müller

Karen Coombs

Product Manager

Karen Coombs is a seasoned product manager at Frontier Software, leading cross-functional teams across Melbourne and Brisbane. Renowned for her strategic vision and user-centric approach, she drives innovation across key platforms, including ER21, API21, onboarding, self-service and ichris. Her agile leadership style fosters collaboration between technical and business units, ensuring product-market fit and delivery excellence. With deep expertise in enterprise HR and payroll systems, Coombs excels in translating complex strategies into actionable outcomes. She’s a clear communicator, dedicated mentor and active contributor to best practices in product development and customer experience.

Product Manager

Karen Coombs

Stevens & Associates Lawyers is a leading and trusted employment law firm based in Sydney known for delivering high-quality legal expertise in the area of employment law and industrial relations across Australia, alongside a proven track record of effectively and swiftly resolving a variety of workplace law issues. In the past year, the firm’s growth has been notable. It has: • experienced a 213% growth in the number of client matters, increasing from 149 client matters in the 2022 financial year to 390 client matters in the 2023 financial year • improved its online visibility, leading to over 50 online enquiries each month and a conversion rate of client leads of up to 40% • significantly expanded the breadth and type of matters that it advises on day to day, which has increased the firm’s skillsets, diversity and resilience • expanded its community outreach by collaborating with local Sydney venues for client seminars and continuing active participation in a Sydney small/family business group Stevens & Associates Lawyers has adapted to digital trends by implementing an effective strategy with SEO and web design, resulting in a structural shift that has seen increased representation of employees where the firm previously mainly advised employers. The firm’s recognition as a “Fast Firm” attests to its momentum in the employment law space.

“IQumulate is on a technology journey, and we’re just getting started”

Wayne Tower, IQumulate Premium Funding

Liviu (Liv) Marciu

Chief Technology Officer

Matthew Westwood-Hill

Chief Information Security Officer

Kathy Pallasis

Manager, Human Resources

Pam Chhabra

Manager – Residential Strata

Liviu Marciu, chief technology officer at Frontier Software, leads the company’s digital transformation and innovation strategy from Melbourne. With deep expertise in software engineering and enterprise architecture, he drives platform scalability, security, and performance. Marciu collaborates with senior leaders like Nick Southcombe to align technology with business goals, oversees software development and infrastructure, and fosters a culture of technical excellence. He plays a key role in vendor partnerships and emerging tech integration. With a software engineering degree and an MBA from Melbourne Business School, Marciu is a strategic communicator and thought leader in HR tech, data security and agile delivery.

Chief Technology Officer

Liviu (Liv) Marciu

Matthew Westwood-Hill is a seasoned cyber security leader with over 20 years’ experience in digital forensics, incident response and information security. He has led teams at SBS, CyberCX, and Ernst & Young, managing major incidents and aligning security strategies with business goals. Westwood-Hill is known for his innovative, risk-reducing solutions and clear communication with executives and regulators. He drives awareness, compliance and resilience through training, policy and strategic planning. A frequent speaker and media contributor, he holds advanced qualifications in cyber security and digital forensics and is a recognised expert witness committed to continuous learning and emerging threat readiness.

Chief Information Security Officer

Matthew Westwood-Hill

Kathy Pallasis, manager, human resources at Frontier Software, leads HR strategy and operations from Melbourne. She oversees policy development, employee relations, and internal communications, working closely with senior leadership and cross-functional teams. Pallasis is known for her clear, responsive communication and collaborative approach. She manages employee records, supports strategic planning and coordinates workplace logistics. With experience in enterprise software, payroll systems and governance, Pallasis is a trusted resource for internal stakeholders. She holds a humanities degree, is a member of AHRI, and actively contributes to continuous improvement and inclusive workplace practices through policy and operational leadership.

Manager, Human Resources

Kathy Pallasis

Stephen McMillan first entered the financial services Industry when he joined GE Capital as a finance analyst in 2008, from which he progressed through roles working both onshore and offshore. From there, he moved into Pacific Premium Funding as a financial planning and analysis leader in 2012 and was a key resource in the evolution of the business, first with the successful sale to Macquarie Pacific Funding and then the following progression into IQumulate Premium Funding, where he is now the commercial manager. As commercial manager, McMillan leads a team that is responsible for commercial analysis and business support, identifying and reporting improvement initiatives, and the securitization and treasury functions of the business.

Commercial Manager

Stephen McMillan

One culmination of these efforts has been the real-world, needs-based IQEdge solution. A one-stop online quoting tool designed for both the Australian and New Zealand markets, IQEdge delivers quotes in under 60 seconds. Plus, the solution offers quote comparison and quote versioning capabilities, enabling users to review vital historical and financial data in a single page view. IQEdge can streamline and automate application processing, underwriting document verification and payment collection, cutting the need for manual labour and minimising processing errors. A digital “self-service” platform, IQEdge, reduces the need for customer and administrative support. Meanwhile, borrowers can access their accounts, make payments and manage their policies independently and through sales and support teams, which are always available for further assistance. “We’ve created a quality platform that simplifies the quoting process yet amplifies the customer experience,” says Gordon. “It’s a real game changer.” IQumulate offers an online digital quoting tool to clients. The best-in-market solution enables IQumulate to tailor funding offerings to brokers that align with their prefered distribution channel.

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What does IQumulate have in mind for the future? “IQumulate is on a technology journey, and we’re just getting started,” says Wayne Tower, CEO. “Through continuous engagement with our clients, partners, marketplace and industry, we will listen to the needs as they arise and position our business to be agile and respond to changes as they occur. “Faster decision-making innovations such as AI-powered decision support systems can expedite the underwriting and approval process, leading to quicker responses to clients. This can improve client satisfaction and potentially attract more business, creating a competitive advantage with the potential to allow IQumulate to command premium pricing or capture a larger market share. “As forward-thinkers with a digital and ‘do it better’ mindset, we collectively and proactively look to learn and improve on our customer experience for our clients, paving the way for successful business outcomes for our clients and our business in the coming years ahead. “We’re excited for the future and look forward to what’s on the horizon.”

Adam Basaldella

Manager – Claims

Product Manager

Claire Watson

Commercial Manager

Stephen McMillan

Claire Watson

Product Manager

Claire Watson

Product Manager

Claire Watson

“Our mindset is simple. Keep building a single global standard for lawful, source-verified screening, and make it faster, clearer and easier to use”

Daniel Callaghan, Veremark

“We verify facts at source and standardise lawful screening wherever you hire, so offers move sooner, exceptions drop and managers get decisions they can stand behind, while candidates get a clear, respectful experience”

Daniel Callaghan, Veremark

Ivan Verescuk

Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director

Shaun O’Brien

Head of Underwriting

Emily Walker

Head of Strata and Development

Rex Oakman

Head of Operations and Risk

Sandy Newton

Head of Underwriting

Andrew Mitchell

Manager – NSW

Michael Prokopis

Manager – Southern Region

Pam Chhabra

Manager – Residential Strata

Jeffrey Valdivia

Manager – Commercial Strata

Adam Basaldella

Manager – Claims

Matthew Flinders Anglican College stands as a leading educational institution, providing an exceptional learning experience to over 1,400 students from Prep through Year 12. Established in 1990, the college is proudly celebrating 35 years of academic excellence in 2025. The Flinders Early Learning Centre is renowned for its high-quality Pre-Kindy and Kindy programs, underpinned by outstanding accreditation and a well-earned reputation for nurturing early childhood development. At the heart of the college is a strong, caring community that cultivates a vibrant and supportive environment. Every student is encouraged to realise their academic potential, engage in a diverse range of co-curricular opportunities and develop the character, skills and wellbeing needed to lead meaningful lives and make a positive impact in the world. Matthew Flinders Anglican College has earned significant recognition for its commitment to excellence. The college is honoured to be named among the 5-Star Best Schools for 2025, following its national accolade as Primary School of the Year (Non-Government) at the 2023 Australian Education Awards. In 2024, the college received the Sustainable Programs Award from The Educator for its innovative Flinders Farm initiative and was recognised as an Excellence Awardee for Innovation in Curriculum Design at the Australian Education Awards. For the third year running, Matthew Flinders Anglican College has also been named a 5-Star Innovative School, a testament to its dedication to forward-thinking education and ongoing improvement.

IQumulate invests in education and people, which are vital to attracting new business and talent to the company. “We have long tenures for several of our key staff, including some in leadership positions, and this sound working knowledge of our business, practices and industry provides great insights and a wealth of experience to offer our clients,” says Bastow. “Our new head of sales, Graeme Gordon, formerly manager for New Zealand, joins us in Australia to drive our sales strategy and lead our team to successful outcomes for our clients and our business. We look forward to great things ahead with Graeme as he continues to be active and present in the New Zealand market as well as building sound working relationships and new connections in Australia.” Clients can also expect a lot from working with IQumulate. “Through active engagement with our trusted broker network, IQumulate provides relevant information, education and training content,” says Graeme Gordon, head of sales. “Our clients can expect IQumulate to support their business in several ways, providing an understanding of what premium funding solutions are available and how IQumulate can spread the cost of insurance and help borrowers get the right level of insurance cover to free up their cash flow for other expenses or business growth opportunities. Premium funding is often considered a tool for those who simply cannot afford to pay their premiums in full. While this is certainly a significant driver for many, it is also successfully used by profitable companies who use premium funding to manage their cash flows more wisely or better manage their liquidity.”

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