Headquarters:

2 St Mary's Road, Sydney, NSW 2000

Year founded:

1824

Number of employees:

100

Phone:

03 9531 6560

Email:

fleur.cane@syd.catholic.edu.au

Website:

smccsydney.syd.catholic.edu.au

LinkedIn:

www.linkedin.com/company/smccsydney/

“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”

Kerrie McDiarmid

College Principal

Christopher Maoudis

Assistant Principal – Senior School

David Timillero

Assistant Principal – Middle School

Leadership

In 2023, Kerrie McDiarmid was appointed principal of St Mary’s Cathedral College, Sydney’s oldest school. A visionary leader, she is guiding the college’s transformation from a 200-year all-boys institution into a dynamic, dual-campus, K-12 co-educational school. Previously, she served as principal and assistant principal at St Clare’s College Waverley, and as leader of pedagogy at Marist College Kogarah. With over 27 years of experience, McDiarmid is known for her innovative, strategic approach and commitment to educational transformation. Recognised among Australia’s Most Influential Educators, her leadership has driven significant growth, earning national awards for both her and her schools.

College Principal

Kerrie McDiarmid

Christopher Maoudis was appointed assistant principal of senior school at St Mary’s Cathedral College, Sydney in 2023. With over 20 years of teaching experience, he has previously served as deputy principal at St Clare’s College, Waverley, as well as director of learning and teaching and administration coordinator. Maoudis is recognised for his data-informed, innovative pedagogies and his commitment to building staff capacity and fostering reflective practice. He has taught senior English, religious education and history, consistently encouraging staff to pursue teaching excellence. Through collaborative leadership and strong relationships with staff, students and parents, he has driven positive change and improved outcomes

Assistant Principal – Senior School

Christopher Maoudis

David Timillero was appointed assistant principal of middle school at St Mary’s Cathedral College, Sydney in 2023. Previously, he held deputy principal roles at Bethlehem College, Ashfield and Holy Spirit Catholic College, Lakemba, as well as positions such as director of wellbeing and curriculum coordinator. Renowned for his commitment to fostering meaningful relationships, Timillero champions holistic student growth, focusing on both academic achievement and personal development. His leadership is distinguished by initiatives that nurture resilience, empathy and respect, and by a contemporary curriculum approach that integrates life skills and moral education, preparing students for the challenges of modern society.

Assistant Principal – Middle School

David Timillero

BRETT BASTOW, IQUMULATE PREMIUM FUNDINGs

Leadership

Suzanne Georgiou

Assistant Principal – Junior School

Suzanne Georgiou was appointed assistant principal of junior school at St Mary’s Cathedral College, Sydney, in 2024. Previously, she served as deputy principal at St Charles’ Primary School, Waverley and Galilee Catholic Primary School, Bondi and as gifted education curriculum coordinator at St Mary - St Joseph Catholic Primary School, Maroubra. Georgiou is a dedicated educator and leader, passionate about leveraging contemporary pedagogy and research to enhance student achievement. Specialising in gifted education, she has driven school-wide reforms in curriculum, assessment, and management. Her strong interpersonal skills empower students, parents and staff, fostering a collaborative and high-achieving learning culture.

Assistant Principal – Junior School

Suzanne Georgiou

Belinda VanderGert

Assistant Principal – Liberal Arts

Belinda VanderGert was appointed assistant principal of liberal arts at St Mary’s Cathedral College, Sydney, in 2023. With over 20 years of experience in education, she has held leadership roles in curriculum, teaching and learning, and wellbeing across Sydney and Melbourne. VanderGert has driven whole-school initiatives to foster student growth and has been instrumental in developing the college’s Character Education program, promoting resilience, ethical development and personal growth. She collaborates closely with staff to innovate teaching practices and improve outcomes. A passionate advocate for student wellbeing, VanderGert cultivates an inclusive, supportive environment where every student is empowered to achieve their full potential.

Assistant Principal – Liberal Arts

Belinda VanderGert

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

Thomas Hunter

Assistant Principal – Mission

Meaghan Payne

Junior Leader

Kathy Pallasis

Manager, Human Resources

Pam Chhabra

Manager – Residential Strata

Thomas Hunter was appointed assistant principal of mission at St Mary’s Cathedral College, Sydney, in 2023. Passionate about character education, he leverages diverse experiences and study to inspire students to challenge themselves academically and through extracurricular activities. Leading both ATAR and non-ATAR (including VET) subjects, Hunter values skill development across a broad spectrum, always maintaining high expectations. Actively involved with charitable NGOs, he encourages students to form convictions about making a difference. With a strong focus on religious education, outreach and ethical inquiry, Hunter embraces the opportunities presented by the new K-12 co-educational context to support holistic student growth.

Assistant Principal – Mission

Thomas Hunter

Meaghan Payne is an accomplished educator with more than 18 years of experience across diverse educational settings, both in Australia and internationally. At St Columba’s, she is dedicated to fostering inclusive, student-centred learning environments where every child feels valued and empowered. With extensive expertise in IB schools, Payne is deeply committed to inquiry-based learning, encouraging student agency, critical thinking and responsibility towards others. She is highly skilled at adapting teaching strategies to meet the unique needs of her learners and demonstrates a strong commitment to professional growth. In her leadership role, Payne supports the junior school team to deliver engaging, high-quality teaching and learning. Her work contributes significantly to St Columba’s mission of inclusivity, innovation and holistic education.

Junior Leader

Meaghan Payne

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

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Spokesperson, Salesian College Chadstone

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Spokesperson, Salesian College Chadstone

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

Founded in 1824, St Mary’s Cathedral College is the oldest school in the Archdiocese of Sydney. Rich in Catholic heritage and guided by a forward-looking vision, the college has evolved into a vibrant, dual-campus, co-educational institution serving students from Kindergarten to Year 12 in the heart of the city. A contemporary curriculum is at the core of the St Mary’s experience, designed to ignite curiosity, foster creativity and strengthen critical thinking. Learning extends beyond the classroom, as real-world experiences are seamlessly integrated into daily life. With Sydney’s premier cultural institutions just steps away, the city itself becomes a living classroom. Located beside and historically intertwined with St Mary’s Cathedral – the Mother Church of Australia – the college instills a profound sense of faith, purpose and belonging. As the home of Australia’s oldest and most distinguished chorister program, St Mary’s Cathedral College celebrates the unique gifts of every student, supporting their growth academically, artistically, spiritually and as emerging leaders. St Mary’s Cathedral College honours a remarkable legacy while equipping each student to step confidently into the future – grounded in enduring values, inspired by excellence and committed to making a meaningful difference.

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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Benefits

Compensation

Culture

Diversity, equity and inclusion

Innovation

Reputation

Sustainable programs

Overall

Under the leadership of Principal Mark Ashmore and the College Board, Salesian College Chadstone fosters a positive, professional and growth-oriented environment. With a focus on continuous improvement, the college has achieved record academic results, rising ATAR scores, stronger attendance and national recognition in child safety, including the 2025 Victorian Protecting Children Award. The college celebrated the outstanding achievement of Year 12 student Thomas Maguire-Nguyen, who was named Overall VCE Leader of the Year by the Parliamentary Secretary for Education, Nina Taylor MP. The college has also proudly led the way in innovation through its partnership with Uniform Group and designer Peter Morrissey to launch Australia’s first bespoke, designer-curated school uniform collection, coinciding with the opening of the new Year 7 and 8 Precinct campus in 2026. Salesian College Chadstone’s extra-curricular program develops students’ talents and passions in team environments. Key activities include house sports, debating, peer mentoring, Associated Catholic Colleges (ACC) sports across 55 teams, instrumental music and public speaking. The college collaborates with its partner Girls Schools Sacred Heart Girls College and Avila College for musical productions, leadership experiences and community events, providing the opportunity for cross-school teamwork and connection, reinforcing the college’s commitment to holistic development, leadership and community engagement. Technology is another priority and underpins the college’s strategy of delivering a contemporary education. Over the last 12 months, the college has introduced a series of initiatives: ICT Future Directions committee – exploring the use of technology for communication, data analysis and learning Risk Wizard – risk management, incident tracking and compliance monitoring software Employee Connect – HR and onboarding software Alumnly – integrated cloud-based Alumni Networking and Management Platform for Alumni of Salesian College Chadstone Vivi – whole school wireless mirroring system for efficient classroom displays Intellischools – data platform for student results, attendance and security, aggregating student data for school improvement IVR (Interactive Voice Response) – system for telephone enquiry management Committed to diversity and inclusion, the college’s Learning Diversity team ensures the varied needs of students are met in an environment where every student can thrive. Salesian College Chadstone is a place where academic excellence, personal growth and community spirit converge, preparing young men for an interconnected world while staying true to its Salesian values.