Headquarters:
Ballina, NSW
Year founded:
2019
Number of employees:
120
Phone:
02 6681 0100
Email:
BallinaCoast-h.school@det.nsw.edu.au
Website:
ballina-h.schools.nsw.gov.au
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/school/loreto-kirribilli
Peter Howes
Principal
Jesse Coates
Deputy Principal, Years 7 and 10
Aaron McDonald
Deputy Principal, Years 8 and 11
Leadership
Nicole Archard, BA, DipEd, MA, MEdLead, MTheolSt, PhD, is a specialist educator of girls, having dedicated most of her career to girls’ education. Before joining Loreto Kirribilli as principal, she was principal at Loreto College Marryatville, and has held leadership positions at Wenona School, Kincoppal Rose Bay, and Our Lady of Mercy College, Parramatta.
Currently joint chair of the Loreto Principals’ Forum, she is a Catholic woman of faith who strongly believes in women’s capacity and responsibility to contribute significantly to society and the Church.
Principal, Loreto Kirribilli
Nicole Archard, PhD
Romalina Rocca, BEd (TAS), MEd (MHRD), GradCert(RE), Mini-COGE UNSW, is deputy principal of Loreto Kirribilli and a teacher in technological and applied studies. She has held many leadership positions at the school including Head of senior school, director of student wellbeing and TAS subject coordinator.
She has authored several design and technology textbooks and served on the HSC Examination Writing Committee. She is dedicated to creating a culture of growth and improvement, where everyone in the school community is inspired to embrace challenges and persevere in their pursuit of learning.
Deputy Principal, Loreto Kirribilli
Romalina Rocca
Kate Gilligham, LLB (Hons), BA, University of Sydney, is a member of the Administrative Review Tribunal, with 30 years’ experience as a legal practitioner, including as a partner at an international law firm. She is chair of the Loreto Kirribilli Board, and a member of the Loreto Kirribilli Nominations and Succession Planning Committee and the Loreto Kirribilli Bursary Committee.
Board Chair
Kate Gillingham
Lachlan Klose
Deputy Principal, Years 9, 12 and Support Centre
Tony Damian, BEc, LLB (Hons), Master of Laws (all University of Sydney), is deputy chairperson of the Loreto Kirribilli Board and a member of the Loreto Kirribilli Nominations and Succession Planning Committee. He is partner and co-head of M&A (Aust) at global law firm Ashurst, and author and co-editor of a number of legal books.
Deputy Board Chair
Tony Damian
Nicky Skinner
Business Development Manager
Nicky Skinner, based in Christchurch, was honoured as NZ Adviser’s BDM of the Year. With over 20 years of banking experience – including roles as bank manager, private banker and senior lender – she brings deep expertise to her work. Skinner supports mortgage advisers with product knowledge and deal presentation skills, focusing on building strong, trusted relationships. Her collaborative approach and dedication make her a valued resource, consistently praised for her guidance and support in helping advisers achieve outstanding client outcomes.
Business Development Manager
Nicky Skinner
Sarah Radonich
Third Party Support Manager
Steph Leeson
Business Development Manager
Margaret Leau-Sulusi
Business Development Manager
Pam Chhabra
Manager – Residential Strata
Sarah Radonich is a third party support manager (relief BDM) at Westpac, building strong relationships with mortgage advisers across New Zealand. With 15 years of banking experience, she supports a wide range of regions and communities, working alongside a team of experienced BDMs. Radonich is known for her responsiveness, collaboration and focus on delivering efficient, results-driven experiences for advisers and their clients, always striving for the best possible outcomes.
Third Party Support Manager
Sarah Radonich
Steph Leeson immigrated from the UK 14 years ago and began her Westpac career as a specialist lender. Now a business development manager, she supports mortgage advisers across Auckland and Northland, offering expert guidance and support. Leeson is highly regarded for her lending knowledge, responsiveness and collaborative approach. Her dedication was recognised nationally as a finalist for the 2025 NZ Adviser BDM of the Year award, reflecting her impact within the third party channel.
Business Development Manager
Steph Leeson
Margaret Leau-Sulusi brings over 20 years of banking experience to her role as business development manager, having started with Westpac in 2005. Her background includes lending support, senior lending roles and branch management. Leau-Sulusi partners closely with mortgage advisers, providing product expertise and strategic guidance to drive strong client outcomes. Known for her collaborative style and responsiveness, she is passionate about building trusted relationships and delivering customer-focused results.
Business Development Manager
Margaret Leau-Sulusi
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
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Award Winner
BALLINA COAST HIGH SCHOOL
SPECIAL REPORT
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Bio
Adam Basaldella
Manager – Claims
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.
Product Manager
Claire Watson
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
“We also maintain open lines of communication with advisers so they know what to expect and can plan accordingly”
Hayley Burgess, ANZ Bank New Zealand
“We’ve invested heavily in resourcing and process improvements to reduce friction and speed up approvals”
Hayley Burgess, ANZ Bank New Zealand
Ballina Coast High School runs on a deceptively simple conviction: that education works best when it is done with students rather than to them. The regional comprehensive public secondary school has built its standing by weaving that belief through every part of school life, guided by a vision it sums up as empowering learners and shaping excellent humans.
What sets the school apart is a commitment to genuine student partnership. Rather than simply canvass opinions, Ballina Coast treats students as real partners in school improvement by inviting them to partner with staff and industry experts to tackle real-world problems. It is not unusual so see students collaborating with teachers and executive lead projects and solve complex challenges affecting the school. Other examples of this innovative approach include the redesign learning environments and students leading staff professional learning, co-creating the Orientation Week program, and co-leading learning about the responsible use of artificial intelligence and development of school guidelines.
Principal Peter Howes has driven this cultural shift, championing a model of education built with students rather than delivered to them and embedding student agency across learning, wellbeing and community partnerships. Working with deputy principals Jesse Coates, Aaron McDonald and Lachlan Klose and the wider executive team, Howes has fostered a culture where staff is empowered to innovate and families are active contributors. The results have been noteworthy: behaviour incidents and suspensions have reduced, students report a stronger sense of belonging, and community confidence continues to grow as Ballina Coast High School has become the school of choice in the area.
Quality relationship and belonging are amplified. The school’s purpose statement is ‘Empowering Learners. Shaping Excellent Humans,’ and the school values are based on the dispositions that enable that growth in every student. Teachers and the principal are known by their first name. Every student from Year 7 to 12 belongs to a Hub group, a consistent home base with trusted staff who check in daily. After each Christmas break, a whole-school Orientation Week re-establishes relationships and shared expectations before formal learning begins. Restorative and trauma-informed practices reinforce an environment where students feel safe, valued and known.
Co-curricular life is treated as an extension of learning rather than an addition to it. The timetabled FLEX program brings students and staff together around shared interests spanning fishing, cooking, gaming, creative arts and fitness, while partnerships with filmmakers, architects and business leaders offer authentic, real-world experiences. Personalised pathways through Big Picture, the Targeted Sports Program and the Talented Arts Program let students pursue individual strengths.
Technology has become a catalyst for creativity, personalisation and future-focused learning. Student AI Champions have helped to develop school guidelines and support their peers, teachers and local business with the use of AI.
The school sees its recognition not as the culmination of its work but as encouragement to keep challenging traditional assumptions about education, a fitting outlook for a place that measures success by the confidence and character its students carry beyond the school gate.
