Headquarters:

Coorparoo, QLD

Year founded:

1948

Number of employees:

250

Phone:

07 3394 5690

Email:

villa@vnc.qld.edu.au

Website:

vnc.qld.edu.au

LinkedIn:

linkedin.com/school/villanova-college

Paul Begg

Principal

Kristy Watkins

Deputy Principal

Matt Levander

Head of Senior School

Leadership

Paul Begg is principal of Villanova College, Brisbane, an Augustinian Catholic boys’ school. An experienced educational leader, he is committed to fostering a culture of excellence, belonging, faith and service, grounded in the Augustinian values of community, humility, interiority and the restless search for truth. Previously, he served as a principal within Brisbane Catholic Education, where he received the Archbishop’s Award for Leadership Excellence in 2019. Passionate about educating the whole person, Begg works closely with students, staff and families to develop confident, compassionate and resilient young men who are equipped to make a meaningful contribution to their communities.

Principal

Paul Begg

With two decades of experience in the independent education sector across NSW and Queensland, Kristy Watkins brings unwavering dedication and expertise to her role as deputy principal at Villanova College, a position she assumed in January 2025. Known for her genuine passion for student wellbeing, safeguarding, and fostering people and culture, her leadership is defined by empathy, encouragement, and consistently high expectations. She believes that prioritising staff and student wellbeing is key to meaningful learning outcomes. Through her commitment to making a lasting difference, Watkins inspires and empowers those around them to pursue their goals and actively contribute to a vibrant, future-focused school community. With a teaching background in HPE and Religious Education, she holds a master’s degree in educational leadership and serves as a committee member of AERO for Human Research Ethics.

Deputy Principal

Kristy Watkins

Matt Levander joined the Villanova College leadership team in 2016, bringing with him vast leadership experience across the student formation, academic and cocurricular domains. He leads the Senior School, responsible for the holistic development of students across Years 10–12. Since joining Villanova, Levander has led the implementation of a whole College student wellbeing program aligned with positive education science and Augustinian values, such is his passion in this space. He also co-led the restructuring of the College’s pastoral care system with the introduction of eight new Houses.

Head of Senior School

Matt Levander

Sean O’Neill

Head of Middle School

Sean O’Neill is head of middle school at Villanova College, where he leads student wellbeing, academic growth, and pastoral care programs for the students in the Middle School. An experienced educational leader, he is passionate about fostering positive school cultures that support student engagement, belonging, and success. O’Neill has extensive experience in curriculum leadership, data-informed improvement, restorative practices and staff development. He is committed to developing young men of character and creating learning environments where every student can thrive.

Head of Middle School

Sean O’Neill

Stephen Rouhliadeff

Head of Junior School

Steve Rouhliadeff, B.Ed., M.Ed. (Educational Leadership), is a respected educational leader with 27 years’ experience in boys’ education, including 12 years as head of Junior School. He is recognised for leading innovative school improvement through evidence-informed practice, collaborative teaching and a steadfast commitment to restorative, relationship-centred leadership. Rouhliadeff has transformed Junior School learning environments by embedding high-impact teaching strategies, fostering collaborative professional cultures and ensuring every student is known, valued and challenged. Passionate about developing both staff and students, he believes that strong relationships, high expectations and a deep sense of belonging are the foundation for exceptional learning, wellbeing and flourishing school communities.

Head of Junior School

Stephen Rouhliadeff

Eleni Greenaway

Dean of Mission and Identity

Kirk Astill

Acting Dean of Teaching and Learning

Agi Waloszek

Business Manager

Pam Chhabra

Manager – Residential Strata

Eleni holds master’s degrees in Educational Leadership and Religious Education and has experience in Queensland and internationally. Her roles include e-Learning Leader, RE Curriculum Leader, Assistant Principal Community Engagement and Assistant Principal-RE. She is on the executive team of the Association of Secondary Religious Education Assistant Principals and served as an executive member of the Australian Association for RE, as well as roles with QCAA and Brisbane Catholic Education Office. Greenaway’s work has been published in the Journal Review of RE and Theology and she has worked with Catholic schools across Brisbane, contributing to discourse in RE and Mission as a conference facilitator and presenter.

Dean of Mission and Identity

Eleni Greenaway

Kirk Astill leads the teaching and learning portfolio at Villanova College, overseeing academic programs, curriculum, assessment and reporting across Years 5–12. Since joining Villanova, he has contributed as head of faculty - humanities, director of studies and acting dean of teaching and learning, bringing broad experience in curriculum leadership, student pathways, academic data, and contemporary learning systems. Astill holds a Master of Professional Studies, Bachelor of Education and Bachelor of Social Science, and has a strong interest in the role of technology and evidence-informed practice in improving student learning. He is committed to educational excellence, staff professional growth and the holistic formation of young men within Villanova’s Catholic Augustinian tradition.

Acting Dean of Teaching and Learning

Kirk Astill

Agi Waloszek commenced as business manager and company secretary at Villanova College in 2015. Her role focuses on overseeing the college’s commercial operations, ensuring financial sustainability, driving long-term organisational success and guiding its strategic direction. Waloszek has worked in the education sector since 2006 and brought with her 10 years of previous experience in auditing. She holds a Bachelor of Commerce degree from The University of Melbourne, is a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants, the Association of School Business Administrators and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Business Manager

Agi Waloszek

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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Stephen McMillan

“Academic achievement remains an important priority, but it is complemented by intentional opportunities to develop leadership, resilience, emotional intelligence, creativity,  service and faith”

Paul Begg, Villanova College

“As education continues to evolve, the College’s strategy has been to embrace new opportunities while preserving the strong sense of community, pastoral care and personal connection that define the Villanova experience”

Paul Begg, Villanova College

At Villanova College, we take great pride in celebrating our academic accomplishments and acknowledging the remarkable successes of all our students. However, our commitment extends far beyond scholastic excellence. Inspired by the Augustinian tradition, we place equal emphasis on nurturing every facet of each individual, intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual. This holistic approach is deeply embedded in our school values, ensuring that every member of our community feels supported and empowered. By embracing these guiding principles, we foster an environment where personal growth and academic achievement go hand in hand, shaping a vibrant and meaningful school experience for all. That commitment is reflected in both philosophy and practice, from a wellbeing team that includes three psychologists to a co-curricular program featuring more than 33 music ensembles. Academic results, wellbeing, leadership and service are not treated as competing priorities, but as interconnected elements of a holistic education designed to help students thrive at school and beyond. The premise rests on the Augustinian tradition and on four values the College observes: humility, interiority, community and a restless search for truth. Principal Paul Begg and deputy principal Kristy Watkins lead an agile staff that can adjust academic support, pastoral care and wellbeing to individual student need. Leadership is treated as service rather than status, and the relationships it builds outlast school, sustained by an active Old Boys’ community and families who stay close. Student wellbeing in the private boys’ school has remained a significant focus over the past year through the continued development of its Be Your Best Self program. Built around the developmental needs of Villanova students rather than taken off the shelf, it runs at every year level and addresses mental health, emotional regulation, respectful relationships, resilience, digital citizenship, consent and positive decision-making. The Catholic boys’ school in Brisbane continually refines the program through student voice, parent feedback and wellbeing data, while the wellbeing team works alongside teachers and pastoral leaders to ensure early intervention and support are always within reach. 

Outside the classroom, the school’s offering is deliberately broad. An extensive Associated Independent Colleges (AIC) sporting program sits alongside a rich cultural and co-curricular program that includes drama, more than 33 music ensembles, debating, public speaking, STEM and Esports. These opportunities allow students to discover their interests, challenge themselves and develop confidence, creativity and leadership skills beyond the classroom. Service learning is treated as core, not optional, in one of the best schools in Brisbane. Partnerships with Australian Filipino Augustinian Solidarity, Emmanuel City Mission, Rosies and Sing Sing Sing take students into communities in Brisbane and abroad, while the Jarjum Group provides Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students with a culturally safe space, supported by Harmony Week initiatives and interfaith events. These experiences encourage students to develop empathy, cultural understanding and a commitment to serving others. The College’s approach to technology carries the same discipline. Over the past year, it has focused on building staff capability and student AI literacy, recognising artificial intelligence as both a learning partner and an increasingly important part of education. At the same time, students are taught the judgement and critical thinking skills needed to use emerging technologies ethically and responsibly. Teachers have also reworked assessment practices to ensure students continue to think independently while engaging with new technologies in meaningful ways. Contemporary STEM facilities and flexible learning spaces further support inquiry, collaboration and innovation, while programs in engineering, digital design and Esports provide students with opportunities to apply their learning in real-world contexts. This commitment to future-focused education will be strengthened with the opening of the largest capital project in the College’s history: a new STEM, Great Hall and sporting precinct, scheduled for completion in October 2026. The aim behind every aspect of a Villanova education is to prepare young men not only for university or careers, but for life. By fostering leadership, resilience, creativity, faith and a commitment to service alongside academic achievement, the College equips students to thrive in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing world. It is this holistic, values-driven approach, consistent in purpose, that defines the Villanova experience and shapes confident, compassionate and capable young men. 