Headquarters:
43 Kenthurst Rd
Year founded:
1982
Number of employees:
200+
Phone:
02 9654 2111
Email:
hg.reception@hillsgrammar.nsw.edu.au
Website:
hillsgrammar.nsw.edu.au
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/school/hills-grammar
Karen Yager
Principal
David Hamper
Deputy Principal and Head of Senior School
Sarah Black
Head of Junior School
Leadership
A progressive and creative leader, Karen Yager brings more than 26 years of experience to Hills Grammar School after her most recent role as deputy headmaster K–12 at Knox Grammar. Her work in the education and academic world has been recognised with numerous awards, including the 2019 NSW Professional Teachers’ Council Award for Outstanding Service to Education.
With an emphasis on developing each student’s unique strengths, agency and voice, Yager will continue to nurture, grow and inspire the Hills Originals to achieve their potential for greatness.
She commenced as Hills Grammar’s fifth principal in January 2022 and is enjoying meeting the Hills Grammar community – students, staff and families.
Principal
Karen Yager
David Hamper joined Hills Grammar in May 2022, bringing 25 years of experience to the school. He has held a number of senior roles in diverse independent schools across Sydney, with portfolios including teaching and learning, wellbeing, innovation, staff development, human resources and school operations.
Hamper has also held a number of special advisory appointments, including in curriculum design and assessment with state and national curriculum authorities, teacher education with universities in Australia and the United States, and teacher professional learning with a number of professional associations. He is a prolific writer, having authored, edited and contributed to numerous books, journal articles and atlases across diverse topics in the humanities and within professional domains.
Deputy Principal and Head of Senior School
David Hamper
Sarah Black is a specialist in inclusive education and has worked in pre-K–12 since joining the staff of Hills Grammar in 2010. Prior to this, she worked in a range of settings, including educational consultancy, as a positive behaviour support specialist, and as a leader of professional development across a number of key areas. Black believes strongly in the importance of building genuine and meaningful connections with students, families, staff and the wider community and understands the importance of the individual in the pre-K–12 journey. As a staff member, parent and alumnus, she is well placed to understand the value of the “original” student, both past, present and future.
Head of Junior School
Sarah Black
Geoff Gates
Director of Learning and Teaching
As the director of learning and teaching from pre-K to 12, Geoff Gates works closely with the heads of ECEC, junior school and senior school to ensure a high-quality curriculum is in place across the school. He also works closely with both curriculum leaders and teachers on projects such as cultures of thinking and deep learning, where the aim is to develop innovative, 21st-century approaches to learning and teaching.
Gates started teaching at Hills Grammar in 2004. Prior to Hills, he worked in Sydney, London and Hamburg and has taught HSC, GCSE, IGCSE and IB diploma courses. His past leadership roles have included literacy coordinator, student services coordinator, and head of English. He has presented at education and university conferences on pedagogy, literature and creative writing practice.
Gates completed a Master of Arts (Creative Writing) in 2007, a Master of Education (Leadership) in 2013 and a Doctor of Creative Arts degree in 2023. He is the author of two novels and has written for both professional publications and literary journals.
Director of Learning and Teaching
Geoff Gates
Yass Sidaros
Director of Co-curricular Programs
Yass Sidaros has spent over 16 years at Hills Grammar, which has enabled him to see that what works for one student may be different for another. In his role as the director of the co-curricular program, he oversees the operation and strategic development of the school's co-curricular program, ensuring it is able to maximise the opportunities for all students in their areas of interest. The program has six core areas, including music, leadership and service, sport, outdoor education, STEM and the creative, spoken and performing arts.
Director of Co-curricular Programs
Yass Sidaros
Christine Furner
Director of Professional Learning
Claire Napoli
Director of Advancement and Engagement
Adam Wollins
Director of ICT
David Sexton
Director Business Services
Chris Furner has held a number of teaching and leadership positions across state and independent schools. A career highlight has been the completion of a PhD on how to boost teacher learning across all career stages as a means to improve practice and accelerate student learning outcomes. She enjoys developing whole-school staff development initiatives and professional learning programs that inspire and encourage teachers and leaders and coaching them towards “outstanding teaching”.
Director of Professional Learning
Christine Furner
As the director of advancement and engagement, Claire Napoli’s role encompasses internal and external communications, enrolment, branding, school events, community relations, alumni, archiving and reception. She has a degree in business and over 20 years of marketing and business development experience. Napoli started her career in public relations and event management before moving into marketing and business development roles in the professional services sector, particularly corporate law firms.
Director of Advancement and Engagement
Claire Napoli
Adam Wollins joined Hills Grammar in July 2023. He has over 20 years of experience in the education sector, including in schools, TAFEs, universities and the NSW Department of Education. He has a proven track record in the effective creation, development and leadership of high-performing ICT transformational and operational support teams.
Director of ICT
Adam Wollins
As Director of Business Services, David oversees the financial, operational and commercial aspects of the School. In this role, he contributes to shaping and implementing strategic initiatives, supports business sustainability and enables the next phase of campus development, including the 10-year Master Plan and Strategic Plan (2026–2028).
He is an accomplished executive leader with over 25 years of experience at C-Suite and Board level spanning diverse sectors including education, not-for-profit, disability, sport and professional services. He has extensive experience shaping and executing strategic plans, driving income growth and diversification, master planning and major capital projects, stakeholder engagement, leading high-performing teams and managing complex budgets.
Director Business Services
David Sexton
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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
“Titles like ‘Best School’ are the by-product of putting people first – students, teachers and families. That’s what drives excellence and innovation”
Dr Adrian Camm,
Westbourne Grammar School
“We hire for character as much as capability – humble, hungry and smart – then invest deeply in their growth. That’s the engine of our success”
Dr Adrian Camm,
Westbourne Grammar School
Hills Grammar’s culture is defined by diversity, inclusivity and a deep sense of community, where the strengths and stories of each individual are celebrated and supported.
The school’s vision is to foster each student’s potential through outstanding teaching in a unique learning environment, serving as the foundation for its forward-thinking ethos.
Under the leadership of principal Karen Yager, the school, which covers Pre-K to Grade 12, has pioneered a range of initiatives that empower students to take charge of their learning journeys.
For example, The Hills Education Passport for the Future is a micro-credentialing system that validates student achievements beyond the traditional curriculum. This innovative approach recognises passions and skills developed in diverse contexts, equipping students with the confidence and adaptability needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world.
Students are encouraged to look beyond classroom walls, discover their passions and develop as responsible, resilient citizens. Other initiatives that exemplify Hills Grammar’s commitment to preparing students for the future include:
model United Nations
adoption of AI in classrooms
partnerships with the University of Technology Sydney and HEX High to deliver accredited university courses
Another hallmark of Hills Grammar’s progressive approach is its FutureNow Taskforce – a collaborative think tank comprising over 90 members, including students (Years 5–12), teachers, parents, School Council members and university partners. Meeting fortnightly, the taskforce explores the latest research and provocations on the future of schooling, challenging conventional models and developing “blue-sky” solutions.
Guided by critical friends such as Professors Yong Zhou and John Fischetti, the team has crafted the Hills Archetypes for the Future, focusing on:
nurturing identity – a sense of belonging
deepening learning – inspiring curiosity
fostering ethical leadership – integrity, compassion and courage
growing entrepreneurial citizens – student voice and agency
embracing technological innovation – harnessing it for personalisation, creativity and collaboration
promoting environmental sustainability – making informed decisions and taking actions
enabling agility in career navigation – to be adaptive, resilient and confident
Each working group within the taskforce develops and refines innovative proposals in areas such as student flourishing, reimagining learning spaces, technological transformation and civic citizenship. This collaborative, research-driven process ensures that innovation is not only the purview of a single leader but also a shared responsibility embraced by the entire community.
Among Hills Grammar’s lesser-known innovations is the Birrung program (which means “star” in Dharug language), an inclusive adaptation of the traditional “Opportunity Class” that nurtures talents across a spectrum of disciplines, including fine arts, PDHPE, science and technology. This program exemplifies the school’s commitment to recognising and cultivating strengths beyond conventional academics, fostering collaboration and real-world problem-solving.
Looking ahead, Hills Grammar continues to prioritise interdisciplinary guided inquiry, connecting disciplines through overarching concepts and real-world challenges. The school’s action learning teams, student-led program teams and ongoing reviews ensure that innovation remains dynamic and responsive to the evolving needs of students and society.
By empowering students with agency, embracing new technologies and fostering a spirit of lifelong learning, Hills Grammar prepares young people not only for academic success but also for meaningful, impactful lives in a complex and changing world.
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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