Headquarters:
43 - 77 Taylor Road, Sheldon, Qld 4157
Year founded:
1997
Number of employees:
285
Phone:
07 3206 5555
Email:
enrolments@sheldoncollege.com
Website:
sheldoncollege.com
LinkedIn:
linkedin.com/school/sheldon-college
Kate Mortimer, BEd, (Honours), MEd (Educational Leadership)
Principal
Lissa Gyte, BEd (Secondary), MEd (Ldshp & Mgt)
Deputy Principal, Senior School
Brenton Campbell, BEd (Secondary), BCI (Drama), MEd (Evidence-Based Teaching)
Deputy Principal, Middle School
Leadership
Kate Mortimer is the principal of Sheldon College, where she leads with a dedication to excellence, innovation and holistic education. Passionate about nurturing student potential, she champions a balanced approach that combines academic rigour with wellbeing, underpinned by the College’s philosophy of “Love, Laughter and Learning.”
With extensive experience in educational leadership, Mortimer has a proven track record in fostering collaborative learning environments that inspire both students and staff. Under her guidance, Sheldon College has enhanced its focus on future-ready skills and authentic technology integration, equipping students with the tools they need to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
Principal
Kate Mortimer, BEd, (Honours), MEd (Educational Leadership)
Lissa Gyte is the deputy principal of Sheldon College, an experienced and authentic educational leader dedicated to fostering a positive workplace culture that empowers teachers and corporate staff alike. Known for her relational approach, she understands that achieving the College’s strategic goals requires a blend of connection, direction, support and challenge. Constantly driven by the question “How can we do this better?”, she is committed to continuous improvement and ensuring that every individual feels known and valued. Gyte’s leadership aligns with Sheldon College’s “Love, Laughter, Learning” philosophy, supporting an environment where both staff and students thrive.
Deputy Principal, Senior School
Lissa Gyte, BEd (Secondary), MEd (Ldshp & Mgt)
Brenton Campbell has been teaching at Sheldon College since 2006. He has taught English to students from Years 7 – 12, the QCAA English syllabus and Literature syllabus to Years 11 and 12 students, been a Year Level Coordinator and a Head of Faculty (English and Languages). He is an accredited QCAA Assessor. As a teacher, Campbell values home-school partnerships, believing that together, they empower young people to reach their potential. As a leader, he leads his curriculum teams with integrity, honesty and collaboration. Campbell enjoys reading, travelling and learning languages as they give him perspective and empathy for others.
Deputy Principal, Middle School
Brenton Campbell, BEd (Secondary), BCI (Drama), MEd (Evidence-Based Teaching)
Mrs Mardi Bolton, BEd, MEd (Educational Wellbeing)
Deputy Principal, Junior School
Mardi Bolton, director of primary at Sheldon College, leads learning, teaching and wellbeing initiatives for around 750 students in Prep to Year 6. With over 25 years in state, independent, and Catholic systems, she is a collaborative leader with a Master of Educational Wellbeing and Advanced Coaching accreditation. Passionate about community and wellbeing, Borton champions mentoring to support teachers in enhancing classroom instruction. She is especially proud of her role in developing the College’s Learning with IMPACT framework, a roadmap for evidence-based teaching that fosters consistent, impactful learning and improves outcomes for every student.
Deputy Principal, Junior School
Mrs Mardi Bolton, BEd, MEd (Educational Wellbeing)
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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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
Sheldon College continues to lead the way in educational innovation, embodying its culture of Love, Laughter, and Learning through a future-focused approach that blends academic excellence with authentic, technology-rich learning experiences. Across 2024 and 2025, the college has strengthened its position as a leader in integrating artificial intelligence, digital pedagogy and immersive technologies into meaningful classroom practice from Kindergarten to Year 12.
A defining achievement has been the development and implementation of a whole-college AI strategy, guided by the AI Implementation Framework and supported by the AI Champions Team. This initiative has established a clear and ethical vision for the use of artificial intelligence in education, ensuring that technology enhances rather than replaces deep thinking and creativity.
The college’s comprehensive AI policy provides guidance on:
academic integrity
responsible use
student wellbeing
While the newly developed AI Hub on the Learning Management System offers staff:
curated tools
exemplars
professional learning resources
Teachers are increasingly confident in applying AI to lesson design, feedback and assessment, with recent data showing that 70% of staff are now beyond the initial exploration stage and actively embedding AI in their teaching. These advances are underpinned by the college’s commitment to professional growth through its micro-credentialling program, which enables staff to continually upskill in Apple, Adobe, SMART and Microsoft platforms, as well as AI-specific tools.
Innovation is also deeply embedded within the Junior College through a structured Innovation Project Program from Prep to Year 6. This program provides students with age-appropriate opportunities to explore creativity, critical thinking and digital problem-solving in authentic contexts.
The 2025 iteration sees:
Prep students animating their own drawings using AI software
Year 2 students designing and scanning robotic models using the Revolution Lightboard
Year 3 students refining AI-generated 3D landscapes through prompt engineering
Year 6 students producing immersive 360-degree disaster reports in the Mixed Reality Lab
These projects culminate in showcases where families can experience the creativity and skill development of their children firsthand.
Across the college, innovation is anchored in evidence-based pedagogy. The Growth Learning Cycle (GLC), launched in 2025, builds teacher expertise through targeted reflection and collaboration aligned with the college’s IMPACT Teaching and Learning Framework. Meanwhile, digital mapping of the Australian Curriculum across the Schoolbox LMS provides teachers and leaders with clear visibility of coverage and coherence, ensuring consistency and accountability across all year levels.
The impact of these initiatives is visible in the college’s outstanding academic results and high levels of student engagement. In 2024, Sheldon College achieved a highest ATAR of 99.70, with 43% of students scoring above 90 and a median ATAR of 88 – evidence that innovation and academic rigour go hand in hand.
Engagement surveys also show a steady increase in students reporting they are “always engaged” in lessons, reflecting the success of dynamic, technology-enabled learning.
Principal Kate Mortimer affirms, “At Sheldon College, innovation is purposeful. It’s about equipping our students and teachers with the confidence, creativity and critical thinking skills they need to thrive in a world shaped by rapid technological change.”
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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