QTU Reps
The Union Rep is usually the first point of contact for members with the QTU. Union Reps [ also known as workplace reps] are serving teachers elected by their colleagues to represent the Union in the workplace. They provide advice and support, organise local campaigns, arrange workplace meetings and recruit new members. There are also Lead Union Reps, who are trained to assist QTU Organisers, and Principal Union Reps, who provide a school leader perspective on education and industrial issues.
Branches and Area Councils
QTU members in every school in a given area belong to the local branch. This branch, in turn, has representation at a regional level on an Area Council, which is represented on Council and Conference and can bring issues forward for debate.
Council and Conference
State Council (meeting four times a year) and Conference (once every two years - the next being in 2021) are the supreme decision making bodies of the Union. Each branch and Area Council throughout the state is represented, as are TAFE members.
The Trustees
The four QTU Trustees are members appointed by State Council to manage the Union’s capital investments.
Jenni Holmes
Ms Holmes is an experienced senior teacher at Tully State High School. Jenni was first elected as a Trustee in 2019.
Jenni Holmes
Ms Holmes is an experienced senior teacher at Tully State High School. Jenni was first elected as a Trustee in 2019.
Don Mengel
Mr Mengel is a Head of Department at Kingaroy State High School. Don was first elected as a Trustee in 2015.
Don Mengel
Mr Mengel is a Head of Department at Kingaroy State High School. Don was first elected as a Trustee in 2015.
Anne Rathmell
Ms Rathmell is a Head of the Bunya Campus of Dalby State High School. Anne was first elected as a Trustee in 2015.
Anne Rathmell
Ms Rathmell is a Head of the Bunya Campus of Dalby State High School. Anne was first elected as a Trustee in 2015.
Beck Humphreys
Beck Humphreys
The Executive
The QTU Executive consists of the Senior Officers, along with 14 serving teachers, including an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander representative and a member from the TAFE Division, all elected by State Council. It manages Union affairs between State Council meetings. Its members chair and occupy positions on many Union committees and outside bodies.
Beck Humphreys
Beck, who teaches at Barcaldine Prep-12 State School, was elected to Executive in 2019. She also sits on the Union’s Working Conditions and Agenda Committees.
Beck Humphreys
Beck, who teaches at Barcaldine Prep-12 State School, was elected to Executive in 2019. She also sits on the Union’s Working Conditions and Agenda Committees.
Peter Darben
Peter is a science teacher at Cavendish Road State High School. Formerly the coordinator of SPARQ-ed, a DET / UQ scientific research educational outreach facility, he joined the Executive in 2005.
Peter Darben
Peter is a science teacher at Cavendish Road State High School. Formerly the coordinator of SPARQ-ed, a DET / UQ scientific research educational outreach facility, he joined the Executive in 2005.
Nick Shirley
Nick was elected to Executive in 2019, having previously served on Executive from 2014-2017.
Nick Shirley
Nick was elected to Executive in 2019, having previously served on Executive from 2014-2017.
Josh Cleary
Josh is a deputy principal at Morayfield SHS and first elected to Executive in 2020. Josh is also a Lead Union Rep.
Josh Cleary
Josh is a deputy principal at Morayfield SHS and first elected to Executive in 2020. Josh is also a Lead Union Rep.
Lisa Broadhurst
Lisa has a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) and has been teaching for ten years in Queensland State Primary Schools. She has held the positions of Union Representative, Branch President, State Council and Conference delegate, and has worked in the Milton Office as an acting Officer and Campaign Coordinator.
Lisa Broadhurst
Lisa has a Bachelor of Education (Early Childhood) and has been teaching for ten years in Queensland State Primary Schools. She has held the positions of Union Representative, Branch President, State Council and Conference delegate, and has worked in the Milton Office as an acting Officer and Campaign Coordinator.
Shane Hancock
Shane is deputy principal at Fernbrooke State School. He joined Executive in 2018, and is also a promotion selection panellist, a Workplace Rep, a State Council Rep, a Principal Union Rep, a Lead Union Rep, and a member of the AEU (QLD) Branch Executive and the LGBTIQ+ Standing Committee.
Shane Hancock
Shane is deputy principal at Fernbrooke State School. He joined Executive in 2018, and is also a promotion selection panellist, a Workplace Rep, a State Council Rep, a Principal Union Rep, a Lead Union Rep, and a member of the AEU (QLD) Branch Executive and the LGBTIQ+ Standing Committee.
Andrew Thompson
Andrew, Principal of Redland District Special School Chair : Special Education Committee Member : Education Leaders Committee Elected to QTU Executive in 2012.
Andrew Thompson
Andrew, Principal of Redland District Special School Chair : Special Education Committee Member : Education Leaders Committee Elected to QTU Executive in 2012.
Natalie Montague-Clarke
Natalie teaches at Manly State School and is on the Agenda, Professional Issues and Women Teachers and Girls Education Committees. She joined Executive in March 2017.
Natalie Montague-Clarke
Natalie teaches at Manly State School and is on the Agenda, Professional Issues and Women Teachers and Girls Education Committees. She joined Executive in March 2017.
Paula Nunan
Paula has been teaching for more than 30 years at all year levels from P-12, including as a classroom teacher, ST:laN, acting principal, project officer, education adviser and district relieving teacher. Her QTU roles have included Branch Secretary and President, Area Council President, committee member, promotion selection panellist, and State Council and Conference Delegate.
Paula Nunan
Paula has been teaching for more than 30 years at all year levels from P-12, including as a classroom teacher, ST:laN, acting principal, project officer, education adviser and district relieving teacher. Her QTU roles have included Branch Secretary and President, Area Council President, committee member, promotion selection panellist, and State Council and Conference Delegate.
Amanda Power
Amanda is a DjaDja Wurrung Woman. She started teaching in 1997, and currently teaches prep at Clinton SS. She joined the QTU’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education committee Gandu Jarjum in 2001, and is currently the elected chair. Amanda is also a State Council Representative, Appointments Committee member, and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Contact for Port Curtis and Central Queensland Area Council. She is the First Nations member on Executive and a member of the AEU Federal Women's Conference committee and the AEU(Q) Branch Council.
Amanda Power
Amanda is a DjaDja Wurrung Woman. She started teaching in 1997, and currently teaches prep at Clinton SS. She joined the QTU’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander education committee Gandu Jarjum in 2001, and is currently the elected chair. Amanda is also a State Council Representative, Appointments Committee member, and Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander Contact for Port Curtis and Central Queensland Area Council. She is the First Nations member on Executive and a member of the AEU Federal Women's Conference committee and the AEU(Q) Branch Council.
Scott Tibaldi
Scott teaches at TAFE Queensland Skills Tech - Bracken Ridge Campus, and is also a member of the QTU TAFE Executive. He was elected to Executive in May 2014 as the TAFE Division representative.
Scott Tibaldi
Scott teaches at TAFE Queensland Skills Tech - Bracken Ridge Campus, and is also a member of the QTU TAFE Executive. He was elected to Executive in May 2014 as the TAFE Division representative.
Cassie Munro
Cassie is an experienced senior teacher at Ferny Hills State School and was first elected to Executive in November 2019. Cassie is a Lead Union Rep and President of the Ferny Grove Branch.
Cassie Munro
Cassie is an experienced senior teacher at Ferny Hills State School and was first elected to Executive in November 2019. Cassie is a Lead Union Rep and President of the Ferny Grove Branch.
Nikki Roos
Nikki was elected to Executive in May 2014. A teacher at Brighton State School, she also serves on the QTU’s Awards, Appointments, Professional Issues and Women Teachers and Girls Education Committees.
Nikki Roos
Nikki was elected to Executive in May 2014. A teacher at Brighton State School, she also serves on the QTU’s Awards, Appointments, Professional Issues and Women Teachers and Girls Education Committees.
Tom McCartney
Tom, a deputy principal at Yarrabah SS, was first elected to Executive in 2020. He is the Co-Chair of the Reconciliation Action Team, a Principal and Lead Union Rep, and Secretary of the Mulgrave Branch and Far North Queensland Area Council.
Tom McCartney
Tom, a deputy principal at Yarrabah SS, was first elected to Executive in 2020. He is the Co-Chair of the Reconciliation Action Team, a Principal and Lead Union Rep, and Secretary of the Mulgrave Branch and Far North Queensland Area Council.
Senior Officers
The QTU's Senior Officers all have a teaching background. The President, Vice-President and Honorary Vice-President are elected by the members. They preside at meetings of Executive, Council and Conference and are responsible for the implementation of their decisions. They also handle media and community relations. The General Secretary and two Deputy General Secretaries are elected by State Council and have primary responsibility for the day-to-day administration of the Union.
Cresta Richardson
Cresta, who became QTU President in 2021, has been a primary classroom teacher, acting deputy principal and head of curriculum. She has also served as Vice-President and a QTU Trustee.
Cresta Richardson
Cresta, who became QTU President in 2021, has been a primary classroom teacher, acting deputy principal and head of curriculum. She has also served as Vice-President and a QTU Trustee.
Leah Olsson
Leah started teaching in 1997 as a music specialist and taught in Wide Bay, Redlands, Logan and Cairns. She was elected Vice-President in 2021
Leah Olsson
Leah started teaching in 1997 as a music specialist and taught in Wide Bay, Redlands, Logan and Cairns. She was elected Vice-President in 2021
Jenny Swadling
Ms Swadling is principal of Charleville School Of Distance Education. She was elected to Executive in 2014 and was a QTU Trustee from 2009 until 2015. She took on the role of Honorary Vice-President in 2015.
Jenny Swadling
Ms Swadling is principal of Charleville School Of Distance Education. She was elected to Executive in 2014 and was a QTU Trustee from 2009 until 2015. She took on the role of Honorary Vice-President in 2015.
General Secretary, Kate Ruttiman
Ms Ruttiman was elected General Secretary in 2021. Her Union career began in 1997 when she was appointed Sunshine Coast Organiser, and she became one of the Union’s Industrial Advocates in 2001, and Deputy General Secretary in 2010. She was formerly an economics and English teacher in Middlemount, Kenmore and Lowood.
General Secretary, Kate Ruttiman
Ms Ruttiman was elected General Secretary in 2021. Her Union career began in 1997 when she was appointed Sunshine Coast Organiser, and she became one of the Union’s Industrial Advocates in 2001, and Deputy General Secretary in 2010. She was formerly an economics and English teacher in Middlemount, Kenmore and Lowood.
Brendan Crotty
Originally a manual arts teacher, Mr Crotty was elected Deputy General Secretary in 2016. He was previously a QTU Organiser for almost 15 years, first for South Queensland and then for Brisbane South. He has taught in Tambo, Charleville and Park Ridge.
Brendan Crotty
Originally a manual arts teacher, Mr Crotty was elected Deputy General Secretary in 2016. He was previously a QTU Organiser for almost 15 years, first for South Queensland and then for Brisbane South. He has taught in Tambo, Charleville and Park Ridge.
Deputy Gen. Secretary - Leah Mertens
Leah Mertens was appointed Deputy General Secretary in 2021. She was formerly QTU Assistant Secretary - Professional Issues
Deputy Gen. Secretary - Leah Mertens
Leah Mertens was appointed Deputy General Secretary in 2021. She was formerly QTU Assistant Secretary - Professional Issues
The Secretariat
These Brisbane-based officers, again all from a teaching background, provide advice on specific areas of expertise and respond to general enquiries from members. They provide advice to Senior Officers, Executive, Council and Conference, as well as representing the Union in negotiations.
Assistant Secretary - Legal Officer
Assistant Secretary - Legal Officer
Assistant Secretary - Services/Welfare
Assistant Secretary - Services/Welfare
Administrative Officer/First Nations
Administrative Officer/First Nations
Assistant Secretary - Education Leaders
Assistant Secretary - Education Leaders
Research Officer
Research Officer
Assistant Secretary - Industrial Advocate
Assistant Secretary - Industrial Advocate
Professional Development Officer - QuEST
Professional Development Officer - QuEST
Acting Officer - QuEST
Acting Officer - QuEST
Assistant Secretary - Services/Welfare
Assistant Secretary - Services/Welfare
Assistant Secretary - Industrial/Research
Assistant Secretary - Industrial/Research
Assistant Secretary - Women's and Social Welfare Issues
Assistant Secretary - Women's and Social Welfare Issues
Research Officer
Research Officer
Organisers
There are 14 Regional Organisers and a Membership Growth Organiser to serve members across the state. All former teachers themselves, they attend branch meetings where possible, liaise with district offices and take up members' concerns with departmental representatives and administrators.
Gill Armit - Metropolitan Central organiser
Gill Armit - Metropolitan Central organiser
Ben Vercoe - Metropolitan South organiser
Ben Vercoe - Metropolitan South organiser
David Terauds - CQU IVTAE Organiser (Tues Thurs)
David Terauds - CQU IVTAE Organiser (Tues Thurs)
Kelly Creedon - Logan Redlands organiser
Kelly Creedon - Logan Redlands organiser
Meegan Jackson - Sunshine Coast organiser
Meegan Jackson - Sunshine Coast organiser
Zeb Sugden - South Queenslands organiser
Zeb Sugden - South Queenslands organiser
Jodie McFadden - Gold Coast organiser
Jodie McFadden - Gold Coast organiser
Scott Welch - Wide Bay organiser
Scott Welch - Wide Bay organiser
Chris Munro - North Queensland organiser
Chris Munro - North Queensland organiser
Dan Coxen - Central Queensland organiser
Dan Coxen - Central Queensland organiser
Sammy Blocksidge - Far North Queensland Organiser
Sammy Blocksidge - Far North Queensland Organiser
Lynn Cowie-McAlister- Membership Growth organiser
Lynn Cowie-McAlister- Membership Growth organiser
Mel de Waard - Metropolitan North organiser
Mel de Waard - Metropolitan North organiser