School Council

Don O’Rorke is a leading Queensland property developer and investor, and as the Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of Consolidated Properties Group, has successfully shaped the business over the past three decades.

Committed to giving back to the communities he helps develop, Don values and supports philanthropic initiatives that benefit the community.

Don has extensive experience serving on several boards in commercial, not-for-profit and industry organisations, including Surfing Australia, Reserve Banks small business Finance Advisory Panel and is the current Chairman of BBC Foundation Limited.

Don is a proud BBC old boy and boarder, and current parent with his association spanning over two decades. He currently has five sons at the School from grades 6 to 11, three of those as boarders. As the Chair for Brisbane Boys School Council, Don is excited to share his perspective vision for BBC over the long-term working towards the future success of the school.

Key current non-executive directorship includes:

• Chair, Brisbane Boys’ College Council
• Surfing Australia, as member of the Financial Audit and Risk Committee (since 2015)
• Reserve Bank’s Small Business Finance Advisory Panel
• Australia-Israel Chamber of Commerce Advisory Board
• Chairman of BBC (Brisbane Boys College) Foundation Limited.

Sarah Cox is a leading agribusiness proprietor and communications professional with more than 25 years’ experience.

Sarah’s career spans rural journalism, public relations and agribusiness management. Particularly in governance, Sarah is an expert in financial management, marketing and development of business strategy.

Sarah is currently the Director of Cracow Station Pty Ltd, which has been in her family for over 100 years, and is also a Director of Theodore Water Pty Ltd.

A passionate supporter of a range of professional and charitable organisations, Sarah is serving as the President of Dawson Valley ICPA Branch. The ICPA is a voluntary, non-profit, apolitical parent body dedicated to ensuring that all geographically isolated children’s educational needs and aspirations are met, and that children are not disadvantaged due to geographical circumstance.

Sarah is a strong advocate for rural and regional Australia and has in-depth understanding of the issues that face those living and working remotely, along with the challenges that face boarding families.

Sarah is currently on the BBC Boarder Support Group Committee and the PMSA and Brisbane Boys’ College believe her representative for regional Queensland on the BBC School Council will make a valuable contribution.

DFP

Vaughan Henry has more 35 years’ experience in financial services having held senior advisory and distribution positions within both local and international institutions including HSBC, Qld Treasury, GoldmanSachs, JBWere and Certitude Global

After many years in these roles, Vaughan has recently established Vario Capital with a vision of providing advisors, high net worth investors and family offices in Australia and overseas with access to innovative ideas and assets in private markets that are not typically available.

Key current and previous appointments include:

• Member – Brisbane Boys’ College Council (appointed 2016)
• Founder – Vario Capital

MAICD, MACS, MAPM

Paul Martin is a highly experienced business and technology professional with more than 30 years’ experience across many industries. He specialises in successfully delivering strategic and transformational change. A natural leader, he thrives on the challenges and pressures of a complex environment. He brings his project management, digital transformation, strategic thinking, stakeholder relationship management, budget management, third party vendor management, procurement and risk management skills to the Brisbane Boys’ College (BBC) Council.

In addition to his business and technology skills, Paul is an accomplished Company Director. He is a passionate supporter of BBC and advocate for creating the best environment for students to thrive in and be safe. A current BBC parent and President/member of the Parents & Friends Association since 2015, Paul has a strong desire to give back to his community.

Key current and previous appointments, roles and awards include:

• Member – Brisbane Boys’ College Council (appointed 2020, current term until 2023)
• President – Brisbane Boys’ College Parents & Friends Association
• Member – Australian Institute of Company Directors
• Member – Australian Computer Society
• Company Director & Principal Consultant – pmsolutions360 Pty Ltd

Hamish Turner OAM is an experienced and visionary business professional with more than 30 years in retail, tourism, brand marketing, and agriculture. He is highly skilled in developing entrepreneurial strategy and operational delivery.

Hamish has worked as a public and private company CEO and has held Chairman and multiple company director roles over many years. He has been actively involved in the Australian tourism industry for more than 25 years including as a key advisor for the delivery of venues and operations for the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games.

A BBC Old Collegian, Hamish has a strong desire to give back to his school that gave him such a solid start to his professional life. He has a strong knowledge of the private education sector in both Brisbane and Sydney.

Key current and previous appointments, roles and awards include:

• Member – Brisbane Boys’ College Council (appointed 2020)
• Managing Director – Birrung Pty Ltd – TNR Advisory
• Chairman – Wyaga Investments Pty Ltd
• Director – BrandUp Ltd
• Director – MJ Bale
• Director – QUT Creative Enterprise Australia Pty Ltd
• Director – Australian Diamond Consortium Pty Ltd
• Previous director – L Capital Asia – LVMH
• Former CEO and Managing Director – RM Williams Holdings Pty Ltd
• Former member – Olympic Co-Ordination Authority (OCA) Boards, Sydney Olympic Games
• Order of Australia (2015) for services to tourism, business, agriculture and charitable organisations

BEd (GU), MEd (QUT)

Mr Damon Emtage joined Brisbane Boys’ College in January 2018 from Wesley College in Melbourne where he was the Head of Senior School and Director of Learning in Residence.  Prior to that he was the Head of Residence at Brisbane Grammar School, Head of HPE at Forest Lake College, and classroom PE teacher at Auckland Grammar School and St Laurence’s College.

As the Deputy Headmaster – Head of Senior School (Yrs 10-12) and Student Wellbeing, Damon is responsible for optimising student engagement and wellbeing to support and enable boys to achieve, grow and thrive at each stage in their development. Damon has particular knowledge and experience in the implementation of best practice approaches to wellbeing particular to boys. He privileges a moral responsibility to prepare boys to be contributing citizens in life beyond school. Damon has additional responsibilities for boarding, the Indigenous program, health centre, risk management and policy development, contemporary responses to Child Safe Standards, and the implementation of high expectations for all students and staff.

B.A. (ENG/HIST), M.A. (ENG) (MERIT) (UNI SYD), CERT HRM (MGSM), MACEL, MAHRI

Mr Paul Brown was officially commissioned as the ninth Headmaster of Brisbane Boys’ College in February 2018 and has more than 20 years’ leadership experience in leading Independent Schools such as Methodist Ladies’ College (Sydney), Knox Grammar School (Sydney) and St Ignatius’ College, Riverview (Sydney).

An educator of high calibre and demonstrated achievement, he holds graduate and post-graduate qualifications from the University of Sydney and Macquarie Graduate School of Management and has also completed a school leadership program at the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Paul not only brings to the College outstanding achievements in the academic arena, but also the business world. As a visionary with a clear sense of purpose, he will no doubt influence the College’s future in boys’ education.

His strong commitment to education, academic excellence, and to Christian leadership stands him in good stead to shape a future for BBC where each and every student is supported to reach their potential and prepared to take their place in the world as confident, competent and compassionate young men who will contribute to the health, wellbeing and prosperity of their community and the nation at large.

Read the Headmaster’s Welcome