Board of Trustees
Gavin Beattie Chairperson
In 2012 I returned home to Marlborough to live in Picton with my family. My daughter Erin, is a student at Queen Charlotte College and my wife Taryn, is also a teacher at the school. I work at Port Marlborough as the infrastructure manager where I lead the engineering and workshop team to develop and maintain our port and marina facilities. As a family we enjoy making the most of the outdoors, mountain-biking and boating in the sounds.
Megan Bruce Vice Chairperson
Picton is my home town and I was educated at Picton Borough School and Queen Charlotte College before leaving to work, travel and study. In 1999 I gladly returned home as a teacher, taking up a position in the English Department where I stayed for the majority of my teaching career. I also spent five interesting years as Careers Advisor which gave me insight into different aspects of education and the opportunities available for our students. My husband Martyn and I are parents to Kahurangi who is a student at QCC. I am proud to be able to serve our school community on the Board and contribute to nurturing a sense of belonging and making our students' experience of school worthwhile and engaging.
Sheriee Jamieson Finance
I grew up in Picton and attended Queen Charlotte College. My husband Gavin and I have owned marine businesses in Picton for the past 20 years. We love being part of the Picton community and can't think of a better place in NZ to raise our three young children. As well as the marine industry, I have a background in travel, tourism and finance and believe that the skills I have gained in these areas, will help me fulfil my role on the QCC Board.
Georgine Raj Parent Representative
I was born in Te Kuiti and raised in Te Puke. My family and I moved to Picton in May 2012 and we absolutely love it. We have 6 children, and a mokopuna aged 1 year. Our two eldest daughters (Pare and Mihi) attended QCC and my 11 year old Mercedes is a Yr7. My son will also be attending QCC in 2024. I have enjoyed being a Netball Coach for QCC throughout the past six years. I am very humbled and grateful to be a part of the QCC BoT and the wider school whānau. I am looking forward to working with our Board to support our kaiako, our tauira and their whānau. As a family we love sport, camping, attending church, being involved in local events and going on family holidays across Aotearoa.
Ngā mihi kia koutou e te whānau.
Susana Tyrell Parent Representative
I am a very proud Samoan living in Picton with my family for over 5 years.Presently I am a Board member at the Picton School. I am a Pasifika Performing Arts creative facilitator, teaching in several of the schools in Blenheim including Picton School and Queen Charlotte College. My sons Louis is currently a year 7 student. He often shares with us the positives and opportunities the College provides for all students. I bring a positive can-do attitude, an out of box thinking style, I bring new ideas and different ways of looking at things and offer extensive experience, knowledge and skills to make a valuable contribution to the governance of Queen Charlotte College. I am humbled and honoured to be a parent representative on the Board, and committed to providing a high level of support to ensure students and staff have the opportunities that will provide them with successful futures. Faafetai
Betty Whyte Principal
I have been teaching at QCC since 1993 and was appointed Principal in 2016. During my time, I have been a Science teacher; a Dean who led Aramoana to eight years of victory; HOD Science; Assistant Principal; Deputy Principal in charge of Curriculum as well as being the Director of the Aquaculture Academy. I am married to Andy and have two grown children both of whom attended Queen Charlotte College. Libby became Head Girl and Lex, Head Boy. Libby became the Equestrian Director and Teacher at Ngā Tawa Diocesan School in Marton and Lex went into the Army. In my spare time I am passionate about sport and anything equestrian.
Dianna Nicholson Staff Representative
In my role as the staff representative of the BOT for Queen Charlotte College, I hope to represent the views of my colleagues in a fair manner. I am also proud to be part of the governance of our school. I would like to help keep Queen Charlotte a pleasant place to work, in a supportive and collaborative environment, and help keep up the high standards to ensure our students achieve their personal best.
Teresa Thomas Te Ātiawa Representative
Ko Arapaoa te moutere tapu
Ko Piripiri te maunga, Ko Waitohi te awa, Ko Tokomaru te waka, Ko Te Ātiawa te iwi, Ko Waikawa te marae, Nō Waikawa ahau. Ko Teresa Thomas tōku ingoa
I am the mokopuna of Amo Poki (nee Love) and Karaitiana Poki rāua ko Monica and Richard Thomas and the pōtiki of Ruby and David Thomas. I had the privilege of being raised by Waikawa and puhi of our Arapaoa whare. I attended our kōhanga, Waikawa Bay School and Queen Charlotte College and then spent a year at the Wellington Māori Netball Academy, before moving to Brisbane, Australia starting my 20-year career in the financial industry. I returned home to Waikawa in 2016, after 14 years abroad working in various financial roles and currently employed remotely and in Wellington as Risk and Assurance Manager for Kiwi Wealth Ltd.My husband and I have five tamariki between us. It was always my dream to raise my tamariki in “Waikawatanga” and it is with great pride and privilege that I am fulfilling that dream surrounded by our whānau. Nei ra te mihi kia a tatou
Tom Reid Student Representative
My role on the Board is to bring a student’s perspective into the decision making process. I've lived in the Marlborough sounds for almost nine years now, and attended Queen Charlotte College for three years. In my spare time I enjoy making music and spending time with my friends and family. I am really enjoying my time with the Board, and I hope to help lead the school forward and leave it better than it was before. At the end of the year I will pass my duties on to a new student voted on by the student body.