College Advisory Council

Michael Keir - Chair

Michael is a North Queensland local, has been in the legal industry for over 25 years and specialises in the areas of commercial, agri-business, corporate, property, and the health industry. Advising in these areas requires an appreciation of the commercial reality involved in each particular transaction, which Michael’s business sense and extensive experience allows him.
Michael provides advice to small, medium, large and international agribusiness operators, local governments, government owned corporations, corporate and family businesses across a diverse range of industries. He has quality experience in the beef, cane, aquaculture, aviation, energy, solar, marine, mining, quarry, health, probity, property development and construction industries and sits on several private advisory boards in that regard. Michael is recommended by Doyles as a Leading Agribusiness Lawyer – Queensland, and is also a director of Mercy Community Services NQ.

Leo Foyle - Advisory Council Member

Leo is a registered veterinarian with experience in private and government practice and academia. He and his wife Wendy, a veterinary nurse registered with the Royal College, came to Australia to join the new vet school in JCU, with their two boys Jude and Rory in 2010; their third son Noah was born in Townsville. In addition to conducting research, Leo teaches veterinary public health and aquatic medicine and has been the academic advisor in the undergraduate veterinary program at JCU for the last eight years. He brings experience in curriculum development and authentic learning to IPC and enjoys the interdisciplinary nature of tertiary education. He is passionate about improving academic standards and opportunities for all IPC’s young men. Leo jokingly became an ‘honorary’ Old Boy after revealing he was educated in a Christian Brothers primary school in Ireland, and that all nine of his father’s brothers were Edmund Rice educated in Thurles (home of Brothers Treacy and Carew) including one who taught in Mount Sion Primary School in Waterford, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice in 1802. Between them all, he and his family avidly support Liverpool FC, the Irish and English RFU, and lately the Wallabies. They are also keen members of the Cowboys Rugby League club.

Lee-Ann Barton - Advisory Council Member

Lee-Ann Barton is Religious and Education Adviser at Catholic Education-Diocese of Townsville. She has 32 years teaching experience as a secondary and primary teacher in Catholic schools in Queensland and South Australia. She has held leadership positions with Catholic Education as: Curriculum Adviser for Prep to Year 12, Early Childhood Education and the Townsville Catholic Education Delegated Representative for the National Law and National Regulations (ACECQA) to maintain high quality Catholic early childhood services across Townsville Catholic Education. Lee-Ann was Year 12 State Panel Chair for 10 years with the Queensland Studies Authority (now QCAA).  Some of Lee-Ann’s accomplishments have been the building, establishment and operation of nine kindergartens on Catholic school sites and the initiation and management of the longitudinal project focusing on student testing, student data analysis and teacher development to improve student learning outcomes in Townsville Catholic Education schools.  

Lee-Ann’s son is currently studying at the College. She is passionate about high quality Catholic education that is, faithful to the Catholic Tradition, open to contemporary times and committed to the holistic development of each student.

Lee-Ann has been awarded a Bachelor Degree in Education and Master Degrees in Educational Leadership, Leadership and Management, Education, Religious Education, Early Childhood Education, Information Technology and is currently studying her PhD at the Catholic University of Notre Dame.

Steven Mosch - Advisory Council Member

Steven is a Magistrate with more than 30 years’ legal experience, including almost 20 years as a Partner in a law firm.  His governance roles have included Vice President of the Magistrates’ Association of Queensland, President of the North Queensland Law Association and President of the Townsville District Law Association.  Steven is a Member of the National Trust of Queensland and has previously served on the Board of St. Patrick’s College Townsville Ltd as Deputy Chair, on the Council of James Cook University, on the Belgian Gardens Scout Group Committee and on the Vocations Awareness Committee for the Diocese of Townsville.

Shannon Brown - Advisory Board Member 

With a career spanning over two decades, Shannon is a seasoned professional in Human Resources management, specializing in HR strategy, organizational design, workplace investigations, conflict resolution, and mediation. Her experience encompasses diverse industries, including the small business sector and state and federal government.

Shannon has operated her own management consultancy in Human Resources and Industrial Relations for many years. In this capacity, she collaborated closely with key senior stakeholders to drive positive change, implementing effective strategies that delivered results.

With qualifications in business, law, and health, Shannon's expertise extends into the legal realm. As a qualified paralegal, she founded a digital paralegal agency, refining her skills in legal research, writing, legislative analysis, and investigations.

Beyond HR and legal sectors, Shannon possesses robust skills and experience in public policy, advocacy, and senior stakeholder relationships. She currently holds the position of Operations Manager for the Tropical Australian Academic Health Centre (TAAHC), where she also serves as the Company Secretary and secretariat for the Board. In this role, Shannon works closely with the Chair to advance strategic objectives.

Passionate about the pivotal role of secondary school education in nurturing future leaders, Shannon actively contributes her expertise. She serves on the Advisory Council for Ignatius Park College and is a member of the Identity and Mission sub-committee, aligning her values with her actions.

Patrick McCarthy - Advisory Board Member 

Patrick is a proud old boy to Ignatius Park having completed his 12^th year in 1987. Patrick also had three brothers who attended making it a solid family tradition.

He is a Queensland Police Officer and has worked in community areas from the Far North, Western and Central Queensland. He has served for 27 years and is currently the Senior Sergeant Operations Leader, Officer in Charge of the Townsville Rapid Action and Patrols Policing unit.  This role allows him to participate in numerous groups and agencies and work towards the Prevention and Disruption of Crime in the Townsville District.

Patrick and his family live and work locally and he seeks the opportunity to give back some of the opportunities his education at Ignatius Park offered him.