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.

Matthew Morton - Advisory Council Member

Matthew is the Associate Director of Opteon. Matthew has had over (15) years of valuation experience in North Queensland.
Matthew has valuation experience over a broad spectrum of commercial and residential properties across North Queensland.
Matthew is currently responsible for mortgage security valuations including industrial, commercial and residential properties. Matthew is jointly responsible for overseeing the Defence Housing Authority Contract. Matthew is responsible for the day to day running of the office which involves authorising valuation reports, overseeing administration staff and training of cadet valuers, quotations and distribution of valuation assignments to the other valuers.

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.

Nadene George  - Advisory Council Member

Nadene George is the Northern Queensland Regional Manager at Vision Australia.  She was born in Mount Isa and spent her time growing up in Townsville whilst her mother taught at Ignatius Park College. Nadene is a proud James Cook University (JCU) alumna.  She lived overseas in London in her early career, focusing on business and change management consulting within banking, automotive, telecommunications, and electronics.   On returning to Australia with her husband, they decided to come back to Townsville to raise their two sons who are currently attending Ignatius Park College.  Nadene’s recent career has involved regional management roles in education and health.  She has worked with JCU supporting new innovative developments in interprofessional health practices collaborating with NGOs, helped coordinate university course accreditation reviews, and was contracted to Qld Health (lead kindly by the Townsville Hospital and Health Service) to assist in the review of health service demands for children and young people in northern and far northern Queensland.  Nadene is particularly passionate about supporting children and young people and believes that quality education and positive health outcomes will influence the direction of our local communities.  Outside of work, you will see her on the sideline at the local basketball court or rugby field, and like many parents is trying to keep quiet.

Miranda Mears - Advisory Board Member 

Miranda is a technology strategist and cyber risk governance professional. Miranda has over 25 years in business and entrepreneurship. Miranda is a passionate Northern Regional and Rural Advocate and on promoting and championing emerging industry career pathways to young adults and school children.

Miranda is the Managing Director of the Australian Impact Group and Cyber Sense and her areas of expertise are in the areas of Cyber Security Risk Governance, Business Transformation, Program Design and Emerging Industries. Miranda is on the Board of the Townsville Chamber of Commerce and the Regional Committee for the Australian Institute of Company Directors.