ACEL Branch Awards 2026
It is with great pleasure to announce this year’s list of ACELQ Award recipients. It was exciting to receive so many nominations. One of the defining features of our ACEL Awards is that they are proudly peer nominated. The 2026 award recipients represent a broad cross-section of educational leadership across the State, Catholic and Independent sectors. This cross-sectoral representation highlights ACEL’s strength as a truly representative professional association.
This year’s Miller-Grassie Award recipient is Mr Brendan Cahill. The Miller-Grassie Award is Queensland’s pinnacle ACEL award, recognising outstanding educational leadership.
Brendan is the Principal of Brigidine College, Indooroopilly. He founded the CaSSSA sporting association, which now provides regular competitive pathways for students from thirteen Catholic secondary schools across Southeast Queensland. In addition, Brendan has made significant contributions to organisations such as the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) in the areas of finance and workplace relations. He has also contributed to the QCAA’s Curriculum, Assessment and Certification Committee, as well as the Queensland College of Teachers’ Queensland Professional Experience Reporting Framework (QPERF) Review Reference Group. Brendan has also held senior leadership roles across a number of professional associations, including AHISA, the Catholic Principals’ Association of Queensland (CASPAQ), Child & Adolescent Specialist Programs & Accommodation (CaSPA), and the Association of Catholic Secondary Schools of Queensland (ACSSQ).
Congratulations on this wonderful achievement, Brendan. We look forward to your 2026 Miller-Grassie Oration.
Miller-Grassie (2026)
Mr Brendan Cahill (Principal Brigidine College Indooroopilly).
Queensland Fellowship
Dr Linda Evans (Past Principal Fairholme College Toowoomba)
The Dorothy Andrews and Joan Conway Regional and Remote Leadership Award
Inaugural award recognising the distinguished careers and lifelong commitment of Drs Dorothy Andrews FACEL and Joan Conway FACEL to educational leadership particularly on the Darling Downs through their various roles at UniSQ and their unwavering commitment to leadership development through their inspirational association with ACEL.
Dr Linda Evans (Past Principal Fairholme College Toowoomba)
Mr Preston Parter (Principal Woorabinda State School)
Ms Rebecca Payne (Moffatdale State School)
Excellence in Educational Leadership
Mr Greg Wacker (Y Schools Queensland – Redlands)
Mr Brett Wood (Music Industry College)
Dr Antoinette Cole (Research Fellow, University of Queensland)
Mrs Gail Williams (Clifford Park Special School)
Ms Kirsti Ellerton (Brisbane School of Distance Education)
Maree Neilsen (Executive Director, The Learner First)
Mrs Roz Nicholls (Fraser Coast Anglican College)
Mr Rod Olsen (Anglican Church Grammar School)
Mrs Sonny Bradford (Burnside SHS)
Mr Mathew Stein (The Lakes College)
Ms Racquel Bushell (Department of Education - Metropolitan South Region)
Ms Janelle O’Neill (Mt St Michael's College)
Associate Professor Arezou PourMirza (Torrens University Australia (TUA))
Mr Michael Ha (Toogoolawa School)
Dr Meagan Pearse (Anglican Church Grammar School)
Emerging Educational Leadership Award
Miss Eloise Mackrodt (St Catherine's Wishart)
Mr Jason Taggart (Ormiston College)
Lisa Mowbray (Indie Education)
Ms Luci McConkey (Thornton SS)
Mrs Megan Slade (St Ursula's College)
The Frank Crowther Inspiring Educator Award
Mr Andrew Pennay (Brisbane Girls Grammar School)
Mr Greg Howes (Brisbane Grammar School)
Mr Nick Brayne (St Peters Lutheran College Springfield)
The Research in Educational Leadership and Management Award
Mrs Carolyn Wade (Griffith University)
Professor Jason Lodge (University of Queensland)
Pivotal People Award
Mr Joshua Thompson (The Y Schools QLD - Redlands Campus)
Mrs Karen Berger (Department of Education - Metro South)
Mrs Catherine Syms (St Hilda's School)
Ms Kelly Melvin (St Ursula's College Yeppoon)
Ms Bernadette Coultas (St Peters Lutheran College Springfield)
Mr Daniel Celm (Brisbane Grammar School)
Miss Jordan Whitney (Brigidine College Indooroopilly)
Mr Ben Wilson (Brigidine College Indooroopilly)
Miss Katie Lane (Redlands College)
Mr Braydon Giles (St John's Anglican College)
Jack Pincott (Ormiston College)
The First Nations Leadership Award
Mr Desmond Crump (University of Queensland)
Ms Diane Pashen (Bellbird Park State Secondary College)
Mrs Rebecca Hunter (St Peters Lutheran College Springfield)
Commendation Award
Katie Ambrose (Merrimac State High School)
Mr Kylan Lovai (Y Schools Queensland Redlands Senior Campus)
Ms Eva Carless (Blackall Range Independent School)
Ms Belinda Gravel (St Hilda's School)
Ms Janette Kelly (St Hilda's School)
Dr Elizabeth Alotta (Somerville House)
Miss Jordan Whitney (Brigidine College Indooroopilly)
Award recipients will be formally recognised at the ACEL Queensland Awards Ceremony on August 25, 2026 at St James’ College.