About

Emmanuel College is a coeducational residential college on the main University of Queensland (UQ) campus at St Lucia. Occupying an enviable position on the banks of the Brisbane River, with public transport and other amenities close to hand, the College is home to around 340 local and international students.

Values

At Emmanuel College, students are at the heart of all we do and their wellbeing is our overriding priority.

The College is a community shaped by values of inclusivity, teamwork, diversity, self-respect and consideration for others. We expect honesty, accountability, trust and responsibility from our students and our staff. As a community of scholars we emphasise academic excellence, integrity and respect for the views and knowledge of others.

Our values have been formed out of our relationships with the Presbyterian and Uniting Churches since 1911, and in turn they shape the College experience and our connection with students. We encourage a culture where everyone can contribute to a more equitable society through compassion, community service and respect for all. These values form the basis for the relationships our students build and the choices they make throughout their personal and professional lives.

 

Campus Masterplan

 

 

 

In 2021, recognising the need for rejuvenation and development to meet future needs, the Emmanuel College Board endorsed a new Master Plan for the College, developed through the creative collaboration of Feather & Lawry Design and Aspect Studios (Landscape).

Much of the infrastructure of the College is approaching its 70th anniversary. While students live and engage in their usual dynamic and enthusiastic ways, we are challenged to look for better ways to connect as community, through the more effective stewardship and utilisation of our remarkable and unique location sitting on the banks of the Brisbane River. We have sought to be smart and sustainable, thinking strategically and long term, and most importantly aligning the College’s vision, goals and objectives with the built form and environment.

The Master Plan is a flexible built environment strategy that will provide guidance to decision makers on the development of the campus over the next 10 to 30 years. It will take time and significant resources to achieve the vision contained in the Master Plan. Feedback from all stakeholders, including direct consultation with students, has been a core to the plan’s evolution and is reflected in the final version of the Master Plan. We hope you share in the optimism contained within the plan, and see the many brilliant opportunities for future members of the Emmanuel College community which might flow from its realisation.

Support our vision for transforming our campus by connecting with us and the Emmanuel College Priority Fund. The fund will form the basis of the funding solutions for the implementation of the Master Plan in the short, medium, and long term.

110 year history

On 13 September 2021 Emmanuel College attains super-centenarian status, reaching the privileged age of 110 years. As part of the...
“Throughout the first ten years of its existence, Emmanuel had a struggle with circumstances as the war came on the...
Emmanuel expanded in the 1930s, growing to be the largest of the six UQ colleges. Major renovations were completed, including...
The post-war years brought many changes and the 1950s were a time of significant social and cultural progress in Australia....
The 1970s in Australia was a tumultuous period of economic and political upheaval. Women, Indigenous people, migrants, and people from...
The 1990s were another period of expansion and accessibility for Emmanuel and its student body. The digital revolution in education...
Emmanuel’s centenary in 2011 was celebrated throughout the year by the College community. Alumni embraced the chance to reconnect, with...

Our team

If you wish to contact a Emmanuel College staff member, please email enquiries@emmanuel.uq.edu.au (please note, this email address is only monitored Monday to Friday, 8am-4pm).

Stephen Peake

Principal

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Stephen was appointed as Principal of Emmanuel College in January 2020. He holds a Bachelor of Arts from The University of Queensland and a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration from Griffith University. Stephen’s extensive business experience includes managerial roles with the National Australia Bank and his not-for-profit experience encompasses managing the investment service and trustee property portfolio of the Uniting Church in Australia Queensland Synod. His service to the church extended to directorship of the national superannuation fund for Uniting Church employees and realising its successful merger. Stephen is a member of Oxley-Darra Uniting Church and has been a member of the Emmanuel College Board since August 2018.

Paterson Boyd

Director of College Life (Deputy Principal)

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Paterson was appointed Deputy Principal and Director of College Life in October 2020. He holds a Bachelor in Clinical Exercise Physiology and a Masters of Business and Applied Finance. Paterson has previously served as a Council member and as Dean of Students at St Leo’s College within The University of Queensland, and, more recently, as College Dean at Burgmann College, Australian National University. His other appointments include board roles with Asia-Pacific Student Accommodation Association, Australian Institute of International Affairs, and UQ Young Alumni Advisory Board. With close to 10 years’ experience across the tertiary education sector, Paterson is an enthusiastic advocate for the residential college experience — as he describes it, “the gold standard” for a university experience and education. He has a keen interest in wellbeing, counselling and welfare services for students in tertiary residential settings, with a focus on positive cultural change.

Louise Hallo

Director of Wellbeing

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Louise joined Emmanuel College in 2018 following 15 years specialising in adolescent and young adult health and wellbeing in not-for-profit and hospital settings in Australia and the UK, including Red Kite, the Australian cancer charity that supports children and young people, and Kings College Hospital, London. She undertook her Bachelor of Social Work degree at The University of Queensland, while residing at Duchesne College, and received her Graduate Certificate in Adolescent Health and Wellbeing from The University of Melbourne. In 2019 Louise was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to travel to Harvard and Yale in the US to study healthy sexual development and preventative health measures for young people in a University environment. Louise’s strong appreciation of what college life offers and the wonderful community it creates is invaluable in her work with and support for the students of Emmanuel.

Michael D’Arcy

Dean of Studies

BEcon, BA(Hons), GradDipL&T, MA

Bre Ramsay-Orr

Dean of Admissions and College Development

BA GradCertCareerLead&Learning GCertCareerDev MEd(Leadership&Mgt) RPCDP

Sally Speed

Sally Speed

College Counsellor

BPsychSci, GradDipPsychSci

Murray Watson

Murray Watson

Residential Experience Leader

Dip. Public Safety

Annie Chenery

Residential Experience Officer

DipBus, DipBusAdm

Nicky Hart

Residential Experience Officer

      

Diana Weeden

Brand, Communications and Publications Lead

B Blt Env, BComms

Sharon Burridge

Sharon Burridge

EA to Principal

 

 

 

 

Daniel Morgan

Daniel Morgan

Services and Facilities Manager

BA (Hons)

Daniel Moore

Daniel Moore

Property Officer

      

Raymon Taylor

Ramon Taylor

Property Officer

 

 

 

Emmanuel College Students' Club

Samuel Rieger

President

Lily Paton

Vice President

Stephen Baronio

Secretary

Connor Muscat

Treasurer

Hayden Malone and Kya Pontifex

Cultural Convenors

Jai Lette and Olivia Roberts

Sports Convenors

Oscar Erzetich and Alaska Mellen

Social Convenors

TBC

1st Year Representative

Thomas Murphy

2nd Year Representative

April Chudleigh

ICC Representative

Flynn Kelly

Community Service Convenor

Georgina Whittle

Wing Leader Coorindator

Governance

The Emmanuel College Board ensures that we operate in an efficient, transparent and ethical manner and includes appointees from the Uniting Church in Australia (Queensland Synod), The University of Queensland Senate, the Board itself and the Principal of Emmanuel College.

Board Member biographies

Mr Stephen J Howell, FCPA FAMI

Position/s held: Chairman, Uniting Church appointee

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Stephen is a director of Effective Governance Pty Ltd, the governance practice of HopgoodGanim Lawyers with offices in Brisbane and Perth. Stephen has thirty years’ experience as a forensic accountant and governance consultant with expertise in both corporate and regulatory governance, risk, compliance, culture and behavioural dynamics. Stephen is an experienced non-executive chairman and company director.

Stephen is an Elder of the Uniting Church and the chairman of Elders at St Andrews Uniting Church, Brisbane.

Mrs Julie Bennett, BCom CA ANZ

Position/s held: Treasurer, Uniting Church appointee

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Julie Bennett attended Emmanuel College from 1983 to 1985 and graduated from The University of Queensland with a Bachelor of Commerce. She was the Students’ Club Treasurer and a student councillor on the Emmanuel College Council in 1985.

After graduating from University in 1986 she took up a graduate accountant’s role with Horwath and Horwath Chartered Accountants. In 1988 Julie was recruited by Duesburys Chartered Accountants, which eventually merged with Deloitte. After many years with Deloitte she went on to join a small firm of five staff in 1998. This firm, which has grown to a staff of 80, is now known as Pilot Partners and Julie is a Director in the Business Advisory Division.

Mrs Marni Jacoby, BA(Administration), GCert(Leadership), Program for Leadership Development (Harvard Business School), AICD

Position/s held: The University of Queensland Senate appointee

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Marni Jacoby is the Executive Manager with UQ’s Faculty of Medicine, which has more than 1000 staff and annual gross budget of over $300M. In this role, Marni oversees the delivery of all corporate, teaching and research support services in the Faculty. Marni has extensive experience in general management roles across the tertiary education, government and private sectors. Marni’s strong track record in leadership was recognised in 2019 when she was awarded UQ’s individual Award for Excellence in Leadership and was sponsored to complete Harvard Business School’s Program for Leadership Development during 2019-20.

Mr Stephen Peake, BA GCertBusAdmin

Position/s held: Principal of Emmanuel College

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Stephen Peake studied Government, History and Law at The University of Queensland and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in 1982. He also holds a Graduate Certificate in Business Administration from Griffith University.

Stephen’s extensive experience in the commercial and retail banking sectors includes managerial roles with the National Australia Bank for 16 years. In the not-for-profit sector, Stephen managed the investment service and trustee property portfolio of the Uniting Church in Australia Queensland Synod. This role encompassed compliance, legal, property, contract and finance in hospitals, aged care, colleges and community initiatives. He is a member of Oxley-Darra Uniting Church and his service to the church extended to directorship of the national superannuation fund for Uniting Church employees and realising its successful merger with NGS Super.

A member of the Emmanuel College Board since August 2018, Stephen was appointed Emmanuel College Principal in January 2020.

Mr Nicholas Young, BIntStudies

Position/s held: Deputy Chairman, Uniting Church appointee

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Nick moved to Emmanuel College from Gladstone, and was a resident in 2009, 2010 and 2011 under the College leadership of Professor Stewart Gill and Dr Jane Thomson.

Currently working for the State of Queensland as the Director of Cyber Security for Queensland’s public safety and law enforcement agencies, Nick has taken a truly unique journey from when he departed Emmanuel, to joining again as a Council Member in 2019.

Nick also supports the work of the Board of Symbiosis International, a development organisation focusing on poverty reduction and connection in Bangladesh, and holds a Bachelor’s Degree in International Studies.

Ms Emma Szczotko, BLaws(Hons) BA

Position/s held: Uniting Church appointee

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Emma Szczotko attended Emmanuel College from 2011 to 2013 and graduated from The University of Queensland in 2016 with a dual degree in Law(Hons) and Arts (majoring in Art History and French).

Emma is the Manager of Corporate Governance at Home of the Arts on the Gold Coast, providing corporate governance and strategic advice, Board secretariat services, compliance and corporate reporting, risk management and legal liaison services.

Emma has also held roles with Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art in corporate governance, performance reporting and government relations and Herbert Smith Freehills, where she practised as a solicitor working both on transactional and litigious matters in a range of industries for both private and public sector clients.

Throughout Emma’s three years at Emmanuel, she was heavily involved in College life participating in a range of cultural, sporting and community pursuits and served on the Students’ Club Committee and as a Wing Community Leader. She has always keenly supported and volunteered with local not-for-profit social justice organisations and is enthusiastic about fostering diversity and inclusion.

Pipe band

Our pipe band has been a celebrated part of the Emmanuel College community since 1998. The award-winning Emmanuel College Highlanders at the University of Queensland perform and compete at parades, festivals and events in south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales. The tartan worn is Stewart of Appin. The band receives support and sponsorship from Emmanuel College and St Andrew’s War Memorial Hospital.

In partnership with the Society of St Andrew of Scotland (Queensland), Emmanuel College offers an annual piping scholarship to a student accepted into Emmanuel College and UQ who shows sound academic ability and superior talent as a piper.

Band membership is open to all members of the College, the University, and people from the wider community. Pipers and drummers who want to be part of a developing Grade 2 competition and performance pipe band are welcome to apply. Please email Jess, the pipe band secretary with membership enquiries.

 

Hire the pipe band

The Emmanuel College Highlanders are available to perform at festive and ceremonial events, such as parades, balls, concerts, parties, weddings and funerals. To enquire about hiring the full pipe band, a mini band or a solo piper, please email Jess, the pipe band secretary.

Positions vacant

Positions are advertised here as they become available. Emmanuel College is an equal opportunity employer.

Contact information

Sir William MacGregor Drive,
St Lucia QLD 4067 Australia

T / (0)7 3871 9100