Our People

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 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.