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 Master Plan

Proposed visual concept of river edge

 

 

 

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 Master Plan 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.

Daniel Morgan

Daniel Morgan

Services and Facilities Manager

Diana Weeden

Brand, Communications and Publications Lead
Sally Speed

Sally Speed

College Counsellor

Carli Erwee

College Counsellor

Michael D’Arcy

Dean of Studies

Bre Ramsay-Orr

Dean of Admissions and Career Development
Sharon Burridge

Sharon Burridge

EA to Principal

Sal Graham

Residential Experience Officer

Annie Chenery

Residential Experience Officer

Courtney Ferdinands

Residential Experience Officer
Murray Watson

Murray Watson

Residential Experience Lead

Joe Kelsall

Residential Experience Officer

Liz Considine

Residential Experience Officer
Raymon Taylor

Ramon Taylor

Property Officer
Daniel Moore

Daniel Moore

Property Officer

Emmanuel College Students' Club Inc.

Richard Huelin

President

Jai Lette and Natalia Loukas

Vice President

Jed Hera-Singh

Secretary

Tom McCarthy-James

Treasurer

Isabella Papadimitriou and Eliza Thorpe

Cultural Convenors

Aidan Bulkeley and Annabelle Hill

Sports Convenors

Billy Walker and Grace Parker

Social Convenors

To be announced

1st Year Representative

Andre Pelser

2nd Year Representative

Isaac Thorpe

ICC Representative

Erin Cooke

Community Service Convenor

Flynn Lane

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 Members

Chair Emma Szczotko, BLaws(Hons) BA
Deputy Chair Mr Nicholas Young, BIntStudies
Treasurer Position vacant
The University of Queensland Senate appointee Mr Rowan Salt, BAppSc MBus MBA GAICD
Uniting Church appointees

Emma Szczotko, BLaws(Hons) BA

Mr Nicholas Young, BIntStudies

Board appointees Ms Cathy Grant, BA BEcon MBA GAICD
Principal Mr  Stephen Peake, BA GCertBusAdmin

 

 

Board Member Biographies

Emma Szczotko, BLaws(Hons) BA

Position/s held: Chair

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Emma Szczotko is an alumna of Emmanuel College (resident 2011 to 2013) and has served on the Emmanuel Board since 2019. Whilst attending College, Emma was heavily involved in College life, leading and participating in a range of cultural, sporting and community initiatives. Emma is passionate about the value of education and fostering equity and inclusion.

In her role on the Emmanuel Board, Emma applies her career expertise in law, corporate governance, strategy and risk management having worked across the public, private and not-for-profit sectors. Emma is currently Director, Strategy & Governance within Queensland Government’s Department of Employment, Small Business and Training. Emma has held previous corporate governance roles at HOTA, Home of the Arts and Queensland Art Gallery | Gallery of Modern Art. Before moving into governance, Emma worked as a lawyer at Herbert Smith Freehills. Emma holds a Bachelor of Law (Hons) and Bachelor of Arts (Art History and French) from UQ and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Mr Nicholas Young, BIntStudies

Position/s held: Deputy Chair, 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.

Mr Rowan Salt, BAppSc MBus MBA GAICD

Position/s held: The University of Queensland Senate appointee

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Rowan joined the Emmanuel College Board in February 2024 and brings experience in strategic planning and oversight from senior roles in both government and private sector within Queensland. Rowan is the University of Queensland’s Chief Information Officer, responsible for technology across UQ.

Before joining UQ in 2018, Rowan was Head of Airline Technology at Virgin Australia, and Executive Director, eHealth for Queensland Health. Prior to this Rowan held a number of senior leadership roles in the resources, healthcare and higher education sectors.

Rowan holds a Bachelor of Applied Science from Curtin University, a Master of Business from RMIT University, an MBA from The University of Queensland, and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Ms Cathy Grant, BA BEcon MBA GAICD

Position/s held: Board appointee

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Cathy joined the Emmanuel Board in 2023 and brings a wealth of expertise and experience drawn from a 30-year career with publicly listed and large private companies. Cathy holds a Master of Business Administration (Exec) with Deans Honours, a Bachelor of Economics, and a Bachelor of Arts, all from The University of Queensland. She served on the Board of Anglicare Southern Queensland from 2012-19 and was Chair of that Board from 2016-19.

In her own consultancy Leading Stratagems she offers performance-based executive coaching and bespoke leadership programs to a diverse range of organisations. As an executive coach, program designer and facilitator with substantial experience in marketing strategy and executive recruitment, Cathy has a deep understanding of building effective engagement within teams and with key stakeholders.

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.

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. We currently do not have any vacant staff member positions at Emmanuel.

Contact information

Sir William MacGregor Drive,
St Lucia QLD 4067 Australia