Board of Directors
Aaron is committed to supporting students achieving their goals and in seeking to ensure all students have access to quality education irrespective of social, emotional or financial barriers.
Aaron is a respected Educational consultant working in tertiary and school education. Until October 2016, Aaron led TAFE Queensland Brisbane in the role of General Manager. Aaron was also the Chief Executive Officer for the Gold Coast Institute of TAFE, and Pro Vice Chancellor at Charles Darwin University. He worked as a Solicitor in Victoria where he practiced in Commercial Law, Civil Litigation and Employment Law. Aaron served as a Senior Adviser to the former Premier of Tasmania, the Hon Jim Bacon AC and Senior Policy Adviser to the Paul Wriedt MHA when he was the Tasmanian Minister for Vocational Education and Training.
Trina’s business interests are located on both the Gold and Sunshine Coasts and Wollongong. Highly sought after for both her business and governance acumen, she is on the board of TAFE Qld, is the past Chair and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD) Gold Coast committee. She is also Chair of Ohana for Youth and Ohana College. Trina sits on the board of Sports Gold Coast. Trina co-founded Women in Power to mentor other women and is a member of the Qld Government’s Mentoring for Growth.
Trina’s volunteering has seen accolades as an Outstanding Volunteer to the Indigenous Community and has received a 20 year Leadership Award from the City of Gold Coast. She is an avid advocate for youth education and development and Gold Coast sport and business. Trina has been recognised with an Australian Honour and is a Member of the Order of Australia.
Trina skills in Governance, finance, audit, strategic planning, education, training, human resources and leadership are critical to the success of the Board.
Amanda is also the Treasurer of RADFLY a not for profit organisation with the vision to raise money and awareness for young people at-risk on the Gold Coast and a strong partner of Ohana For Youth and Arcadia College. Amanda is a founding Board Member of Arcadia College. Amanda is a CPA and has extensive financial accounting experience. Amanda has been providing taxation and business advice too small to medium businesses and high net worth individuals for over 30 years. She provides the Board with a depth of experience in finance, accounting and audit.
Fiona is a highly experienced and accomplished leader in operations and human resource management with 11 years in senior management roles with JLG Industries an Oshkosh Corporation Company. Working both domestically and internationally, Fiona brings a wealth of experience in people and culture, workplace safety and human resource development to Arcadia College. Fiona is strongly committed to education and training and ensuring equity of access for all young Australians.
Nick is a passionate Gold Coast business leader, who was educated on the Gold Coast and an alumni of All Saints Anglican School and Griffith University. The successful Founder, Director and CEO of several international tourism and recruitment companies, with operations in several countries. This includes Gap Year and Working Holidays, as well as bespoke and corporate travel for global organisations. After his own Gap Year, at just 18 Nick started his entrepreneurial endeavours which has led him to developing and acquiring multiple companies. Helping young people around the world achieve their independence through Gap Year and Working Holidays, he has a strong insight into the aspirations of students. Nick brings extensive experience and networks in education to the Board, as well as strong commercial and entrepreneurial skills.
Professor Cutter-Mackenzie-Knowles is the Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education, as well as the Research Leader of the SCU ‘Sustainability, Environment and the Arts in Education’ (SEAE) Research Cluster at Southern Cross University. Amy commenced her career as a primary school teacher in Queensland Australia and later moved into academia after completing her PhD. Amy’s research focuses on the conceptualisation and articulation of environmental education and sustainability in childhood, schools, teacher education, higher education and community. Amy provides experienced and contemporary knowledge of education and its trends to the Board.
