THE CHAIRS’ VIEW

PETER GOW CHAIR OF THE BOARD 2010-15

The most important role of a school board is to appoint a principal. This opportunity came to the All Saints’ Board in 2012. A small selection committee was formed, and the search began.

In their initial research, the consultant’s conclusion was that All Saints’ was the best kept secret in Western Australia; a quality school with fantastic students achieving great results.

The response to the recruiting campaign was excellent, with strong local, national and international applicants. One applicant immediately stood out in this quality field – Belinda Provis. Belinda was already the established Principal in a top-tier school in Adelaide, Seymour College. She had good local experience in Western Australian schools before moving to South Australia. Furthermore, she had an MBA and experience working in small business which complemented her teaching qualifications.

Belinda had family commitments in Western Australia which made a move here attractive, and All Saints’ was an intriguing option.

We interviewed a number of candidates at the College, including Belinda who we flew across from Adelaide for the afternoon. We arranged for the All Saints’ Parish Rector, Don Fimognari, who was also a member of the College Board, to greet each applicant and give them a tour of the College before bringing them into the interview. The combination of Don, the Grounds staff, and particularly the students who spontaneously came up to Don to chat, all but convinced Belinda before she even met the selection committee. In turn, the interview with Belinda all but convinced the committee.

As Chair of the College Board, I flew to Adelaide for the weekend to help Belinda with her due diligence on what lay ahead for her; and for us to gain a deeper understanding of her hopes and ambitions. It was our privilege to appoint Belinda as Principal of All Saints’ in 2013.

Belinda has brought a great deal to All Saints’. She was an experienced Principal of a topgrade school with an established national profile which gave All Saints’ national exposure as well, and lifted our profile amongst Western Australian schools. Belinda had vision, passion and energy, and the drive to do innovative and exciting things at All Saints’. The challenge for the Board was to keep up with her, and to meet her expectations of what a high-performing board should be.

For me as Chair of the All Saints’ College Board, it was an exciting time to get to know and work with such an outstanding leader, teacher and manager. I became good friends with Belinda and Mark, and I value what they have brought to our community.

MARK STICKELLS CHAIR OF THE BOARD 2017-22

It was an honour to serve on the Board of All Saints’ College for almost all of Belinda’s 10 years as Principal. Belinda’s commitment to developing leaders, driving innovation in pedagogy, prioritising well-being, and upholding high integrity has been truly inspiring. Belinda fostered a culture of collaboration, inclusivity, and continuous improvement that has been instrumental in shaping the unique identity and success of All Saints’. Her leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic was exceptional, and her ability to adapt to rapidly changing circumstances, maintaining a clear vision, and prioritising health and safety was remarkable. Resilience, flearning, compassion, reconciliation, service, integrity are all words that come to mind when reflecting on a decade of her leadership.

Congratulations to Belinda on a remarkable decade of service to our College and community.