Introducing Debbie Smith, Chair of St Margaret’s School Council

St Margaret’s warmly welcomes Debbie Smith to the position of Chair of School Council, which she took up on 17 September this year. Mother to Charlotte in Year 8, Debbie has been a Director of School Council since 2014 and sits on the Finance and Risk Management Committee (and was previously Chair) and Nominations and Remunerations Committee. Debbie is Managing Partner of PwC Brisbane where she leads the strategic direction of the office which comprises more than 850 people who dedicate themselves to identifying and solving important problems and realising the opportunities that are critical to our business and social communities. Debbie is a member of the Institute of Company Directors, a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants and holds a Bachelor of Commerce from the Australian National University. The Flyer asked Debbie for some of her insights into St Margaret’s.

Q. For families new to the school and its governance structure, can you give us some insight into the role of a school council and its chair?

A. The School Council works judicially behind the scenes to provide the school with vision and strategic guidance, and to direct resources and finance for its operations and development. Importantly, council members are chosen for their substantial experience across a broad base of skill sets which provides the school with an overarching layer of expertise in fields relevant to a school’s operation. In the current school council, we have expertise in fields such as law, accounting, information technology, philanthropy, property and infrastructure, faith and theology, corporate strategy and communications, financial management and corporate governance. All directors have extensive senior experience in their careers. We are most grateful for their commitment to the school which is an entirely voluntary position but an important contribution to make through investing time and energy into our future workforce and leaders.

Q. What have been the most exciting changes in the time you have been connected with the school?

A. Certainly, the built environment in the time Ros Curtis has been at the helm of the school has improved immeasurably. The greening of the grounds and creation of spaces such as the Barley Sugar Garden,

Toorak Gardens and Ms Café have contributed to the students’ wellbeing by providing shaded areas for learning and recreation and gathering spaces to enhance connectedness. There has also been continual refurbishment of teaching spaces to provide more contemporary classrooms such as the Year 7 precinct,

Atelier space, and the Loft – our state-of-the-art lecture theatre. Now with the sports precinct, the girls have access to the most fantastic large, flat spaces – quite a feat for a small school on a high hill. While academic excellence has always been a focus since its establishment, in recent years, the school has endeavoured to sharpen this focus and to strengthen the academic rigour of the school. I believe, too, that we have built the capacity of our staff through professional development and have enhanced our reputation in the wider educational community and are attracting the highest calibre of staff available.

I also believe our sense of community has never been stronger. Our parent body are involved and connected; our alumni are very engaged; and we have broadened our reach to the corporate community through such events as the PWN breakfasts, and the school is reaping the rewards of this ‘extended village’ contributing to the education of our students.

Q. What are the most challenging things on the horizon for schools / education?

A. The education debate is an ongoing global conversation.

We have only just implemented ATAR, and we are now hearing murmurings that some think it should be abandoned. To some degree we are at the mercy of this ongoing debate and regular changes to curriculum which can be very wearing on both staff and students.

The focus on student wellbeing is becoming more heightened, with the many challenges our young people are required to navigate because of the online world we inhabit. With all its marvellous advantages there comes very serious challenges. This is where a strong partnership between the school and home has never been more important.

Q. What do you believe St Margaret’s does really well?

A. The school never loses sight of its mission to educate the whole child, and to prepare confident, compassionate, capable women able to contribute to a global community.

It actively lives it mission and its values every day – they are not merely slogans or words on a banner.

It embraces its diverse student population, making it one of its greatest strengths.

I think the care and attention shown to each child through its personalised approach to education sets the school apart and will always be embedded in its culture.

The school is not afraid to innovate. The Academic

Advising Program and the St Margaret’s Plus Program have been hugely successful, and some truly innovative thinking (and a lot of hard work) were behind both those concepts.