Executive Principal Qualifications PhD (Education), University of Western Australia, 2023 MBA, The Open University, 2007 MSc (Cognitive Neuropsychology) Cum Laude, Oxford Brookes University, 2000 BMus Hons Cum Laude, University of Pretoria, 1998 BMus Cum Laude, University of Pretoria, 1995 CertIV TAE, Tabor College of Higher Education, 2017 Contact Details Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Biography

Mathilda is passionate about creativity and continuous improvement – and serves as the Director of Excellence and Innovation on campus. She is a true cross-disciplinarian with her two bachelor’s and three master’s degrees spanning the diverse fields of music, languages, education, business, and cognitive neuropsychology. Her PhD from the University of Western Australia focused on the assessment of creative thinking skills. She started her career in teaching (both primary and secondary) and worked on curriculum policy before landing the life-changing role as Research Fellow to the UK’s National Advisory Committee on Creative and Cultural Education. This enabled her to co-author a major government report with Sir Ken Robinson: All Our Futures: Creativity Culture and Education.

Following her passion for creativity and innovation, she worked as an international Innovation Consultant in industry, supporting Fortune 500 Companies like Unilever, Phillips, Coca-Cola and Diageo to invent new products and services, before bringing these skills back into the education sector. Mathilda has facilitated successful school improvement programs in more than 500 schools around the world and has been a long-term advisor to the Australian, Lithuanian, and British governments on creativity in education. She has written more than 90 articles, reports, and book chapters in her area of expertise and is the evaluator of the Creative Schools program in Western Australia. Her latest co-authored book, "Children's Creative Inquiry in STEM", was published in 2022 by the publisher Springer. Mathilda is President of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) in Western Australia, and she lectures across all faculties at Sheridan. 

Teaching Areas

Creative Teaching and Learning, Leadership, School Improvement, Cross-cultural Management, Research Methods

Research

Research/Publications

(on sabbatical until 2025) Executive Principal MBA, Murdoch University, 2010 BA (Honours - History/Political Science), University of Western Australia, 1996 Contact Details Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Biography

Darren Smith graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in History and Political Science in 1996 from the University of Western Australia. After studying theology at the Baptist Theological College in WA (now Vose Seminary) for 18 months, he left Australia for Shenyang, China, where he taught English and first-year university courses in Economics, Accounting and Company Law at the Liaoning Business Vocational College, and recruited Australian teachers to live and work in China. In 2002, he was appointed Director of Development at Shenyang International School, supporting Chinese nationals in the start-up of private educational initiatives. In 2006, Darren was appointed as Principal of Shenyang International School. In 2010, he completed an MBA at Murdoch University and returned to Australia to direct Australian Baptist Education's higher education initiative.

Darren has previously served on the boards of Shenyang International School and the International School of Qingdao, of the Shenyang-based medical charity Light, and of Xiuqiu, a Shenyang-based social enterprise textile factory. He currently serves as a director on the boards of Australian Baptist Education Inc, Baptist Education Resources Inc, Quinns Baptist College, Geelong Baptist College, Alkimos Baptist College, Austin Cove Baptist College, Sheridan Institute of Higher Education and Sheridan Research Institute.

Academic Principal Qualifications PhD (Education), Edith Cowan University, 2008 BEd Honours (Early Childhood Education), Edith Cowan University, 1996 DipTeach (K-7), Western Australian College of Advanced Education, 1988 Contact Details Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Biography

Dr Natalie Leitão has been closely engaged with the broader education community throughout her career and held a variety of teaching and administrative roles including lecturing, course coordination, professional practice supervision, unit development and research. Natalie has published several reports and academic journal articles and has presented at education conferences for both academics and professional teachers.

Natalie has been actively involved with the independent school sector in Western Australia for over 30 years. In recent years she has delivered professional development in schools across urban and regional areas, has served as a Director on the Swan Christian Education Association Board, and as Chair of the Carmel Adventist School Council.

Natalie has a PhD in Education, B.Ed (Hons), Dip.Teach (K-7). Her work history includes Swan Christian Education Association, Edith Cowan University, Morling College, Tabor College, One World Centre, Christian Schools Australia and Sheridan Institute of Higher Education where she is currently Academic Principal.

Teaching Areas

Education in Australia; Curriculum Construction; Assessment and Evaluation; Research Methods; Research Supervision

Research

Research/Publications 

Director of Student Services   Contact Details Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Biography

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Director of Library and Information Services BA (Media and Information), Librarianship and Corporate Information Management, Records and Archives), Curtin University, 2011 DipLib, Central TAFE, 2007 AdvDipTour, Port Elizabeth Technicon, 1991 CertIV Project Management Practice, Logical, 2017 AALIA DCP MIS Candidate, Charles Sturt University Contact Details Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Biography

Lizelle is passionate about libraries, especially when it comes to early literacy and learning. She loves helping people to connect with appropriate information resources and services. Being an academic librarian has taught her so much about the value of education and the importance of enhancing professional skills.

Lizelle has completed a double degree: Bachelor of Arts (Media and Information), Librarianship and Corporate Information Management, Records, and Archives. She has completed her minor degree in Internet Studies and Web Design.  Lizelle is a qualified Library Technician, Records Manager and Archivist, and has worked for 16 years in many different libraries including: public, health, science, school, and academic. Lizelle also has a tourism and management background.

Professional Memberships

AALIA DCP (Distinguished Certified Professional), 2016.
AALIA CP (Certified Professional), 2016.
ALIA (Australian Library and Information Association) Librarian membership, 2011.
ALIA (Australian Library and Information Association) Library Technician membership, 2008.

Lizelle is a Distinguished Certified Professional (DCP) associate member of the Australian Library and Information Association (ALIA), and was the first in WA to obtain this library membership. She has also posted in the ALIA’s Incite library journal.

Registrar   Contact Details Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Biography

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Business Development Manager   Contact Details Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Biography

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Domestic Partnerships Qualifications MSoSc, Edith Cowan University, 2020 GradCertDiv BSoSc (YthWk) Contact Details Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Biography

Research

Website Administrator   Contact Details Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Biography

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