The Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) is governed by a seven member board that includes nominees from each of the three schooling sectors and four Ministerial nominees selected on the basis of expertise relevant to the functions of the Authority.
Mr Mark Campling (Chair)
Nominee of the Minister having the qualifications, experience or standing the Minister considers relevant to the functions of the Authority, and appointed as chair of the Authority
Ms Stacie Hansel
Nominee of the chief executive of the Department of Education
Stacie Hansel is an experienced and effective education leader who has served the Queensland state school system as a teacher, principal and system leader since 1996. Her extensive career has taken her from the gold fields of Charters Towers to the cane fields of Bundaberg as a teacher, head of school, deputy principal and principal of both primary and secondary schools. She has worked with school communities across Queensland in urban, rural and remote locations to achieve increased alignment between policy, curriculum and pedagogy responsive to the context of each school and community.
As an experienced educator, mentor and policy developer, Stacie is known for the passion, expertise and insight she extends to understanding the implications of system reform. She brings to her role an appreciation of the real difference that teachers and school leaders can make in the lives of Queensland's greatest resource: our young learners. She is committed to working collaboratively to support educators in discovering what works in each school to bring out the best in our students and assure their success in the long term.
Mr Allan Blagaich
Nominee of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC)
Allan Blagaich was appointed as Executive Director, Queensland Catholic Education Commission in June 2023 and commenced in the role in September 2023. Prior to this appointment, Allan was the Executive Director of the School Curriculum and Standards Authority, Western Australia (WA) (2011–2023). In this role he worked closely with the Association of Independent Schools Western Australia, Catholic Education Western Australia and the Department of Education Western Australia.
Prior to 2011, Allan held the roles of Executive Director, Statewide Planning and Delivery (2010–2011) and Executive Director, Metropolitan Schools (2008–2009) at the Department of Education WA. Allan was a principal of a senior secondary school in WA (2002–2008) and Deputy Principal in three senior secondary rural, outer metropolitan and metropolitan schools.
Allan has served as chair of the Australasian Curriculum Assessment and Certification Authorities (ACACA) in 2012 and 2013 and as chair of the Australasian Curriculum Assessment and Certification Authorities Vocational Education and Training Committee (2011–2023). He was a board member of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) representing WA. Allan was a foundation director of the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) and served as the West Australian jurisdictional nominee for three years. He was one of the three writers charged with developing the Australian Professional Standard for Principals.
In 2006, Allan was awarded Rotary Principal of the Year and was subsequently awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate how systems support schools facing challenging circumstances. He undertook his fellowship in 2008 studying education systems in Chicago, Boston, New York, Toronto, England and Scotland.
Allan is a council member of the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) Western Australia and is currently serving as Club President.
Mr Christopher Mountford
Nominee of Independent Schools Queensland
Christopher Mountford was appointed the Chief Executive Officer for Independent Schools Queensland in June 2021. Previously, he held the position of Queensland Executive Director of the Property Council of Australia. He has specific expertise in the areas of policy, government advocacy and commercial activities.
Christopher has more than two decades of experience in member-based advocacy organisations and government relations. Importantly, he also has an exceptional understanding of government regulation and has been influential on numerous state and local government advisory boards.
Christopher holds a Bachelor of Arts (Political Science) and a Bachelor of Economics and is a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD). He is also a volunteer Parent Ambassador for Act for Kids; an Australian charity focused on treating and preventing child abuse.
Professor Doune Macdonald
BHMS(Ed)(Hons), PhD, FNAK, FAIESEP, GAICD
Nominee of the Minister having relevant corporate, governance or financial qualifications or experience
Doune Macdonald holds a Professor Emerita position at The University of Queensland and a Visiting Professorship at The University of Sydney. Until recently, Professor Macdonald held the roles of Pro Vice-Chancellor (Teaching and Learning) and interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic) at The University of Queensland where she was responsible for preserving the University's commitment to high quality teaching and learning, promoting a culture of excellence across the student experience, leading initiatives aimed at student success and retention, and assuring quality standards. She was also instrumental in creating the Education Brief for Brisbane South State Secondary College.
Following an early career teaching health and physical education in New South Wales and Queensland, Doune returned to The University of Queensland as a lecturer in 1990 and in 1998 won an Australian Award for University Teaching. She served as Head of the School of Human Movement Studies from 2004–2013. During this period, Doune sat on various committees for the Board of Secondary School Studies and Queensland School Curriculum Council.
Doune has published 14 books and more than 200 book chapters and research papers in curriculum, assessment, policy and equity, and has undertaken curriculum evaluations for state and national initiatives. This experience informed her role as the Lead Writer for the Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education.
Doune is an International Fellow of the National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK), USA, a Fellow of the Association Internationale des Ecoles Superieures d'Education Physique (AIESEP), and a graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). She has extensive Board and Chair experience including the Brisbane Grammar School, Grace College, the State Ministerial Advisory Committee on Women and Girls in Sport and Recreation, UQ Sport Ltd, and the National Centre for Youth Substance Use Research.
Mr James Power
Nominee of the Minister having the qualifications, experience or standing the Minister considers relevant to the functions of the Authority
James Power is a third-generation family businessmen with a management background in property, newspapers, Government-owned enterprises, educational institutions and general investing ventures.
He holds bachelor’s degrees in commerce and law from The University of Queensland. Early in his career, he worked in turning around failing businesses for Ernst & Young and Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu before moving into the media industry with APN News & Media Ltd. In 2002, he joined the family business, the Power Group of Companies, as Managing Director.
James is the founding chairman of Campion College – Australia’s first liberal arts tertiary college and St John Henry Newman College – A classical independent Catholic school.
James has a passion for providing young Australians with access to education where they can learn the skills necessary to be successful professionals, and well-informed leaders of future generations.
Ms Leesa Jeffcoat AM
Nominee of the Minister having the qualifications, experience or standing the Minister considers relevant to the functions of the Authority
Until her retirement from the role in July 2024, Leesa Jeffcoat served as the Diocesan Director of Catholic Education (Diocese of Rockhampton) from 2001 to 2024, following a career in teaching across primary and secondary schools and senior leadership roles within the Catholic and Independent schooling sectors. Leesa has always had a significant focus on excellence in teaching and learning and the promotion of educational opportunities in rural and regional settings.
Leesa held the position of Chair of the Queensland Studies Authority (2013 – 2014) and was appointed to the Board of the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) in 2014. Leesa has also chaired various QCAA committees, particularly in the areas of English and senior curriculum.
Leesa has served as Director and Chair of the Board of CEnet, a not-for-profit company providing IT services to education authorities across Australia, and Chairman of Mercy Health and Aged Care Central Queensland Ltd that operated Mater Hospitals and Aged Care facilities.
Leesa holds Fellowships with the Australian College of Educators and the Australian College of Educational Leaders, and is a member of both the Australian Institute of Management and the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
In 2013, Leesa was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia (General Division) in recognition of her contribution to education, especially in regional and remote areas, and her service to the community.
In 2024, Leesa was made a Companion of Central Queensland University in recognition of her contribution to education and support for the university.
Leesa has qualifications in primary and secondary education, a Master of Educational Administration and holds Letters for both Music and Speech and Drama.
- Last updated:
- 8 December 2025
