Senior Leadership Team
Cherylyn Skewes
Principal
Cherylyn Skewes commenced as Principal of St Peter’s Girls at the start of 2023, bringing a wealth of educational and leadership experience from ELC to Senior School. She holds a Master of Education (Curriculum and Administration Studies) and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. With core teaching expertise in Years 7 - 12 English and German, Cherylyn’s career journey boasts breadth and depth. She held various leadership roles at St Peter’s College in Adelaide, was founding Principal of the reimagined Annesley Junior School and spent five years as Principal of Leibler Yavneh College in Melbourne. In 2022, Cherylyn was invited to join Independent Schools Victoria as a Principal Consultant, developing strategies with educational experts and Principals. Cherylyn has an abiding passion for the holistic and future-focused education of girls, and a strong belief in the important and unique role that committed school communities such as Saints Girls play in the lives of our children.
Lauren Sutton
Deputy Principal / Head of Senior School
Prior to her arrival at Stonyfell, Lauren Sutton was the Director of Students at Mary MacKillop College where she performed various leadership, pastoral care and wellbeing roles for a decade. She is a graduate of Flinders University with a Bachelor of Education and Arts (Secondary), and more recently, a Master of Education (Management and Leadership). Lauren appreciates the value of all-girls’ education, and has a particular interest in student leadership, student agency and student voice. She is also extremely passionate about health and fitness, and has a long association with netball including competing in the State League.
Emma Smerdon
Head of Middle School
Emma Smerdon holds a Bachelor of Science, a Master of Environmental Management and Sustainability, and a Master of Teaching. She is currently studying her Master of Education (Learning and Leadership). Emma advocates for the middle years being a time of growth founded in rounded learning experiences. She holds a deep understanding of the value of connection, and the significance of fostering relationships to empower girls in their education journey. Emma has been a highly regarded staff member at St Peter’s Girls’ School for the past decade, and her leadership progression acknowledges her many contributions to the school’s ongoing growth.
Marika Taylor
Head of Junior School
Marika is an experienced educational leader with an unwavering commitment to girls’ education and inspiring excellence in teaching and learning. With over 20 years of teaching and leadership experience, Marika brings great insight and expertise to Saints Girls.
She is dedicated to nurturing every student’s academic, social, emotional, physical and spiritual development. She believes in cultivating curiosity, creativity and a rich love for learning, supporting both students and educators to excel. Her passionate belief in holistic girls’ education aligns closely with our School values and commitment to inspiring students to become women of character and influence.
Marika has presented at national educational conferences, led dynamic academic research projects and is currently shaping future-focused educational outcomes for girls.
Kate Fryer
Director of Teaching and Learning
Before joining the St Peter’s Girls’ community, Kate Fryer was the Assistant Principal (Teaching and Learning) at Gleeson College. With earlier tertiary qualifications in Education and Biomedical Science, Kate is currently completing her Doctorate in Education (University of South Australia), and she co-authors the SACE 1 and 2 Essentials Chemistry workbooks. She is dedicated to supporting the holistic development of all students with both an academic and pastoral focus.
Andrew Rosser
Business Director
Since joining St Peter’s Girls in 2010, Andrew Rosser has played a pivotal and passionate role in the School’s strategic direction, capital works planning and financial sustainability. With an illustrious management record, his highlights include serving as Australasian Financial Controller for oilfield service giant Expro Group and as a Commercial Manager for Ramsay Health Care. He holds a Master of Business Administration and is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Andrew also holds a Bachelor of Commerce and Management and is registered as a Chartered Accountant.
Belinda Mears
Director of Marketing, Communications and Advancement
Belinda’s career spans diverse sectors and across values-driven organisations. With management expertise in strategic marketing, stakeholder engagement, partnership development and donor stewardship, she is a passionate advocate for the advancement function in schools and active committee member of the sector association, Educate Plus SA/NT Chapter. Prior to joining St Peter’s Girls, Belinda held the position of Advancement Manager at Saint Ignatius’ College Adelaide, leading the Enrolment, Community, Marketing, Communications and Philanthropy functions. Belinda holds a Master of Business Administration, is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Belinda grew up in Victoria and attributes much of her life success to her mother Margaret Downs Head Prefect 1956, who embraced the education afforded to her at St Peter's Girls and modelled the school values in all aspects of her life beyond her time at school.
Liz Schembri
Director of Early Learning Centre
Liz is a highly skilled teacher, successful leader, and advocate for Early Childhood Education. She has a diverse range of experiences across Early Learning to Year 7 and brings an incredible dedication and skillset to the role of ELC Director. Liz has a passion for developing quality future-focused education programs for our youngest learners and recognises the importance of each child's unique learning journey.
Board of Governors
St Peter’s Girls is governed by an independent Board operating under world’s best practice governance principles for educational institutions. It provides leadership, sets strategic directions and fosters long-term financial sustainability. The Board promotes and practises ethical, informed and transparent decision-making. Correspondence for the Board can be sent to admin@stpetersgirls.sa.edu.au
Jeremy Schultz (Chair)
Jeremy Schultz is Chairman of Partners at Finlaysons Lawyers and head of its Corporate and Energy practice areas. He has been at the forefront of change in the energy sector and was managing partner of Finlaysons when it was appointed to advise on the $5b South Australian electricity privatisation process, and acted directly in the establishment of the State's first wind farm and subsequent innovative generation projects. His Corporate practice extends to public and private companies and not-for-profits. As well as chairing the School Board, Jeremy also chairs the Foundation and Community of the Sisters of the Church (investment management) boards. In addition, he is a member of the Risk Committee and the Executive and Finance, Fundraising, and Governance and Nomination committees and is on the Project Control Group.
James Lawes (Deputy Chair)
James Lawes is a Chartered Accountant and auditor with more than 18 years’ experience working for Ernst & Young (EY) in Queensland, Victoria and South Australia. He has advised a number of clients across a wide range of industries including media and entertainment, manufacturing, aged care and education. James and his wife Beba are parents to three girls at the School. James chairs the Executive and Finance committee and is part of the Project Control Group and Risk committee.
Bronwyn Corbet
Bronwyn Corbet is Director of Institutional Banking at ANZ. Her expertise encompasses relationship management, credit research and analysis, deal structuring and executing finance transactions. Prior to ANZ, Bronwyn worked as Credit Analyst at BNP Paribas Corporate and Institutional Bank in Melbourne, and as Corporate Analyst at Futuris Corporation (Elders) in Adelaide. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Business Studies with Accountancy (First Class Honours), a Bachelor of Arts (Honours) in International Business (German - British stream) and a Master of Applied Finance. Bronwyn is an Old Scholar who was Deputy Head Prefect in 1993.
Rebecca Slimming
Former Head Prefect Rebecca Slimming (Kennion 2013) is a passionate Saints Girl who has maintained a strong connection with the School having been a member of the Old Scholars’ Council, a tutor for the Old Scholars’ Tutor Program and an organiser of interstate reunions. In 2018, Rebecca completed a double degree in Law with First Class Honours and Psychology at the University of Adelaide. She then moved to Sydney where she formally commenced her legal career and was admitted as a solicitor. In 2021, she worked as a Tipstaff to the Honourable Justice Helen Wilson in the Supreme Court of New South Wales. Since 2022, she has assisted local and international clients with complex commercial disputes. Rebecca chairs the Risk Committee and is a member of the Finance Committee.
Emeritus Professor Iain Hay
Iain Hay is Matthew Flinders Distinguished Emeritus Professor of Geography at Flinders University where he was also foundation Dean (Education) for the College of Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences. Iain completed his Doctor of Philosophy degree at the University of Washington as a Fulbright Scholar and was later awarded a Doctor of Letters from the University of Canterbury. He is a recipient of the Prime Minister's Award for Australian University Teacher of the Year and includes amongst his academic and governance qualifications Fellowships of the Academy of Social Sciences and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. Iain’s wife and mother-in-law are alumnae of St Peter’s Girls’ School.
Fiona Besir
A former Head Prefect and current parent of the School, Fiona Besir (nee Zogopoulos, Kilburn 2002) has a proud family history at Saints Girls. Her great-grandmother Bessie Hill (nee Ide, 1913) was among the School’s first three Prefects when the Prefect system was introduced in 1912, and an academic prize named in Bessie’s honour continues to be presented each year. Fiona’s daughter Nina commenced Mid-Year Reception in 2021, becoming the fifth generation in the family connected to St Peter’s Girls. Fiona is a lawyer and family dispute resolution practitioner who established her own practice as a mediator in family law.
Daniel Dello Iacovo
Specialising in property and construction, Daniel Dello Iacovo is the Managing Director of Trice, an asset, development and project management company he founded in 2008. Daniel, who commenced his career as a Quantity Surveyor, has more than 25 years’ experience in successfully creating, shaping and delivering property solutions locally and internationally. With a Bachelor’s degree in Building, Daniel is a Member of the Australian Institute of Project Management and the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors, and has held the office of committee Chair with the Property Council of Australia. His experience comprises creation and repositioning of assets in a number of sectors including education, health and wellbeing, horticulture, as well as various commercial ventures.
Carol Fort
Carol Fort is distinguished leader with a rich background in academia and education. With a proven success in undergraduate and postgraduate degree programs, Carol has served in pivotal roles, including Director of various academic programs and Dean of International Studies at Flinders University. Carol has served as the SACE Board Chief Assessor for History, as well as being the President of the History Council of SA. Her leadership roles also extend globally, having been a Course Leader at UNESCO IHE, Delft, Johannesburg, Tampere (Fi), and Yunnan. Carol Fort brings a wealth of experience, a passion for education, and a commitment to fostering leadership and innovation to her role as a board member. Her multifaceted background and dedication to academic excellence makes her a valuable addition.
