The Illawarra Grammar School is a wonderful place to work and learn. This year we are delighted to welcome nine new staff members including our Principal, Dr Julie Greenhalgh. The appointment of new staff in 2024 was a result of some retirements in 2023 as well as exciting growth which is occurring in the School.

Our new staff members commencing in 2024 are:

• Dr Julie Greenhalgh – Principal
• Rev Dave Binggeli – Chaplain & Senior School Biblical Studies Teacher
• Mrs Emma Deacon – Director of Marketing
• Mr Stephen Brigham – Head of TAS/Design
• Ms Jade Bawden – Senior School Science Teacher
• Ms Sarah Clark – Senior School Visual Arts Teacher
• Ms Kate Johns – Senior School Languages Teacher (French)
• Mr Dylan Mackey – Senior School Languages Teacher (Japanese)
• Ms Lyn Spicknall – Senior School HSIE Teacher

As someone who has been greatly enriched as a result of working at The Illawarra Grammar School, I am genuinely excited for our new appointees. I am certain they will experience profound professional satisfaction and growth during their tenure at TIGS. Staff are one of our principal assets at The Illawarra Grammar School and it is our practice to invest heavily into their professional development. We do this so that we can maximise the learning opportunities and outcomes for our students which is our highest priority.

But more than that, I know we will be a stronger school because of our new appointees. They come with impressive resumes and rich experiences in the fields of Education, Business and Church. I look forward to them stamping their unique mark on our school.

In welcoming our new staff to our existing staff on Monday, each shared a fun fact about themselves. I thought I would include the fun facts below but let you do the detective work of trying to match the fact with the relevant staff member. Perhaps you can test your theories when you see them around the School.

Fun facts about our new staff members:

• Has a strong resemblance to former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
• Went to the same school as three other TIGS staff members.
• Has a fascination with vintage cars and even owns one.
• Captained Steve Smith in a state cricket competition in Year 12.
• Has a birthday exactly 100 days before Christmas.
• Drove the very first solar powered train.
• Has redeveloped the home backyard into a resort-style paradise.
• Loves dancing, especially salsa!
• Grew up in Adelaide and came to the east coast for study.