About the Foundation

Mrs Kim Kiepe, Somerville House Principal, MEd (Leadership & Management), BEd, DipT, MACEL, GAICD
Click here to view full profile under 'Leadership Team'.

Ms Fiona Gaske, Somerville House School Council Chair, M Sp Path St, B Mus, GAICD
Click here to view full profile under 'School Council Members'.

Mrs Samantha Miller MB(AppFin), BBus(Int), Chair of the Somerville House Foundation, has a career spanning 20 years in the Financial Services industry and an adept executive whose experience extends across Banking, Insurance, Wealth Management and Executive Management sectors. Samantha is passionate about driving and effecting progressive strategic transformation and is currently the Executive Manager for Investor Relations and ESG at the ASX listed PNG bank - Kina. 

A graduate member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Samantha has a Master of Applied Finance and an International Business degree. She is also an active member of the MND and Me Foundation, devoting time to organising and participating in large-scale fundraising events and programs of activity.  

Ms Bethwyn Todd BSc, MBA, GAICD, (Class of 1989) is a strategic business leader with executive leadership experience in Australia, USA, China and across the Asia Pacific region. Most recently she served as Vice President and Asia Pacific President of FMC Corporation (NYSE: FMC) where she led the growth and transformation of the business, tripling revenue and significantly increasing market share and profitability.

Prior to FMC, Bethwyn was Managing Director of Monsanto Australia, successfully growing the business through the introduction of game changing biotechnology to Australian agriculture. Her eight-year tenure with the company comprised several commercial, corporate affairs and regulatory roles and she was pivotal to the successful transformation of the business during this period.  
 
Bethwyn has extensive strategy, financial and corporate governance experience. She has an inclusive leadership style with a passion for inspiring, mentoring and developing talent and creating diverse, high performing organizations.
 
She currently sits on the University of Queensland ChangeMakers Board and has served on multiple not-for-profit trade association and foreign subsidiary boards across Australia, USA, China and Asia Pacific over the past 20 years.

Ms Dominique Layt MBA, GAICD, CMgr AFIML, FFin, CDec, (Class of 1987) was Foundation Chair from 2017-2021, Deputy Chair from 2021-2022 and is a member of the Nominations Committee. Dominique is a current parent and an active member of the Old Girls’ Association. With a successful career in the banking sector, at three ASX top 20 companies, Dominique brings to the Foundation exceptional skills in risk, governance and transformational change. 

Dominique is currently a member of the Management Committee of Speld Qld and was previously Head of Stores and Specialty Banking Delivery with Suncorp. During her career with Suncorp, Dominque was the Head of Customer Propositions, Head of Customer Insights, Executive Manager, Customer Strategy, Marketing & Corporate Affairs, Executive Manager, Governance, Operational Risk and Compliance and Executive Manager, Baking Risk Support. She was also Suncorp Bank representative on retail banking committee member – Australian Bankers Association and is the current Chair of Suncorp’s gender equity group Suncorp Women Connect.

Dominique has a deep passion for Somerville House, gender equity, authentic leadership and is aligned with the mission of the Foundation in her professional life.

Ms Rebecca Bauer BA (Econ), (Class of 1988) and one of Brisbane’s most highly-regarded Executive Search recruitment specialists, with more than 18 years’ experience in a range of senior leadership and consulting capacities. 

Currently Principal Consultant at Hudson, Rebecca leads Executive Search Recruitment for Queensland, and is a part of a niche team delivering services of this level nationally, attracting Australian and global talent.

Rebecca has successfully supported the appointment of senior executives and partnered with boards and state and national leadership teams, across industries, for highly visible and sensitive assignments. She has significant experience managing Executive Search assignments for State Governments across Australia, and delivering highly specialised and functional appointments, as well as their most senior leadership roles, in the public interest.

Prior to the two decades in recruitment, Rebecca had a professional sales and marketing career within the property, retail and healthcare sectors, in both Australia and the UK.

Key current and previous appointments, roles and qualifications include:
·         Member – PMSA Nominations and Human Resources Committee (appointed 2020)
·         Principal Consultant – Hudson Queensland
·         Co-Vice President – Somerville House Old Girls’ Association
·         Director – Somerville House Foundation
·         Chair – Somerville House Foundation Nominations Committee
·         Judge – Telstra Business Women’s Awards Queensland
·         Judge – Telstra Business Awards Queensland

Mr Wade Bidstrup was appointed as the Somerville House Parents & Friends (P&F) Director to the Board of the Somerville House Foundation in 2021.

Wade is a grain farmer from Warra on the Darling Downs. Wade continues to contribute to a number of local community groups around Jandowae.  

Wade graduated from Queensland University of Technology (QUT) with a Bachelor of Engineering (Mech) in 1999 and completed a post-graduate-certificate in Rural Science from the University of New England (UNE) in 2003. 

Wade and his wife Sally have three daughters boarding at the School.

Prior to joining the Foundation Board as a Director Wade was actively involved In the Somerville House Community. He is a member of the Parents & Friends (P&F) Executive and has also been involved with the Boarding House and Rowing Support Groups. 

Wade is a passionate advocate for regional and rural scholarships to enable girls to access the best opportunities possible. 

Ms Kiran Goel BBus, CPA is a Program and Financial Management Specialist with a career spanning over 20+ years in Aerospace and Defence, Healthcare and Australian Immigration industries. She has recently co-founded PROGRAMspace a company specialising in providing program management support in the Defence and Health industries. 

She has previously been P&C President of her children’s primary school for multiple years developing business relationships with local organisations with the school, organising fund raising events and proactively engaging the parent community. 

Kiran’s current interests include volunteering at the community kitchen at St Andrews Uniting Church in the Brisbane City, organising and participating in events raising health awareness such as the Heart Foundation and the Australia and New Zealand Mental Health Association. In addition she mentors young adults in how to progress and navigate their careers in the current competitive corporate world. 

Kiran is a current parent of the school. 

Mrs Jane Rowan BA (Journalism) GAICD is a senior communications, marketing, and stakeholder engagement leader with over 25 years’ experience in corporate communications, strategic and integrated marketing, digital content, social media, advertising, and partnerships. She is currently the Marketing and Communications Manager for Home Instead Australia and New Zealand.  

Jane is a passionate advocate for mental health reform and is a regular participant in the Liptember Foundation’s annual fundraising campaign for women’s mental health. She has been one of the campaign’s top fundraisers over the past two years. She is a Non-Executive Director of Upbeat Arts Australia, which provides arts programs promoting inclusion and connection for those living with mental illness.

Jane is a second-generation Somerville House Old Girl (Class of 1989) and a former Somerville House parent. She was initially appointed to the Somerville House Foundation as the P&F’s Director in 2020, before her appointment as an Additional Director in 2021. Jane is Chair of the Somerville House Foundation Fundraising Committee.

She is also a member of the Australia and New Zealand Mental Health Association (ANZMHA) and a member of the peak body for community and stakeholder engagement sector, IAP2 Australasia.  

The Somerville House Foundation is committed to providing exceptional learning opportunities for Somerville House students to encourage them to become the best they can be. The Foundation supports the School in delivering its strategic intent with objectives that are aligned with the School’s Master Plan. All the Foundation does builds upon the rich culture of philanthropy at the School and across our community.

The Foundation works to inspire all those involved in the school community, past and present, to commit to a culture of philanthropy for our girls as rich as those that are present in boys' schools.

As a tax-deductible fundraising vehicle, the Foundation partners with the School to deliver programs and projects that have a lasting impact on the educational journey of Somerville House students. This is achieved through raising and managing funds via appeals, events and initiatives to assist the School with current and future development priorities.

The Foundation operates as a company limited by guarantee and is registered with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Australian Charities and Not-for-Profit Commission. We operate collaboratively with the School under the requirements of the Corporations Act, with a professional Board of Directors. Board members bring a diverse mix of skills and experience, and great passion for our cause.