Richard Stokes is the current Chief Executive Officer of ABSA.
He first worked in boarding in 1980 in Adelaide at Immanuel College as a full-time supervisor, and upon completing his BA and Dip Ed he moved to Brisbane in 1982. At St Peters Lutheran College he took on the role of Assistant Senior Boarding Master, and in subsequent years become co-ordinator of boarding at St Peters.
In 1996 he took on the new challenge of Dean of Residential Care at St Joseph’s Nudgee College, a boarding school of nearly 600 boys, and held that role until he retired from a direct boarding role at the end of 2005.
Richard has been involved in ABSA or its previous versions since 1985, holding positions including Treasurer, Secretary and President, and was appointed the first part-time Executive Director for the newly formed Australian Boarding Schools Association in 2007. The role became a full-time one in 2011.
Richard is happily married to Karen, and has two adult children who both enjoyed growing up in the boarding environment!
Jared has previously worked at ABSA and is here with us again. Jared has worked with schools since 2012, bringing us further knowledge in this field. Jared brings fantastic customer service, strong administration skills, a will to succeed and a positive, can do attitude each and every day.
He finished high school in 2011 at St Joseph’s Nudgee College where he valued his education, sport and his mates. University called and Jared began a Bachelor of Health, Sport & Physical Education. Whilst at University Jared worked with ABSA and also AFL QLD in trying to provide a healthy and active lifestyle to students across QLD. He then moved on to a full-time position with one of our partners at the time.
Jared still loves his sport, any form of travel and spending time with family and friends.
Caitlin is the Training and Communications Coordinator at ABSA.
After Caitlin graduated high school, she went on to study a Bachelor of Nursing at the University of Southern Queensland.
Since being out of high school, Caitlin has learnt a variety of different skills and brings a wide range of value to our team here at ABSA.
Caitlin grew up in Brisbane, and spent most of her life surrounded by schools as both of her parents worked as school teachers which has given her the passion and love for a successful and safe education for each and every student.
Caitlin enjoys spending her free time travelling or spending time with her loved ones.
Dee Guillemot-Rodgerson is a highly respected leader in boarding, with nearly 30 years of experience dedicated to the care and development of young people in girls’ boarding. After a distinguished career as Director of Boarding at Acland House, Dee is now preparing to embark on a new chapter in co-educational boarding at the highly acclaimed St Andrew’s College.
She served for 13 years as the National Coordinator for the New Zealand Boarding Schools’ Association (NZBSA), advocating for professional excellence and unity across the sector. In her current role as Director of International Strategy for the Australian Boarding Schools Association (ABSA), Dee is driving growth across Aotearoa and leading efforts to build strong connections throughout Asia.
Boarding is not just Dee’s profession—it’s her passion. As the parent of an international boarder, she deeply understands the trust families place in boarding schools. While working full-time in girls’ boarding, Dee also raised two amazing sons who are now thriving in their chosen careers—something she is incredibly proud of.
Her passion for boarding has only grown stronger through her work with ABSA, whose professional environment and commitment to excellence are second to none.
A former provincial representative in hockey, rugby, sevens, softball, and touch, Dee brings the same passion, resilience, and commitment to excellence into every aspect of her work in boarding.
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