DAVID TANNER

Chairman of the Board: A.B. Paterson College

David Tanner was elected to the Board of A.B. Paterson College in 2011, and was later appointed as the third Chairman of the Board in 2013. A past parent of the College, Mr Tanner has a significant interest in education and a passion for the Vision of our College.

Mr Tanner is a committed professional in the Marine industry with more than 30 years’ experience at the highest levels of industry, both nationally and internationally. Mr Tanner brings a wealth of experience in strategic leadership, customer service, the development of strategic partnerships, and effective management, in addition to a deep commitment for effective governance. 

Mr Tanner is a strong supporter of educational programs that enable young people to grow, not only academically but as individuals, so that they may become strong leaders and active positive contributors to society – leaders now and for the future.

Mr Tanner moved to the Gold Coast in 1988 and married Vicki on Hamilton Island in 1994, and has now raised his family in this beautiful part of our country. Being a father of two children, both alumni of the College, Mr Tanner hopes that the legacy of his guardianship of the College will be a stronger community and culture, a College that not only educates young people, but one that helps them to grow, and is well placed to educate the children of the Gold Coast for many generations to come.

NICOLE KELLY

Deputy Chair of the Board: A.B. Paterson College
Chair:  Audit and Risk Committee

Nicole Kelly is an experienced CPA, business consultant and taxation specialist known for helping, educating and supporting clients as they develop strategic plans for the future. 

As an MBA, Nicole brings over 18 years of progressive leadership and change management experience across multiple industries, geographies and scale of businesses.  She possesses a unique blend of entrepreneurial spirit combined with a deep passion for both technology and business. Her skills set ranges from executive management, software development, product management, to sales and marketing. 

Her passion for innovative start-ups includes the whole spectrum from conceptualisation to capital raising, design, development and implementation. She champions small business and is dedicated to crafting culture and technology that enables scalability and sustainability.

Nicole considers diversity to be the pinnacle of success and embraces lifelong learning. She also holds a Diploma of Financial Planning, is a registered tax agent, licenced real estate agent and Toastmaster.  She has worked with numerous boards, serves on committees and is a graduate member of the AICD.  She has been a dedicated Board Member and parent of A.B. Paterson College since 2015 and Chair of the Risk and Audit Committee since 2018.  She is the founder and CEO of Gold Coast based Accounting firm ABA Tax and software development company Taxtank.

NATHAN ARCHER

Member: Board, A.B. Paterson College

Nathan Archer is an experienced corporate advisor and financial analyst having spent the last decade and a half consulting with businesses on corporate consolidations for public listings on a stock exchange, mergers and acquisitions/corporate restructure, business valuations, new market development, and strategic exit planning. He is a highly experienced capital markets advisor having traded professionally as a stockbroker and derivatives advisor for superannuation funds and high net worth clients.

Nathan holds a Master’s degree in both Finance and Accounting, Level 2 Authorised Derivatives Advisor certification and is an adjunct lecturer in Finance at Griffith University.  He is also on the board of a handful of charities and not-for-profit organisations.

Dr. CLAIRE BRERETON

Member: Board, A.B. Paterson College

Dr. Claire Brereton is an experienced executive, Chief Information Officer and consultant with a track record as a leader of strategic and technology change. Her experience has spanned health, state and local government, utilities, manufacturing and financial services. Much of her work has been in the health sector, developing strategies and running major implementation programs to support better health outcomes. She has run a successful consultancy business for over ten years, advising corporations and government on technology and data governance and risk. 

Dr. Claire Brereton is a chartered software engineer and, as an industry expert in IT standards, acts as a volunteer Australian representative to the International Standards Organisation. She also serves on the Queensland Government IT Advisory Panel and the Queensland Public Health Association of Australia Committee. 

Dr. Brereton recently qualified as a Master of Public Health and is currently utilising her unique blend of technology, data and population health skills on a children’s health research project. 

With family in both the UK and Australia, Dr. Brereton migrated from the UK in 2001, seeing Australia as the best country in the world to live, work, raise a family and contribute to the community.  

JEFF McDERMID, GAICD FCA

Member: Board, A.B. Paterson College

Jeff McDermid is a former partner of Ernst & Young, and the Founder of his own accounting firm that grew organically to be ranked 53rd in Australia by BRW.  As part of a long-term succession plan, he retired from his firm in 2011 and embarked on his new career as a professional Company Director.  His board roles straddle the aged care, agricultural equipment, shopping centre, property development, human resources, tourism and technology industries. 

Mr McDermid brings to the A.B. Paterson College Board, a wide variety of skills and experience in financial management, corporate governance and strategic thinking.

TERRI McGUIRE

Member: Board, A.B. Paterson College

Terri McGuire has a Bachelor of Business (Human Resources and Management), a Graduate Certificate in Business (Automotive Management) and is a Qualified Justice of the Peace.

Ms McGuire has experience in all sectors of retail automotive dealership management and business management in general.  She now specialises in property and asset investment and management.

SEAN NICHOLLS

Member: Board, A.B. Paterson College

Sean Nicholls is a highly experienced engineer and senior project leader and has been delivering major infrastructure projects nationally and internationally for over 25 years. 

He has extensive experience working closely with clients and stakeholders at all levels to develop, understand and achieve their vision and goals. 

He is passionate about education and creating positive change through learning and experience. He has been a parent of A.B. Paterson since 2020. 

Sean has a Bachelor of Engineering (Civil/Structural) and a Masters in Business Administration.

ALAN RICKARD

Patron 

Alan Rickard has resided on the Gold Coast since 1948, and attended Labrador Primary School and Southport State High School. He started in business in 1966, when he constructed a factory in Southport. In 1967, Alan purchased the family automotive service business which he moved into the Southport factory. The business grew to eight shops and 50 staff in Brisbane and the Gold Coast.

In 1988, Alan sold the business and, in the same year, was elected as a councillor in the Gold Coast City Council. He stayed on as a councillor until 2004 and, during that time, Chaired the Finance and Economic Development Committees for 10 years and was Deputy Mayor for four years.

In 1989, Alan and a group of local residents and business people got together and promoted the establishment of A.B. Paterson College at Arundel. Alan was the Founding Chair of A.B. Paterson College Ltd and served as a Director for 25 years. He has also served on the Griffith University Advisory Council, which he chaired for three years, on the executive of the Southport Chamber of Commerce, and is presently the President of the Save Our Broadwater community group.

Alan and his wife, Marilyn, live at Runaway Bay, enjoying an active life and retaining a keen interest in A.B. Paterson College.