Organisational structure
Our union is a democratic, member-led organisation.
Our union’s key decision-making bodies are our Committee of Management and Branch Executive. The Committee of Management is comprised of 11 elected members and our Branch Executive is comprised of 34 elected members (29 Queensland members and five Northern Territory members).
Members are elected to these roles for quadrennial terms.
Our leadership team
Terry Burke
Branch Secretary
Terry Burke has led our union since 1995. Terry started his teaching career as a secondary teacher in Catholic Education in Toowoomba, later holding administrative and leadership roles.
Under Terry’s leadership, our union has continued to grow in numbers and, more importantly, in density and member activism.
Terry is also a Director of Teachers’ Union Health and NGS Super.
Paul Giles
Assistant Secretary/Treasurer
Assistant Secretary/Treasurer Paul Giles joined our union’s staff in 2000. Prior to that Paul was a member of our union’s governing body.
Paul has taught in the non-government sector on the Gold Coast and in Logan as a classroom teacher and teacher-librarian.
In his leadership role, Paul enjoys liaising with members about the strategic direction of our union.
Rebecca Sisson
Assistant Secretary
Rebecca Sisson initially joined our union’s staff as a Research Officer in 2005. Rebecca later led our union’s Membership Team before becoming an Assistant Secretary in 2014.
During her time with our union, Rebecca has developed extensive experience in areas of data management and analysis, database development, as well as member engagement.
Rebecca is also a Director of Teacher’s Union Health and an Executive Member of the Queensland Council of Unions.
Nicole Kapernick
Assistant Secretary
Nicole Kapernick first joined our union as a member in 1996. Having taught in a number of non-government secondary schools across Brisbane, Nicole became an IEU Organiser at the start of 2022, prior to her appointment as Assistant Secretary in July 2022.
Before working for our union, Nicole was an active member serving as an IEU Chapter representative, an employee delegate in collective bargaining and a member of our union’s Branch Executive.
Nicole is a committed advocate of the teaching profession and continues to fight for fair conditions for all school staff.
Our staff
Our union employs a team of expert and specialist staff to support members. Click here to read more about our team.
Interested in joining our team?
Click here to visit our vacancies page.
Committee of management
President: Aleisha Connellan
Secretary: Terry Burke
Assistant Secretary/Treasurer: Paul Giles
Assistant Secretary: Rebecca Sisson
Assistant Secretary: Nicole Kapernick
Senior Vice-President (NT Division): Erica Schultz
Senior Vice-President (QLD Division): Bryce Goldburg
Junior Vice-President: Annette Gregory
Committee Member: Cameron Love
Committee Member: Ian Hughes