Our Team
The Altitude Scholarships team is composed of a group of professionals who all hold the strong conviction that education brings opportunities that can be life changing. We are proud to support the talented and driven young people who receive our scholarships.
Our Board
Andrew Pierpoint
Chair
Andrew’s special interests are the provision of high-quality professional learning for school leaders, school leader wellbeing and is personally highly active in school sport – particularly cricket and golf.
Andrew has demonstrated a passion for State (Government) Education in Australia driven by the values of social justice and equity and possess an excellent understanding of the Principalship from firsthand experience. Most importantly, Andrew has a genuine desire to make a meaningful difference for school leaders in the application of their ever increasing, complex roles in schools and the broader communities they work in.
Andrew Pierpoint is President of the Australian Secondary Principals’ Association – the peak body for School Leaders across Australia. He previously was President of the Queensland Secondary Principals’ Association for four (4) years.
Andrew has had extensive experience, over 37 years, in High Schools as a science teacher, Head of Department (Science), Deputy Principal and Principal as well as having several system positions in the support of Principals. Throughout his career, Andrew has worked in complex rural and remote communities through to large regional and metropolitan schools. He has led communities and reference groups at district, regional, state and national levels.
Bruce Swan
Director
Bruce has more than 30 years’ experience as a Chartered Accountant, both in Queensland and overseas.
He has a wealth of experience in the practice area of audit, particularly through his work with not-for-profit and charity organisations, companies, and body corporates on the Sunshine Coast.
In addition, Bruce has worked with a number of small and medium sized businesses, providing business advisory guidance.
Lee Huber
Director
Lee is an Event Specialist and has spent 25 years working in the tourism industry delivering events in some of Australia’s most iconic tourism destinations. Now calling the Sunshine Coast home, Lee is passionate about community and supporting the goals of Altitude Scholarships.
Greg Spinda
Director
Greg is a Partner at Travis Schultz & Partners, an Accredited Specialist in personal injury law and holds a Master of Health Law. Driven by the belief that everyone deserves the straightforward truth and opportunity to excel, Greg understands the value of having people who believe in you. Through personal experience coming to Australia with no English, opportunities offered by some amazing people have allowed him to develop professionally and personally. This is something he firmly believes in paying forward.
Executive Team
Tara Bell
FOUNDER
Bringing valuable insights gained through her experience in philanthropy and the NFP sector in Melbourne, Tara was inspired to bring together a group of volunteers with a diverse range of professional skills to start an education-focused organisation initially in her new home of Noosa. Tara has worked in the finance industry in Sydney and Melbourne for over 20 years, in various capacities from head of equities, managed fund research, to investment director for global companies.
Georgie Cousens
Director: Design & Marketing
Georgie Cousens is the COO of Altitude Scholarships and has lived in the Noosa Shire since 2018. For 13 years she has run a successful design and marketing agency across 3 continents and brings a wealth of industry knowledge to the Altitude Scholarship table. She looks forward to creating a powerful and self-sustaining not-for-profit model able to transcend borders and continents in the future.
Kerryn Vincart
Bendigo Bank Branch Manager
Kerryn is the Branch Manager at the Bendigo Community Bank Tewantin Noosa. Kerryn’s career in banking began in 1990. She is passionate about helping others and giving back. Working in a Community Bank branch links to Kerryn’s values of supporting others including Altitude Scholarships students through opening of their bank account through to and including financial literacy.
Kate Cordwell
Kate is born and bred on the Sunshine Coast. She is a Personal Banker at Bendigo Community Bank Tewantin Noosa and is the team member that sets up and assists the students with their banking. Kate is extremely approachable and answers any questions the students have supporting them with their financial literacy.