Head of College & CEOs

Anna Frederika (Freda) Bage OBE MSc, LLD, FLS was an Australian biologist, university professor and principal and women's activist. Following her graduation with a Master of Science in 1907, Freda worked as a junior demonstrator in Biology and in 1908 won the King's College scholarship. In 1909, she travelled to London working under Arthur Dendy, which led Freda to receiving a fellowship by the Linnean Society. Freda then returned to the University of Melbourne where she worked as a senior demonstrator, and in 1913 she was offered a job at The University of Queensland where she became a biology lecturer.

On 8 February 1914, Freda became the first principal of The Women's College, a role she held until 1946.

• M. Science (1907), the University of Melbourne
• Doctor of Laws honoris causa (1951), The University of Queensland

OBE (1941)

Dr Maureen Aitken PhD (Qld), DU honoris causa (Qld), PhD, BA Hons, PGDipEd (Qld) was Principal of The Women's College from 1991 to 2008.

During her career, Maureen was the Head of Modern Languages at Ipswich Girls Grammar School, and a Lecturer in Humanities, specifically foreign languages, at the UQ School of Music, the Queensland Conservatorium of Music, and at the Queensland University of Technology (QUT). She was a President of The University of Queensland Chapter of the Australian Heads of Colleges Association and of the Alumni Association Inc. of The University of Queensland. She also held roles as the Vice-President of the Queensland branch of the Australian Federation of University Women, as an Executive Member of the Australian Universities Alumni Council, Secretary of the National Association of Heads of Australian University Colleges and Halls of Residence, and was a member of the Queensland Department of Education's Curriculum Development Committee and Language Reference Group.

An active participant in promoting female participation in tertiary educaiton, Maureen was a founding member of the International Women's Education Worldwide group, which met in Mount Holyoke and Smith Colleges, Massachusetts, USA, in 2004.

• B. Arts (Hons), The University of Queensland
• Grad. Dip in Education, The University of Queensland
• Doctor of the University honoris causa (2007), The University of Queensland

Florence (Flo) Kearney joined the College in 2019. She brings with her a distinguished career in education within government and independent sectors across rural and regional Queensland and the Southeast corner. As an educator, Flo specialised in the education, personal growth and wellbeing of girls and young women at various stages of learning. Previously holding leadership positions from middle management to senior executive including Principal, her professional journey includes roles in four leading independent girls’ boarding schools over the past 20 years. Flo is a graduate of both the University of Queensland (UQ) and Queensland University of Technology (QUT), holding degrees in Education and Commerce, and a Masters in Educational Leadership.

Flo is a highly motivated and professional educational leader with a well credentialed reputation in delivering Principal/CEO capabilities, actively driving organisations forward, and developing and strengthening strategic objectives over time. She strives to build a healthy culture and strong team performance, utilising a hands-on, collaborative approach to achieve success and respond to changing organisational needs.

In addition, Flo has extensive governance experience and has served on various Boards and Committees in education and other not-for-profit organisations, including as a member and Chair of Wesley Mission Queensland over a period of nine years. Flo is currently the Chair of Council of The Scots PGC College in Warwick and represents the University Colleges community as a member of the UQ Student Experience Committee.

• B. Education / B. Commerce
• M. Educational Leadership