QCEC Leadership Team

Allan Blagaich

Executive Director

Allan Blagaich was appointed as Executive Director, Queensland Catholic Education Commission in June 2023 and commenced in the role in September 2023. Prior to this appointment, Mr Blagaich was the Executive Director of the School Curriculum and Standards Authority, Western Australia (WA), (2011-2023). In this role he worked closely with the Association of Independent Schools Western Australia, Catholic Education Western Australia and the Department of Education Western Australia.

Prior to 2011, Allan held the roles of Executive Director, Statewide Planning and Delivery (2010-2011) and Executive Director Metropolitan Schools (2008-2009) at the Department of Education WA. Allan was a principal of a senior secondary school in WA (2002-2008) and Deputy Principal in three senior secondary rural, outer metropolitan and metropolitan schools.

Allan has served as chair of the Australasian Curriculum Assessment and Certification Authorities (ACACA) in 2012 and 2013 and as chair of the Australasian Curriculum Assessment and Certification Authorities Vocational Education and Training Committee (2011-2023). He was a board member of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) representing WA. Allan was a foundation director of the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) and served as the West Australian jurisdictional nominee for three years. He was one of the three writers charged with developing the Australian Professional Standard for Principals.

In 2006, Allan was awarded Rotary Principal of the Year and was subsequently awarded a Churchill Fellowship to investigate how systems support schools facing challenging circumstances. He undertook his fellowship in 2008 studying education systems in Chicago, Boston, New York, Toronto, England and Scotland.

Allan is a council member of the Royal Automobile Club (RAC) Western Australia and is currently serving as Club President.

Steven Jeffery

Chief Financial Officer

Steven Jeffery has been the Chief Financial Officer of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission since 2011. This has been a dynamic period of change in school funding and Steven has been at the forefront of these negotiations and the implementation of new systems of funding and accountability.

Steven has a degree in economics, a Masters in Accounting, and an MBA. He is a fellow of CPA Australia, an Associate Fellow of the Institute of Managers and Leaders, and a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Maree Lacey

Chief Operating Officer

Maree Lacey joined QCEC in 2016 as the Communications and Marketing Manager to deliver a broad range of communications and stakeholder management services.

She brings to the Chief Operating Officer role experience in government, politics and journalism. Maree spent almost 20 years as a reporter, producer and chief of staff at ABC Radio News in Brisbane covering the full breadth of news stories. She directed Queensland radio news special event coverage for numerous state and federal elections, natural disasters and major breaking news stories.

Maree has worked as a corporate communications manager in Queensland Government departments and served as principal media advisor to the Queensland Treasurer. She has a deep interest in politics and government.

She currently chairs QCEC’s Student Protection Reference Group and the Governance Network and is a member of the Audit and Risk Management Committee and the Political Advisory Committee.

Emily Wilson

Acting Director – Education

Emily Wilson is currently the Acting Director-Education.

Emily has worked for the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC) since July 2019 as a Senior Education Officer within the Education Team. Emily is passionate about the delivery of education, considering a quality education the most essential service that contributes to the fabric of society and should be available to all individuals, regardless of their background or socio-economic status.

Prior to working at QCEC Emily spent the majority of her career working for the Queensland Department of Education working across a number of portfolio areas including strategic policy for state schooling, cabinet and legislative services and early childhood education. Emily is a strong advocate for investment in high quality early years programs because of the significant lifelong benefits that accrue for individuals, families, government and society from supporting children’s physical, social, emotional and cognitive growth in the early years of development.

Emily is a member of numerous state and national committees and working groups and chairs the QCEC Kindergarten Working Group, QCEC VET and Vocational Learning Network and the National Catholic Education Commission Early Childhood Education Network.