School Executive

A progressive and creative leader, Karen brings more than 26 years’ experience to our School, most recently as Deputy Headmaster K-12 at Knox Grammar. Her work in the education and academic world has been recognised with numerous awards, including the NSW Professional Teachers Council Award for Outstanding Service to Education in 2019.

With an emphasis on developing each student’s unique strengths, agency and voice, Mrs Yager will continue to nurture, grow and inspire our Hills Originals to achieve their potential for greatness.

Karen commenced as Hills Grammar’s fifth Principal in January 2022 and is enjoying meeting the Hills Grammar community – students, staff and families.

Joining Hills Grammar in May 2022 David brought 25 years of experience to the School. He has held a number of senior roles in diverse independent schools across Sydney with portfolios including teaching and learning, wellbeing, innovation, staff development, human resources and school operations.

David has also held a number of special advisory appointments including in curriculum design and assessment with state and national curriculum authorities, teacher education with universities in Australia and the United States and in teacher professional learning with a number of professional associations. He is a prolific writer having authored, edited and contributed to numerous books, journal articles and atlases across diverse topics from the humanities and within professional domains.

Sarah is a specialist in inclusive education and has worked Pre K to 12 since joining the staff of Hills Grammar in 2010.  Prior to this, she worked in a range of settings, including educational consultancy, as a positive behaviour support specialist and as a leader of professional development across arrange of key areas. Sarah believes strongly in the importance of building genuine and meaningful connections with students, families, staff and the wider community and understands the importance of the individual in the Pre K-12  journey. As a staff member, parent and alumnus, Sarah is well placed to understand the value of the “original” student, both past, present and future.

As the Director of Learning and Teaching Pre K to 12, Geoff works closely with the Heads of ECEC, Junior School and Senior School, to ensure a high quality curriculum is in place across the School.  He also works closely with both curriculum leaders and teachers on projects such as Cultures of Thinking and Deep Learning, where the aim is to develop innovative, 21st century approaches to learning and teaching.

Geoff started teaching at Hills Grammar in 2004. Prior to Hills, he worked in Sydney, London and Hamburg and has taught HSC, GCSE, IGCSE and IB Diploma courses. His past leadership roles have included Literacy Coordinator, Student Services Coordinator, and Head of English. Geoff has presented at education and university conferences on pedagogy, literature and creative writing practice.  

Geoff completed a Master of Arts (Creative Writing) in 2007, and a Master of Education (Leadership) in 2013 and a Doctor of Creative Arts degree in 2023. He is the author of two novels, and has written for both professional publications and literary journals. 

Yass has spent over 16 years at Hills Grammar, which has enabled him to see what works for one student may be different for another.

Prior to joining Hills Grammar he was a senior curriculum advisor for the Department of Education and Training. During this time he wrote educational resources, presented professional learning workshops to teachers around NSW and supported schools with curriculum implementation.

In his role as the Director of the Co-curricular Program, he oversees the operation and strategic development of the Schools Co-Curricular program, ensuring we are able to maximise the opportunities for all students in their areas of interest. The program has six core areas including Music, Leadership & Service, Sport, Outdoor Education, STEM and the Creative, Spoken and Performing Arts.

The role of Director of Professional Learning Pre K-12 is focused on ensuring that all staff are professionally challenged and supported to develop in expertise as they grow in alignment with our School's vision and mission, thereby enabling them to further enrich our learning community.

Chris has held a number of teaching and leadership positions across State and Independent schools. A career highlight has been the completion of a PhD on how to boost teacher learning across all career stages as a means to improve practice and accelerate student learning outcomes. She enjoys developing whole-school staff development initiatives and professional learning programs that inspire and encourage teachers and leaders and coaching them towards “outstanding teaching”.

After 18 months of remarkable success at Hills Grammar, Lily has firmly established herself as an integral part of the School.  In February 2022, Lily took on the role of Director of Business Services at Hills Grammar, and it's safe to say that she has seamlessly integrated into the School community, considering it her second home. Lily's commitment and dedication to achieving exceptional outcomes are evident as she continues to grow alongside both staff and students.

With an impressive track record of over 15 years as a seasoned Business Manager in the Independent Schools sector, Lily brings a wealth of experience and a deep understanding of the intricate commercial management required to run Independent Schools successfully. She is well-versed in the fiduciary responsibilities, financial intricacies, risk management, and governance duties mandated for educational institutions, treating the best interests of Hills Grammar as her paramount concern.

Lily's expertise extends beyond the school's financial operations, encompassing areas such as superannuation, insurance, investments, banking, budgeting, internal control, audit, coaching & mentoring, and strategic planning. Her extensive network and connections span fellow Business Managers, school Principals, bankers, contractors, and suppliers, further enriching her ability to drive Hills Grammar's financial success.

Notably, Lily also served as a Trustee Director of a Superannuation Fund.  Her previous experience in the Investment Banking industry has equipped her with a unique perspective that she's harnessed to effect powerful and positive changes within the education sector.  As she looks ahead, Lily is poised to make even more meaningful contributions to the continued growth and success of Hills Grammar.

As the Director of Advancement and Engagement, Claire’s role encompasses internal and external communications, enrolments, branding, school events, community relations, alumni, archiving and reception.

She has a Degree in Business and over 20 years’ marketing and business development experience. She started her career in Public Relations and Event Management, before moving into marketing and business development roles in the professional services sector, particularly corporate law firms.

Claire brings a fresh approach to building the School's brand and reputation in the Hills District. She works across the School to ensure the extraordinary experience of Hills Grammar is celebrated and shared with the community.

Joining Hills Grammar in July 2023, Adam has over 20 years of experience in the education sector including Schools, TAFEs, Universities, and the NSW Department of Education. He has a proven track record in the effective creation, development and leadership of high performing, ICT Transformational and Operational Support teams.

During his time at the Department of Education Adam successfully led ICT Operational Readiness Teams through the builds of several new Schools across NSW in partnership with Schools Infrastructure NSW. Most recently, he successfully led the Department of Education's IT response to the COVID-19 pandemic between 2019 – 2022,  ensuring the continuity of teaching and learning through periods of social isolation.

Adam is leading the ICT transformation of Hills Grammar.  His innovative approach ensures our students are ready for the world beyond our gates.