Meet the Team

Colin Axup

President

Having completed a Bachelor of Arts (Hons.) and a Diploma of Education at Monash University and then a Graduate Diploma Strategic Studies at the Australian National University, Colin began his teaching career at Melbourne High School in 1992. His subjects included history, politics and international relations. Over the next 19 years Colin held various leadership positions, including house master, rowing master, coordinator of history, sailing and water polo. As a leading teacher he was a year level coordinator, student leadership coordinator and registrar.

In 1991, Colin was commissioned into the Australian Army Reserves and in 1994, he was appointed Commanding Officer of the Melbourne High School Cadet Unit. He held this position for 17 years until his resignation at the end of 2010. In 2001, Colin joined the newly formed national headquarters of the Australian Army Cadets and served for the next 10 years culminating in his appointment as Deputy Commander of the Australian Army Cadets from 2007 to 2010 in the rank of Colonel (AAC).

In 2011, Colin was appointed to Williamstown High School as Assistant Principal and in 2013 he was appointed Principal of Stawell Secondary College in the Grampians region of Victoria. In 2013, Colin completed a Master of School Leadership at the University of Melbourne. Then in 2015, Colin was appointed Principal of Suzanne Cory High School which is located in the western Melbourne suburb of Werribee. The school is one of Victoria’s four select entry high schools.

Colin commenced in the position President of the Victorian Association of State Secondary Principals (VASSP) in March 2021.

Amy Rashid

Executive Officer

Amy brings to the Association a range of experience from diverse secondary settings. Having worked in Victorian metro, rural and dual campus settings, as well as mainstream, Selective Entry Schools and the VET sector. The varied roles within these settings have given Amy an informed understanding of the broad needs of different school communities and an appreciation of the challenges that each setting presents.

Broadening her knowledge and experience, Amy spent a year teaching in England and another volunteering in Cambodia where she taught English as an Additional Language at a Technical school for young adults who come from backgrounds of extreme poverty.

Currently, Amy is completing her Masters of Careers and Guidance Counselling. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Professional Writing and Communications, a Graduate Diploma in Secondary Education and a Certificate IV in Training and Assessment.

Building, implementing and leading programs is at the core of Amy’s wheelhouse. Over the past 8 years Amy has led the implementation of whole school coaching, curriculum, wellbeing and literacy programs. As an educator she is passionate about the role education and learning plays in developing our youth. And as a leader, she thrives on the challenge of building the capacity of others, while improving systems and driving innovation.