GIPPSLAND Grammar has appointed Michele Wakeham as its new principal, effective immediately.

Mrs Wakeham has been Gippsland Grammar’s acting principal since June this year.

Prior to that, Mrs Wakeham was the school’s deputy principal after moving to Gippsland in June 2021 from Trinity Grammar School in Kew.

Previously, Mrs Wakeham received an acknowledgement from Associated Public Schools of Victoria for more than 10 years of longstanding teaching excellence at Geelong Grammar, Melbourne Grammar and Scotch College.

Gippsland Grammar Board chair Brendan Shepherd said the Board was unanimous in its utmost confidence that Mrs Wakeham was a strong leader for the Gippsland independent school.

“The appointment of a principal is one of the most important tasks for any school Board,” Mr Shepherd said. “And after a rigorous recruitment process we are delighted to confirm Mrs Wakeham will continue to lead Gippsland Grammar into the future,” he said.

“Michele has a passion for innovative teaching and learning, as well as an inspiring enthusiasm for cultivating a strong community across the school’s three campuses.

“We thank her for her unwavering dedication to our school during her tenure as acting principal. Over the past five months Michele has provided compassionate and unifying leadership and the Board sees her appointment as principal as an exciting opportunity for our school.”

Gippsland Grammar’s Board worked alongside Fisher Leadership during the principal recruitment process.

Michele Wakeham said she was honoured to accept what she described as her ‘dream role’.

“When I first joined the Gippsland Grammar community I considered the role of deputy principal -teaching and learning to be a dream opportunity for me,” Mrs Wakeham said.

“But after almost a semester of immersing myself in the role to which I have now been appointed, I now consider the position of Gippsland Grammar’s principal to be my new dream coming true.

“It is a role I feel ready for, excited about, and invigorated by, and I am looking forward to continue my journey in providing and nurturing the best learning experience and outcomes for students, as well as fostering exciting and fulfilling careers for teachers.

“Gippsland families are so lucky to have access to this level of educational excellence while still enjoying the numerous benefits of living in regional Victoria.”

Mrs Wakeham said in the time she had been acting principal, she had been overwhelmed by the support she had received from staff and students.

“I now have a much greater understanding of just how much the position of Gippsland Grammar’s principal is both a privilege and an honour, and I look forward to meeting the expectations and high standards for what this role demands,” she said.

Mrs Wakeham’s family includes her husband Laurie, who is Gippsland Grammar’s head groundsperson, and sons Trystan, Rhys and Bryn, who are all students at St Anne’s Campus.

Mrs Wakeham’s father Don spent part of his childhood in Cowwarr, and also lives with the family.

Mrs Wakeham speaks Japanese, is St Mary’s Cathedral’s choir director and is a 2nd Dan black belt in taekwondo.

The Wakehams are members of the Sale Golf Club, Seaspray Surf Lifesaving Club, Sale Little Athletics Club and Sale United Football Club.

As principal, Mrs Wakeham will oversee Gippsland Grammar’s two Early Learning Centres and two junior campuses in Sale and Bairnsdale and its senior campus and Boarding House in Sale.