BIEEC staff
Michael Gabriel - Principal
Michael is a secondary trained teacher of health and physical education, science and health with teaching experience across all year levels. He has a passion for the outdoors and is an enthusiastic educator. He has a strong interest in marine environments and outdoor recreation activities. Michael began his time at the Centre as a teacher in 2014 and been leading the Centre since 2019.
Kate Larson - Business Manager
Kate is currently on leave and Lauren Wyatt is acting Business Manager.
Lauren Wyatt - Business Manager
Lauren joins us from Coominya State School, where she worked as a Small School Business Manager. Now settled in our beautiful region with her husband and young family, she’s enjoying getting to know the world of outdoor education. Lauren brings a warm, professional presence and is a fabulous addition to our team.
Cathy Singh - Teacher
Cathy is a passionate and energetic educator who thrives in the outdoor learning environment. A Highly Accomplished Teacher (HAT) and primary-trained educator, she brings a wealth of experience from classrooms across Queensland, from Far North Queensland to the southern Gold Coast. While she loves everything about Queensland, she’s a proud Blues supporter at heart (but we try not to hold that against her!). Cathy is widely respected for her strong classroom management skills and her talent for engaging students through hands-on, real-world learning. She’s been a valued member of our team since 2016.
Ebonny Gabriel - Teacher
Ebonny is a passionate and dedicated educator with a strong love for science and especially biology. A nationally certified Highly Accomplished Teacher (HAT), she has proudly represented her profession at the national HALT Summit. Ebonny thrives in the outdoor education setting and enjoys working with students of all ages. Known for her reflective practice and keen eye for detail, she continually seeks ways to enhance our programs and improve teaching and learning experiences. Ebonny has been an integral part of our team since 2013.
Charlotte Wemmerslager - Teacher
Charlotte is a warm and dedicated primary-trained teacher who brings a wealth of experience and a genuine care for her students. As an experienced senior teacher, she has embraced the world of outdoor and environmental education, bringing her calm presence and thoughtful approach to every program. Charlotte has a deep love for the coastal environment, especially the beach, and generously volunteers her time with the local surf life saving club. Since joining the team in 2022, she has been a valued and vibrant part of our centre.
Jayden Woods - Teacher
Originally from the Gold Coast, Jayden has made the move up here with his fiancée and their gorgeous dog, Macy. With a background in outdoor education since 2018, he brings valuable experience and enthusiasm to the team. Jayden is currently working towards achieving his Highly Accomplished Teacher (HAT) certification, continuing to build on his dedication to excellence in education. His teaching style is hands-on and student-focused, encouraging curiosity, resilience, and a deep connection to the natural world.
Karl French - Harbour Watch Project Officer
Karl has been the Project Officer for the Port Curtis Harbour Watch program since 2020. This program engages community and school groups in citizen science of monitoring the water quality of our local harbour, rivers and estuaries. Karl gets to play with some great science equipment and loves facilitating groups of all ages out in the field. Karl comes with extensive experience in the science arena previously working with the local university and conservation volunteers Australia. Karl also has a passion for sea turtle monitoring along our CQ coast lines. Check out the Harbour Watch webpage to get in touch with Karl directly.
Nicole Miles - Teacher Aide
Nicole joined the BIEEC team in 2021, bringing energy, creativity, and a wealth of experience. Now a 2025 Experienced Teacher Aide Flagship Program Graduate, she was proudly nominated for Australian Teacher Aide of the Year. Whether she’s working directly with students, crunching data, updating our website, printing and preparing resources, or designing logos and program materials, Nicole’s contributions are dynamic and invaluable. If there’s an opportunity to bake a cake or use our Cricut machine, you can bet she’s onto it!
Emily Byrne - Cleaner
Emily has been a valued member of the BIEEC team since 2022. With a passion for keeping our environment pristine and always powered by iced coffee, she brings dedication, warmth, and care to everything she does. As a proud netball and footy mum, Emily understands the power of teamwork, and her hard work is evident in every detail around our site. Thanks to Emily, our facilities consistently reflect the beauty of the outdoor spaces we’re lucky to work in each day.
Mal McCracken - Unit Support Officer
Mal joined the BIEEC team in 2022 and brings a great sense of humour, always ready with a laugh and a bit of banter. As our Unit Support Officer, he tackles a wide range of tasks, from maintaining the grounds and fixing equipment to taking on projects and supporting programs as a safety officer on boats or hikes. No two days are ever the same. Mal’s friendly nature makes him a hit with staff and students alike, and in his spare time, you’ll often find him out running or conquering a new mountain trail.
Peter Jackson - Groundsman
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Peter joined us in 2022, bringing a toolbox full of skills and a passion for keeping everything running smoothly. From caring for our bush landscapes to maintaining the infrastructure that supports our programs, his expertise is evident throughout the centre. Peter’s knack for fixing things keeps our space welcoming and thriving, just don’t ask for a photo; he'd much rather be working!