Board and People of ESU Queensland

Emeritus Professor Caroline Hatcher has been on the board  since 2011, becoming president in 2023, a role she retains. Caroline has been instrumental in delivering the public speaking program since 2012 and is currently chair of the Roly Sussex Short Story Competition (the Rolys) Subcommittee. Caroline’s professional career focused on education and management at the Queensland University of Technology.

Clyde Torkington is a Life Member of the ESU, joining the board in 2022 as a director, and is currently secretary and treasurer. Clyde serves as chair of the Finance Subcommittee and is a member of the Property Subcommittee. Clyde has been recently active in the technology and lotteries industries.

Kerry Davies joined the board in 2022 as a director, taking on a temporary role as company secretary, and in 2023 became vice-president. Kerry is a judge of the Open Division of the Roly Sussex Short Story Competition (the Rolys). She chairs the Communications and Marketing Subcommittee and is a member the Rolys and Property subcommittees. Kerry is a publishing professional and an Honorary Life Member of the Institute of Professional Editors (IPEd).

Talisa Pariss-Proby joined the board in 2022 as a director. Talisa has played a pivotal role in the ESU public speaking program and as a judge of the Secondary School Division of the Roly Sussex Short Story Competition (the Rolys). She is chair of the Public Speaking Subcommittee. Talisa is active in teaching speech, drama and theatre, and as a drama and Eisteddfod adjudicator.

Pam Greatorix joined the board in 2023 as a director and currently chairs the Events Subcommittee and is a member of the Public Speaking Subcommittee. Pam’s professional career has focused on teaching drama studies as well as adjudicating at Eisteddfods, public speaking and debating competitions. She is also a committee member of the Communication, Speech & Performance Teachers Inc.

Trish Alford joined the board in 2022 as a director, and is currently the chair of the Property Subcommittee. Trish’s professional career spanned the education and real estate industries.

Ingrid Larkin was appointed as director in 2025. Ingrid is a member of the Communications and Marketing, and Membership subcommittees, and has been an adjudicator for the Secondary School Public Speaking Competition since 2023. Ingrid joined Queensland University of Technology (QUT) in 2004, and is a lead academic coach for QUT Business School international case competitions. She is an award-winning educator, with a focus on work- integrated learning. Her previous career was in communication, public relations and advertising, and consulting.

Paris will join the board in September 2026, following completion of her Masters of Finance and Investment Management. She is an associate at LGT Wealth Management and has already joined the ESU’s Finance Subcomittee. She has experience in public speaking through AMEB, Grades 7–12, and has been among state and national finalists for Rostrum’s Voice of Youth public speaking competition.