Meet the team!

Erin Merrin - Biography 2025 [GTAQ President]

Erin is a seasoned educator with over 20 years of experience in the Humanities field, and she’s not your average teacher! After starting her career at Miami State High School, teaching everything from Geography to Business and History, she’s now the Head of the Humanities Department at All Saints Anglican School on the beautiful Gold Coast, Australia. As a Geography guru and Sustainability Coordinator, Erin is all about environmental sustainability, leading the Social Justice & Sustainability Committee and inspiring her students to get involved with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

She’s also an avid traveller, having co-coordinated four overseas expeditions, including two to Tanzania, one to Japan, and most recently Thailand. From 2019 to 2021, Erin chaired the Board of the Sustainable Schools Network and is currently the Acting President of the Geography Teachers Association of Queensland. When she’s not shaping young minds, you’ll find Erin cooking up a storm, gardening, or globe-trotting with her daughter. Her love for travel only fuels her passion for teaching Geography, which she believes is the best subject to study!

Paige Pope – Biography 2025 [GTAQ Vice President]

Paige is an experienced educator with 15 years in the Humanities field. She began her teaching career at Kingaroy State High School and has since taught a diverse range of subjects, including Geography, Tourism, Japanese, and History. Currently, she serves as the Head of Department for Senior Schooling at Caboolture State High School. A passionate traveller and dedicated international student hostess, Paige has visited Japan twice and is planning to experience a white Christmas there in 2026. She has also travelled to Hawaii, immersing herself in the culture, geography, and history of both destinations. She enjoys exploring the world with her husband and son, as well as welcoming students from various cultural backgrounds into her home. As a committee member of the Geography Teachers' Association of Queensland, Paige is committed to fostering a love of Geography among young learners and shaping the next generation of geographers in her community. 

Dr Scott Lieske - Biography 2025 [Council Member]

Dr. Scott N. Lieske is a Senior Lecturer in Geography within the School of The Environment at the University of Queensland. His research interests are in using spatial tools, data and technology for communication and decision making in built environment, natural resources and environmental management. Research topics include urban mobility, the relationship between infrastructure and property prices, environmental change, the use of participatory spatial tools, and geography history and theory. Additional areas of interest and expertise include the effective use of geographic visualisation as a communication and decision support tool.

Leisa Atkinson- Biography 2025 [Council Member]

Back when chalk dust filled the air and the gestetner machine was the height of technology, Leisa began her teaching career in Charters Towers.  After living the high life in the Gold City, Leisa left for her 3 year sojourn teaching Humanities in Singapore. Upon returning to Australia, Ryan Catholic College in Townsville called her with the promise of teaching all things Humanities; including the wonderful QCAA subject of Futures and Geography. During her near 30 year tenure at Ryan, Leisa has taught all year levels of Geography; History; Humanities; Civics and Citizenship, Legal Studies and Futures. Beyond the classroom Leisa has served on both the QCAA Modern History and Geography Panels. 

Concurrent with the teaching of Geography, Leisa is passionate about issues of sustainability.  An inaugural Reef Guardian Teacher, Leisa has always promoted positive community involvement and the whole system approach to sustainability including her role as Sustainability Officer for the College and serving on the Diosocean Environmental Advisory Team for many years. A proud 'tree hugger', Leisa hopes to continue her work with students for many years to come.