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Independant Directors

President

Dr Neville Highett is a freelance consultant with expertise in the education sector. Since 1976 when Neville became an Inspector of Schools, his work has focussed on school effectiveness, school leadership, and school review and school accountability. He has had the unique experience of working for the government school sector at senior executive level in three states (Queensland – Senior Review Officer; New South Wales – Director of Program Evaluation; South Australia - as Director Planning and Accountability and as Executive Director of Schools) plus the experience of being a principal of large independent coeducational day and boarding school.
At the commencement of the 1999 school year he accepted a four year contract as Principal of Immanuel College. While at Immanuel College, Dr Highett developed a process for the 360 degree evaluation of the principal, the College Council and for the evaluation of each individual Council member. This process has generated a high degree of interest across the independent school sector.
He retired from the position of Principal of Immanuel College in January 2003 and established Quality Insight Consulting Pty Ltd and is currently working in Papua New Guinea restructuring their school inspection system.

Immediate Past President

Professor Patrick Duignan
BA, H Dip ED (NUI) B.Ed, M.Ed, Admin, Ph.D. (ALTA)

Patrick is Foundation Chair in Educational Leadership and Director of the Flagship for Creative & Authentic Leadership at ACU National. He has been involved in education for 40 years as a teacher, deputy principal and principal and in a number of positions from lecturer to Professor and Dean in tertiary education institutions.

He has held key academic and administrative positions at Memorial University (Canada), University of New England, University of Brunei and ACU National. He has a distinguished national and international research, publication, consultancy and conference presentation record in the areas of management and leadership in public sector organisations.

He has focused his research efforts primarily on effective leadership and management in public sector institutions, mostly in educational and health organisations. In recognition of Patrick’s contribution to educational leadership in Australia and internationally, the Australian Council of Educational Leaders (ACEL) awarded him their Nganakarrawa Award 2002 for excellence in educational leadership. In 2004, he was selected as the ACEL Distinguished Travelling Scholar lecturing on Authentic Leadership for Authentic Learning throughout Australia. In 2004 he was presented with a Gold Medal by the Australian Council for Educational Leaders, the most prestigious award given by ACEL, recognising an educator who has consistently contributed to the development of educational leadership in Australia.

In 2005, he was awarded the Microsoft Inaugural New Zealand Travelling Scholar. Patrick is an accomplished researcher, an insightful leadership theoretician and an effective educational practitioner at primary, secondary and tertiary levels of education.

Branch Appointed Directors

Australian Capital Territory

Tim Grace is a primary principal currently working within the ACT Education Department as manager of Educational Performance and Corporate Reporting. The section sits under the broad umbrella of Measurement, Monitoring and Reporting and draws heavily upon principles of continuous improvement through evidence-based practice.

Professionally, Tim has a strong interest in curriculum design and delivery with a Masters Degree that reflects his bent for the arts and technologies. His understanding of leadership grew through many years involvement with professional associations.

Tim continues to reflect upon contemporary notions of the workplace with an interest in what structures best support distributive leadership. The changing nature of engagement with professional organisations is a generational challenge; one which Tim enjoys meeting with innovative technological solutions that promote real and virtual communities.

New South Wales

NOEL S WEST

DipTeach (Armidale CAE), BA (Macquarie), M Ed Admin (UNSW), FACEL (NSW)

Noel West has had a diverse and challenging career as a school teacher and educational leader in NSW government schools. Noel has taught in and led schools in north-west, northern and western suburbs of Sydney; central NSW and the Hunter area. His teaching and leadership positions include a Central school (K-10), two semi-rural and three suburban schools. Noel was merit selected as Principal to Bennett Road Public School in 2000. This is a large school in western Sydney with special education classes.

His appointment as Principal to Bennett Road Public School allowed Noel to draw on his experiences and interests to create professional networks between a group of primary schools and the local high school. His leadership has created an active, resilient and responsive learning community recognised for its ingenuity, resourcefulness and responsibility towards meeting the needs of all students K-12 in the local Colyton - St Marys area. Noel has enjoyed the support, professionalism and personal qualities of other principals in the operation of the Colyton Learning Community.

Through the Minchinbury - Mount Druitt and Western Sydney Region principals' association, Noel has facilitated access to challenging and insightful speakers for several conferences relevant to local, State and National educational topics.

Noel's long-standing interest in cutting-edge educational leadership resulted in his participation in the re-creation of ACEL Penrith as vice-president (2005-2008). In 2006 - 2007 Noel served as secretary of ACEL NSW and in 2008 became President of ACEL NSW and a Director of the Australian Council of Educational Leaders.

Northern Territory

Graham Chadwick is the President of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders in the Northern Territory. He is currently principal of the Larrakeyah School in Darwin City, one of the oldest schools in the Northern Territory. Graham has Post Graduate degrees from Charles Darwin University and won a Quality Schooling award in 2006 for his work in remote Indigenous community education. As Principal of the Maningrida School in Arnhemland Graham developed specialist Senior Education and Vocational Education programs to improve educational and vocation pathways for remote Indigenous students. Graham has a keen interest in the advancement of Indigenous education and has authored and co authored articles for journals such as The Asia Pacific Journal of Anthropology on the subject of educational pathways for remote Indigenous students.

Queensland

Simon Boss-Walker is the President of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (Queensland). He is also Principal of Pialba State School in Hervey Bay in Queensland, a regional P-7 school of some 650 students.

Simon has been an educator for some 30 years and has taught in New South Wales and Queensland in both the State and independent sectors. He has been a senior officer with Education Queensland and been principal of both rural and urban schools. He has led strategic planning processes in schools across Queensland. He also acts as a coach and mentor for aspiring and beginning principals.
His focus in leadership has been on the development of parallel leaders, ensuring the long term sustainability of stable and dynamic leadership in the organisation. He has been responsible for co-ordinating and leading the ACEL (Q) Aspiring Leaders program in urban and regional Queensland. Currently he leading a project to promote indigenous leadership in Queensland.

Simon has received numerous awards for leadership including a Fellowship from the Australian Council for Educational Leaders in 2006, a Presidential Citation in 2002 and an ACEL (Q) Fellowship in 2003.

South Australia

Marian Parkinson works for the South Australian Department of Education and Children's Services with responsibility for developing executive and corporate leadership programs, including a women's mobility program.

A teacher, school leader and facilitator for more than 30 years, Marian has worked in the area of leadership development since 1990. This has included such roles as Leadership Consultant with the SA Centre for Leaders in Education for 5 years prior to her current role. As part of Marian's varied career she has been a teacher in both country and metropolitan locations and has held several school based leadership positions including short term positions as coordinator, Deputy and Principal.

Marian has co-authored Learn; Lead; Succeed. A resource to support the building of leadership capacity in Australian schools, which was commissioned by APAPDC.

She is passionate about teaching, learning and leadership and has worked across the state facilitating leadership programs with the intent of building the capacity of leaders and teachers. Marian is part of the ACEL (SA) executive in the role of Treasurer and also chairs the local Awards and Recognition portfolio. She has recently been elected as a national board representative.

Tasmania

Dr John Ewington FACEL

John has been a member of ACEL for nearly twenty years and has previously served as a National Director from 1994 until 2000. He is currently president of the ACEL (Tas).

John was the Vice President of the Tasmanian Principals' Association from 2001 until 2005 serving a term on the ASPA executive.

John has taught in all sectors of education including a secondment with the University of Tasmania. He has been a principal since 1999 including Sheffield District High School from 2000 to 2006.

John has particular interests in educational leadership, school effectiveness and school reform. He has co authored a number of articles on school effectiveness and school leadership.

Victoria

Peter Torey manages a large, dynamic and very successful Sport Department at Methodist Ladies’ College in his role as Director of Sport and Physical Education Centre. Peter is a teacher in the PE Dept and after also teaching commerce and VCE Biology now teaches VET Business. Previously Peter was Head of Health and Physical Education at Kingswood College in Box Hill and has also worked at Mt Scopus College, Syndal Technical School, Box Hill TAFE and Deakin University.

Peter has completed a B Ed majoring in Exercise Physiology and Outdoor Education, Grad Dip in Curriculum and M Ed (University of Melbourne), enhancing his professional interests in curriculum leadership, human resource management and strategic planning.

Peter was on the Board of the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER) for seven years, on the VCAB Field of Study Committee for Health and Physical Education and an examiner for VCAB in VCE PE. Peter has presented at the ACHPER Conference on several occasions.

Peter’s current honorary positions include membership of Ashburton Primary School Curriculum and Policy Committee, RMIT University Program Advisory Committee for the Bachelor of Applied Science, Victorian Independent Schools Superannuation Fund (VISSF) Policy Committee, Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority (VCAA) VCE VET Business Advisory Group and Parliament of the World's Religions Event Organising committee.

After six years, on the Board of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (Vic), Peter was appointed President in 2007. Current roles with ACEL include ACEL National Board member, Governance Committee working party, National Conference Organising Committee 2008, Manager ACEL (Vic) e-mentor program and Awards Night Organising Committee. Peter initiated the ACEL Victoria Fellows Alumni and the ACEL (Vic) e-mentor program in 2007. In 2003, Peter received an ACEL Presidential Citation Award.

Peter aims to ensure that ACEL Vic is an advocate for its members, provides cutting edge services, professional learning and leadership opportunities for educators and develops mutually beneficial relationships with other peak professional associations. In particular, Peter is excited and looking forward to ensuring that his contribution to the governance of ACEL National is of the highest quality thus allowing ACEL to continue to grow and be a leading professional association.

Western Australia

Tom Grace FACEL, FACEL (WA)
MEd Admin (Curtin)

Tom has been a member ACEL WA (WAIEA) since 1973 and has served as President, Vice President and Treasurer from 1990 - 1999. He was Treasurer of the ACEL/ACE Conference held in Perth in 1999 and served on the National Board from 1996 to 1998.

He has held the positions of Director Murdoch College Inc 2000 to present, as member of the Murdoch Institute of Technology Governing Council 2007 to present, was a Member of the Board of Education and Training International (a division within the Department of Education and Training WA) 2005-2006, and Member of the Board of Perth Education City Inc, May 2003 to December 2006.
Since retiring from a full-time position as principal of an adult senior college in 2007, Tom has undertaken a range of consultancies which has also included overseas work. His most recent focus has been advising institutions on their competitiveness within the marketplace particularly in relation to image, courses and student support structures.

Member appointed directors

Felicity Mandile

- Bachelor of Visual Arts (Charles Sturt University)
- Bachelor of Dance (University of New South Wales)
- Bachelor of Education (University of New South Wales)
- Masters in Educational Leadership and Management (University of Newcastle)

Felicity has worked in state and independent schools in NSW and QLD as a teacher and leader of innovation.

Her award winning projects have lent a focus to issues relating to Indigenous education; school and community partnerships; arts education; distance education; collaborative, computer mediated education; boys in education; international partnerships and cultural collaborations.

The Queensland Department of Education, Training and the Arts has recognised Felicity as an outstanding educator who integrates technology into teaching. Felicity was awarded the ICTs for Learning Innovative Teachers' Award in 2003. The Australian Government also describes Felicity as an outstanding teacher who recognises that the particular needs of students and their communities are at the heart of teaching and learning. Felicity was awarded the National Award for Quality Schooling, Best National Achievement by a Teacher in 2004. In 2005 Felicity was invited to the Microsoft Innovative Educators Forum, Korea and the Aichi World Expo, Japan. Both experiences consolidated Felicity's position as a leading teacher, researcher and innovator.

Felicity is currently in a senior administrative position in the Queensland Department of Education, Training and the Arts. She has responsibility across two major arts curriculum initiatives: Creative Generation - State Schools Onstage and Creative Generation Excellence Awards in the Arts.

Felicity's commitment to ACEL members: ACEL is in a strong position to capitalise on our local position, within the global environment, to advance the effectiveness of educational leaders and leadership practices. We can continue to create strong communities of educational leaders by being a destination for educators to turn to for inspiration, guidance and support, via electronic and physical means.

By representing aspiring, current and retired leaders ACEL will not only focus on the present, but begin to advocate for future visions for education with a focus on representing the broad field of education as a highly professional vocation.

Chris Presland

Bachelor of Arts (Sydney University)
Diploma of Education (Sydney University)

Chris has recently accepted his third Principalship as Principal at St Clair High School, which is a large comprehensive co-educational secondary school in the western suburbs of Sydney. From 2006-2008 he was a senior Principal in the Professional Learning and Leadership Development Directorate with the NSW DET. From 2001-6, he was the Principal of Airds High School, located in a highly disadvantaged community in South Western Sydney. In that role he led the school through a major innovative change process, focused upon intensive development of teacher and leader capability, which resulted in significant sustained improvements in student learning outcomes.

He is currently an Executive member of the NSW Secondary Principals' Council (NSW SPC), the executive member of the SPC Leadership Reference Group, Convener of the NSW Branch of the Australian Principals' Associations Professional Development Council (APAPDC) and a NSW Fellow of ACEL. In 2008 Chris will be awarded a National Fellowship.

He has been a member of ACEL for over 20 years. During that time he has published multiple feature articles in ACEL publications, presented keynote addresses and lead papers at ACEL conferences at both state and national levels, as well as making significant contributions to events such as the 2007 ACEL Leadership Retreat.

He has been the elected convener of the NSW Branch of APAPDC since 2004, and in that capacity has demonstrated a clear ability to work on major educational initiatives with leadership organisations across all sectors.

Chris's commitment to ACEL members: I believe that for ACEL to maintain its position as the leading professional association for educational leaders it will need to focus upon strong coordination with affiliate bodies, persuasive interaction with other stakeholders and succession planning at all levels. It must continue to be a dynamic, responsive, learning organisation driven by the highest levels of professional integrity.

In the immediate future there will be an increased drive towards more coherent national frameworks in relation to curriculum, standards for teachers and leaders, and productive partnerships beyond traditional state, territory and sector boundaries. This presents ACEL with an enormous opportunity, as an established body with great credibility and expertise, to have a strong influence on these directions.

Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary

Jenny Lewis
Dip.Ed; B.Ed; M.Ed; FACEL; AFAIM; AFSAE
ceo@acel.org.au

Jenny has just completed her principalship of Noumea Primary School, a disadvantaged school in the Mt Druitt District in New South Wales, Australia. Under her leadership the school has been recognised nationally and internationally for its innovative approach to professional development, school and pedagogical reform, and has received national and state awards for assessment, literacy, numeracy, knowledge management, school leadership and the integration of mathematics and technology.

Jenny is a past president and a Fellow of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL), and has been appointed Chief Executive Officer of ACEL. She has been awarded the national Nganakarrawa Award for outstanding leadership and was a finalist in the Telstra Business Women’s Awards. She is the 2006 recipient of the Wyndham Medal awarded by the Australian College of Educators (ACE), the 2007 recipient of the NSW Professional Teaching Council Exceptional Service Award and has recently been awarded Associate Fellowships of the Australian Institute of Management and the Australian Society of Association Executives. She has been identified as one of the top one hundred most creative and innovative people in Australia by the Bulletin Magazine and is a Board Member of the International and National Microsoft Partners in Learning Advisory Boards, the ACU National Flagship for Creative and Authentic Leadership, the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement, the Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration and Management, and is ACEL’s and the ACE’s representative to the national board of Teaching Australia.

She holds postgraduate qualifications in Educational Leadership, publishes regularly in education journals and is asked to present at national and international conferences on the areas of evidence based leadership and building professional learning communities.