Chief Executive Officer and Company Secretary
Jenny Lewis
MEd, BEd, DipEd, FACEL, FACE, AFAIM, AFSAE
ceo@acel.org.au
Jenny has served schools and their students for twenty five years, and as principal led staff and community at Noumea Primary School to create an innovative approach to professional learning, school and pedagogical reform. As a result the school 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), is a 2009 Fellow of ACE, and is the 2007 recipient of the NSW Professional Teaching Council Exceptional Service Award. She 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 co-chair of the International Microsoft Partners in Learning Advisory Board. She is Executive Officer of the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement and an Executive Board Member of the Commonwealth Council for Educational Administration and Management. She is ACEL’s and the ACE’s representative to 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.
Business Manager |
Felicity has worked in state and independent schools in New South Wales and Queensland as a teacher and leader of innovation. Her award winning projects lent a focus to issues relating to Indigenous education; school and community partnerships; arts education; distance education; collaborative, computer mediated education; international partnerships and cultural collaborations. In 2003 the Queensland Education Department recognised Felicity as an outstanding educator who integrates technology into teaching. In 2004 Felicity was the winner of the Best National Achievement by a Teacher, awarded by the Australian Government. She was described as an outstanding teacher who recognises that the particular needs of students and their communities are at the heart of teaching and learning. In 2005 Felicity was invited to the Microsoft Innovative Educators Forum in Korea and also in 2005 Felicity represented Australian education at the Aichi World Expo in Japan. Felicity’s skills, knowledge and behaviours have consolidated her as a leader, committed to research and innovation. As a member of the ACEL Board since 2008 Felicity has been able to advocate for future visions for education, drive projects and policies for aspiring and emerging leaders and broaden the horizons of ACEL to become a world-class organisation focused on advancing the academic and professional activities of educational leaders. Previous to joining ACEL as Business Manager in 2010, Felicity was in a senior administrative position in the Queensland Education Department. She was responsible for two major arts curriculum initiatives: Creative Generation - State Schools Onstage and Creative Generation Excellence Awards in the Arts. Felicity describes her commitment to ACEL and its 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." |
Leadership Academy and Branch Manager |
Kathy has been central to ACEL operations since 2003 and in this time has seen the growth of the organisation from a single staff member to the existing staff of eight. Kathy is responsible for the administration of the ACEL Leadership Academy and manages all the ACEL Branch requirements in conjunction with the executives from each state and territory. Kathy brings a wealth of knowledge from the banking industry where she worked for 17 years. She was placed in various branches of the Commonwealth Bank before being promoted into Card Services where she was Accounting Manager, Training Officer and Merchant Service Manager. Later her role as Business Analyst for Retail Card Services enabled her to travel to Sao Paulo, South America and Toronto, Canada where she studied local banks and their back-end merchant system. Her shift to ACEL has allowed her to work closer to home where she is mum to Samantha, 16 and Johnny, 4 and wife to Rodger. They are a family of ten pin bowlers who have all represented their state, except for Johnny! Kathy describes her commitment to ACEL and its members: “I thoroughly enjoy working for ACEL and am dedicated to helping members, future members and Board members.” |
e-Strategy |
Mitchell has been an integral part of the ACEL team since 2007. Mitch’s role within ACEL is to manage all online components of the organisation including web content and design and e-marketing. On a daily basis he maintains the ACEL website, the ACEL Leadership Portal and provides e-communication to the education community, ACEL members and the wider society in the form of updates, newsletters and member messages. ACEL’s online presence and smooth operation is due to Mitch’s knowledge and skills. He also has a broad awareness of the entire organisation gained by his previous roles when he was critical in the business areas of publications, memberships and events. Prior to working with ACEL, Mitch was a Sales Agent for Optus, an administrative officer for Central Queensland University and part of the administrative team for Stockland’s head office. He completed his Cert.IV in Frontline Management in 2009 and has recently completed his Diploma of Management. Mitch is passionate about music, art and travelling and notes London as his favourite travel destination. Mitchell describes his commitment to ACEL and its members: “sharing ACEL’s forward-thinking and innovative ideas with the education community gives me great satisfaction.” |
Finance |
Jane has been a critical part of building strength and capacity within ACEL since 2009. Although relatively new to the team, she is a central part of the day-to-day mechanics of the organisation. Prior to her role with ACEL Jane was an administration officer, office manager and accounts payable clerk for various companies. She gained an incredible amount of knowledge and skills from more than a decade of experience in office administration and applies this daily to her role as the ACEL Finance Officer. Jane has two daughters and two beautiful granddaughters. She enjoys family holidays, outdoor leisure activities and eating out with friends! Jane describes her commitment to ACEL and its members: “I love my job and wherever I can I undertake tasks which will assist the smooth running of the organisation.” |
Professional Learning |
Johnathon Parker Johnathon began working for ACEL early in 2010. Although new to the team he is vital. All aspects of ACEL’s state, territory and national activities including any Branch professional learning occasions, all state conferences and award evenings, the Travelling Scholar series and the ACEL national conference and annual award ceremony are managed by Johnathon. He holds a Diploma in Events Management and before joining ACEL, Johnathon assisted with organising events including the Hospitality Training Network and Restaurant & Catering Apprentice Chef Culinary Competition, High Octane Expo and Glenbrook Spring Fair. He has also worked on-site at events such as Rosemount Australian Fashion Week, Rosemount Sydney Fashion Festival and Sydney Fashion Weekend. Johnathon also has vast experience in the customer service field. If Johnathon is not listening to music or spending time with family he heads to the city with friends. Johnathon describes his commitment to ACEL and its members: "I love that I can produce high quality, memorable events that members enjoy." |
Publications |
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Administration |
Sam joined ACEL in 2008 and brings to the organisation years of experience gained from various positions in the customer service field. On a daily basis Sam undertakes administrative tasks associated with every ACEL event. She ensures all delegates are successfully booked in to their chosen activities and that all invoicing is streamlined and seamless. With the busy calendar of events that ACEL delivers and the large numbers of both interstate and international delegates Sam’s calm and thorough manner guarantees satisfaction. In 2009 ACEL launched the Living Library which allows ACEL National Conference delegates to borrow a “Living Book”. Sam also manages this project. Outside of ACEL Samantha is mother to three young children and is a very keen netball player. Samantha describes her commitment to ACEL and its members: "ACEL provides a great service to the education sector. With school-aged children I can see the difference the organisation makes. I am proud to be able to play a part in assisting our education leaders". |
Membership |
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Felicity Mandile 
Kathy Hangan
Mitchell Liehr
Jane Batts
Rochelle Slater-Liehr
Stacey Parkins
