Leon is a proud advocate for improved educational outcomes for our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children, having spent a large portion of his teaching career in the far north, including principal at Warraber and Horn Island primary schools in the Torres Strait and Western Cape College P-12.
Leon was born, and grew up on, Giabal Country on the Darling Downs, west of Toowoomba. After graduating as a teacher he moved to the Northern Peninsula Area, Cape York, where he met his wife who is a Torres Strait Islander from Erub, commonly known as Darnley Island, an Eastern Island in the Torres Strait. They have three children who are all young adults and identify strongly with their Torres Strait heritage. Leon has lived across the Torres Strait, the Western Cape and is now located in Jagera Country at Springfield.
Most recently, Leon was the Assistant Regional Director in the Darling Downs South West Region. As part of this role he worked closely with the Barambah Cluster, especially the communities of Cherbourg and Murgon.
As the newly appointed Acting Assistant Director-General for Indigenous Education within the State Schools Division of the Department of Education, Queensland, Leon is committed to seeing the department be more responsive to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander educational outcomes, and to working collaboratively with communities through shared decision making, to ensure students receive an education they and their families deserve.