ConnectED 22/23 Middle Leaders

Andy Hargreaves is Visiting Professor and also Director of Chenine (Change, Engagement and Innovation in Education) at the University of Ottawa. He is Research Professor in the Lynch School of Education at Boston College. Andy also holds Visiting and Honorary Professorships at Hong Kong University, the University of Stavanger in Norway, and Swansea University in the UK. Andy is an elected member of the US National Academy of Education, former President of the International Congress of School Effectiveness and Improvement (2018-2020), former Adviser in Education to the Premier of Ontario (2015-2018), and current adviser to the First Minister of Scotland. Andy is co-founder and president of the ARC Education Collaboratory.

Andy has published more than 30 books and has 8 Outstanding Writing Awards. An exceptional keynote speaker and workshop leader, he has delivered invited addresses in more than 50 countries, 47 US states, and all Australian and Canadian states and provinces. He has been honoured in Canada, the US, and the UK for services to public education and educational research and is ranked by Education Week (US) as the #15 scholar with the most influence on the US education policy debate.

Andy taught in primary schools and lectured in several English universities, including Oxford. He then moved to Canada where he became co-founder and director of the International Centre for Educational Change at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education in Toronto. He has been awarded visiting professorships in the US, Canada, the UK, Hong Kong, Sweden, Spain, Japan, Norway and Singapore. He holds Honorary Doctorates from Scandinavia’s oldest university, Uppsala, in Sweden and from The Education University of Hong Kong.

Andy received the Whitworth Award for outstanding contributions to educational research in Canada, was awarded a writing residency by the Rockefeller Foundation; and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (FRSA) in the UK. He has been honoured with the 2016 Horace Mann Award in the US and the Robert Owen Award in Scotland for services to public education. From 2017-2019, Andy was elected President of The International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement. Andy has been listed by Education Week as being among the top 10 scholars with most influence on US educational policy debate.

Andy is a researcher, writer, speaker, consultant and policy adviser. He has addressed international organisations such as the World Bank, OECD (the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development), UNESCO, the Soros Foundation, the WISE Foundation, the European Union, the International Baccalaureate, the International Congress of Principals, the European School Heads Association, Education International, the Universities of Latin America, and the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement.

Andy has delivered invited addresses and provided staff development in 47 US states, 50 countries and all Australian states and Canadian provinces.

Andy has published more than 30 books and has 8 Outstanding Writing Awards. He has been honoured in Canada, the US, and the UK for services to public education and educational research and is ranked by Education Week (US) as the #15 scholar with the most influence on the US education policy debate.

Twitter: @HargreavesBC

Web: https://www.andyhargreaves.com/

Professor Rachel Wilson, School of Business, University of Technology, Sydney

Rachel is the newly appointed Professor of Social Impact, within the University of Technology, Sydney's Business School. Here, she will lead a research and teaching team that focuses on progressive, interdisciplinary and impactful research. A focus on equity across the whole child, from early childhood through to adult learning that examines educational, health, social and family opportunity will be key.

Until 2022, Rachel Wilson was Associate Professor in Educational Assessment, Evaluation and Research Methods at the University of Sydney. Rachel’s background is in psychology and teaching, with particular interests in emotional development.

She always endeavours to keep student interests at the centre of her work. She has broad interests and technical expertise in relation educational evidence, policy and practice and is interested in system level reform and innovation. Rachel is currently teaching research methods and program evaluation to postgraduate coursework and research students. Over the years she has been coordinator of several degrees, including MEd Research Methods, BEd Early childhood and MEd - Management and Leadership.

Rachel has expertise in educational assessment, research methods and program evaluation. As such she has broad interests across educational evidence, policy, and practice. She is interested in system level reform and innovation and has been involved in many university and education sector-wide, reforms.

Rachel evaluates educational policy with a 'student centred' approach that draws on her background in psychology and developmental science, as well as her skills in interrogating system level data. Much of her recent work examines trends in educational participation and standards. Her recent research projects include examining the experiences of international university students; preparation and transition to university; interdisciplinary learning; and ICT integration.

With interests in early childhood education and Rachel is author, with her late father, on a ground-breaking book on Emotional Development. This book positions emotional development at the centre of all child and human development.

Rachel is passionate about research and enjoys teaching students who are keen make discoveries through research. With expertise in both qualitative and quantitative research methods she is particularly interested in encouraging students to pursue mixed-methods research (using both qualitative and quantitative approaches).

Rachel's research methods classes are informal and interactive, with a strong focus on examining and critiquing published research articles. Her statistics classes are friendly to 'math-phobics'.

Rachel is particularly motivated to research issues which impact upon equity and social justice. Her interest in research methods is matched by her enthusiasm to see research produce meaningful and positive change in educational and social policy. She has experience in developing and providing in-service, professional learning, programs to effect school improvement. She is a regular contributor to media discussion on education and also sits on various educational advisory committees.

Twitter: @RachelWilson100

Web: to be advised

Rachel Wilson - LinkedIn

Pasi Sahlberg is Finnish, and now Australian (of five years) educator, teacher, and author. Pasi is Professor in Educational Leadership, Melbourne Graduate School of Education at The University of Melbourne.

Pasi has worked as a schoolteacher, teacher-educator, academic, and policymaker in Finland, and he has advised schools and education system leaders around the world. Pasi has served Australian education across three universities.

Pasi was a professor of education policy at the Gonski Institute for Education, University of New South Wales from 2019-2021. In 2022, Pasi was a full professor of Education at Southern Cross University before his current position at The University of Melbourne.

Pasi Sahlberg is a Finnish educator and author who has worked as schoolteacher, teacher educator, researcher, and policy advisor in Finland and has studied education systems, analysed education policies, and advised education reforms around the world.

Pasi served as a senior education specialist at the World Bank (Washington, DC), lead education specialist at the European Training Foundation (Torino, Italy), director general at the Finland’s Ministry of Education and Culture (CIMO) and visiting professor of Practice at Harvard University.

Pasi is a recipient of several awards for his lifelong service in education, including the 2012 Education Award (Finland), the 2014 Robert Owen Award (Scotland), the 2016 Lego Prize (Denmark), Rockefeller Foundation's Bellagio Resident Fellowship in 2017, and Dr Paul Brock Memorial Medal in 2021.

Pasi has written and spoken widely about many topics. In 2013 his book “Finnish Lessons: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland” won the Grawemeyer Award (U.S.) for an idea that has potential to change the world.

Pasi's most recent books include "Let the Children Play: How more play will save our schools and help children thrive" (2019, with William Doyle), "Finnish Lessons 3.0: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland” (2021), and "In Teachers We Trust: The Finnish way to world-class schools" (2021, with Tim Walker).

Pasi is also a recipient of the 2012 Education Award in Finland, the 2014 Robert Owen Award in Scotland, the 2016 Lego Prize, and Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Resident Fellowship in 2017.

Pasi's other books include: “Hard Questions on Global Educational Change”, “Empowered Educators in Finland” and “FinnishED Leadership: Four Big, Inexpensive Ideas to Transform Education”.

Pasi is a former senior education specialist at the World Bank, a lead education expert at the European Training Foundation, a director general at the Finland’s Ministry of Education, and a visiting Professor of Practice at Harvard University.

Pasi chairs the Open Society Foundations’ Education Board and is a member of the Governing Board of the University of Oulu and the International Council of Education Advisors (ICEA) for the Scottish Government.

Twitter: @pasi_sahlberg

Web: https://pasisahlberg.com/

Cathy Brennan, Acting Deputy Secretary, School Performance - North

Cathy is a senior leader of the NSW Department of Education who oversees the provision of a quality public education for students in over 2,200 schools.

The School Performance division aims to maximise the achievements of all students and create a culture of success and a desire to achieve, underpinned by innovative, adaptive and supportive strategies that enhance the quality of teaching and educational leadership at the school level.

The North division directs the operations of more than 1100 NSW public schools from North Sydney up to the Queensland Border and from the coast to as far west as Lightning Ridge. The School Performance North division impacts the lives of over 390,000 students and provides support to 41,000 teachers, school staff and leaders each day.

The division includes the Student Support and Specialist Programs directorate which delivers state-wide services in the areas of disability, mental health and wellbeing, as well as behaviour and attendance. It also runs specialist programs in Arts, Sports, Community Languages, International programs, and Assisted School Travel.

Program as well as child mental health and wellbeing. The division also includes the newly formed Student Wellbeing Support directorate, which delivers state-wide services in the areas of disability, wellbeing, behaviour and attendance.

Cathy commenced her career with the NSW Department of Education as a primary school teacher in the Fairfield area and is a long-serving educator with 38 years’ experience in education as a teacher, principal and system leader.

Cathy brings a focus on the impact that highly effective leadership and quality teaching has in improving student outcomes and the role that professional learning plays in building both individual and system capacity for every learner.

Murat Dizdar PSM, Acting Secretary, NSW Department of Education

Murat is a senior leader of the NSW Department of Education and oversees the provision of a quality public education for students in over 2,200 schools.

Murat is Acting Secretary of one of the world's largest education systems, one that provides support to 80,000 teachers and school leaders to deliver a high-quality education for over 800,000 students. The School Performance division consists of teams that are responsible for school planning, ongoing self-assessment and external validation, annual reporting and policy implementation.

Murat’s career with the NSW Department of Education began as a social sciences teacher at Ashcroft High School. He has experience in a range of school leadership roles including being senior principal of Belmore and Punchbowl Boys High School.

Murat holds a Bachelor of Education (Secondary Humanities) majoring in Economics and Geography from the University of Sydney, and recently undertook the Leadership for the 21st Century course at Harvard Kennedy School.

Murat was awarded the Australia Day Public Service Medal in 2016, an Australian Council of Educational Leaders (ACEL) NSW Fellowship in 2019, an ACEL National Fellowship in 2020 and the Nanga Mai Department of Education and NSW AECG Inc Partnership Award 2021.

Murat recently was awarded the 2020 Sir Harold Wyndham medal by the Australian College of Educators (ACE). Murat also holds the role of Adjunct Professor within the School of Education at The University of Western Sydney.

Megan Kelly, Executive Director, Curriculum and Reform

Megan has enjoyed her career in public education for over 30 years. She has served as a classroom teacher, a middle leader and as a principal of many primary schools. These include leading as a teaching principal through to principalships of large schools, including Taren Point Public School and Woolooware Public School.

Over 2018-2020, Megan was Director Educational Leadership for the Canterbury Principals' Network. Here she provided strategic and operational support for principals leading school improvement in the Canterbury network of schools.

Megan then moved from schools into DoE Corporate, taking up a role in the Leadership and Teacher Quality. Here she led support for the principals in the leadership and management of their schools and shaped up a new leadership strategy for NSW Public Schools.

Throughout 2021, Megan held the role of Director, Literacy and Numeracy, within Learning Improvement. Here, her responsibilities included: delivering support for the five priorities for literacy and numeracy including evidence based support for schools to improve student literacy and numeracy in NSW Public Schools.

Over late-Oct 2021 to early-2022, Megan was the Acting Executive Director, Educational Standards before formally becoming the Executive Director, Curriculum and Reform in February, 2022.

In her current role, Megan carries significant responsibility for leading the implementation of the NSW Curriculum Reform following the detailed review of the NSW P/K-12 Curriculum by Professor Geoff Masters, and the NSW Government Response.

Megan is passionate about leading the implementation of support for new syllabuses for all. This included our Accelerated Adopter and Self-Selector schools, all classroom teachers P/K-12 and school and system leaders as part of the NSW curriculum reform.

Robyn Evans is President of the New South Wales Primary Principals’ Association.

In this role, she represents nearly 1700 NSW Primary Principals and works in collaboration with the NSW Department of Education's corporate and senior executive personnel to make recommendations, influence and shape policies and practices in New South Wales schools.

The Primary Principals' Associations’ Pillars of Support: Empower, Advocate and Lead drive the business of the Association.

Robyn's substantive position is Principal or Casula Public School in South West Sydney. Like every other NSW public school, Casula Public School is a vibrant and exciting place for students, staff and the community.

Personalised learning and inclusion underpin the excellence in education Robyn and her team strive for.

This is Robyn's third substantive Principalship, having led schools for some fifteen years in diverse communities.

Robyn believes that being Principal is a most privileged positions, that one can hold in our society.

Craig Petersen MACEL

Craig Petersen is President of the NSW Secondary Principals’ Council (SPC). The SPC provides advocacy, support and professional learning for its members and provides high-level advice to senior officers of the NSW Department of Education and the Minister for Education.

Craig was the substantive Principal of Denison College of Secondary Education (2011-2022). Denison College is a multi-campus secondary college in the regional centre of Bathurst, NSW, serving approximately 2000 students across the Bathurst and Kelso High Campuses.

Craig was previously Principal, Forbes High School (2006-2010). Under his leadership, both schools have been recipients of multiple awards, including the prestigious Director-General’s and Secretary’s Awards for School Achievement.

Craig served on the Board of the NSW Education Standards Authority (NESA) from 2017-19 and chaired the NESA Research and Technical Advisory Committee.

Craig was a member of the Charles Sturt University Teacher Education Course Advisory Board (2012-15) and is currently a member of two of Western Sydney University’s Expert Advisory Committees: Postgraduate Specialist Studies; and Initial Teacher Education (School).

Craig is a member of the NESA/NSW Council of Deans of Education's ITE Professional Experience Working Group. Craig provides regular advice on ITE to the University of Technology Sydney Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/Teacher Education and has recently been appointed to AITSL’s Teacher Education Expert Standing Committee. Craig is a Council Member, International Confederation of Principals (ICP), and has presented keynotes at ICP Conferences in Helsinki (2015), Capetown (2017) and Shanghai (2019).

In 2014, Craig received both the Department of Education Educational Leadership Fellowship, and the NSW Secondary Principals’ Council’s Academy Research Fellowship to support his research into improving outcomes for students from disadvantaged backgrounds. His expertise in this field resulted in an invitation to present a keynote at the Alberta (Canada) Rural Education Symposium (2014).

Craig is a recipient of the Australian College of Educators Excellence in Education Award (2018). His contributions to international educational leadership were recently recognised with him being named as a NSW Fellow for Leading Educators Around the Planet.