Our second public lecture responding to the Gonski 2.0 report will bring together research and industry experts to discuss the report's recommendations around leadership, particularly how we provide school leaders with high quality professional learning. Chaired by Adrian Piccoli, UNSW researchers Dr Scott Eacott and Dr Richard Niesche will join school leaders with experience in the government and non-government sector.
About the Presenters:
Dr Scott Eacott is a relational theorist and Director of Higher Degree Research in the School of Education at the University of New South Wales and Adjunct Professor in the Department of Educational Administration at the University of Saskatchewan. He has previously held positions at the University of Newcastle, Australian Catholic University and the New South Wales Department of Education. His relational research program has provided new insights for understanding educational leadership, management and administration.
Dr Richard Niesche is Deputy Head of School (Research) and Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at the University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia. He has worked as a teacher in Queensland and New South Wales at both primary and secondary levels. His research interests include educational leadership, the principalship and social justice. His particular research focus is to use a critical perspective in educational leadership to examine the work of school principals in disadvantaged schools and how they can work towards achieving more socially just outcomes.
Robyn McKerihan has had more than 40 years’ experience in the NSW education system, starting as a teacher, executive staff member and school principal. Since 1995, she has worked in senior roles as a Director and Executive Director in the NSW Department of Education at a regional and state level. Robyn joined the Board of the NSW Education Standards Authority in 2017 and is Chair of their Registration Committee.
Iris Nastasi is the Executive Principal, Leadership and Succession, Sydney Catholic Schools.Prior to this she was the Principal of Clancy Catholic College, a coeducational secondary school in Western Sydney and Assistant Principal of All Saints Catholic Girls College, Liverpool. Ms Nastasi's leadership has a strong focus on lifelong learning, innovation and critical thinking. Ms Nastasi has worked as a teacher, executive leader and principal in NSW for 30 years and currently sits on the Board of the NSW Standards Authority.
Adrian Piccoli served as a Member of NSW Parliament for 19 years and as the NSW Minister for Education for 6 years from 2011 until 2017. Adrian is widely respected by the Australian education sector. He led the political campaign to reform school funding in Australia. He has strengthened and enhanced the teaching profession in NSW through his “Great Teaching Inspired Learning” reforms and has consistently championed a greater focus on the learning needs of disadvantaged children particularly those living in rural and remote Australia. In 2017 Mr Piccoli was made a Professor of Practice in the School of Education at UNSW and has also been made a Fellow of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders. Mr Piccoli is currently the Director of UNSW’s Gonski Institute for Education.
