February 21, 2014

Conference addresses challenges ahead for school leaders

Three of Australia’s leading educationalists will spearhead the University of Wollongong's 13th Educational Leadership Conference on Friday 21 February.

The conference will be led by Professor Steve Dinham (University of Melbourne), Professor Jenny Gore (University of Newcastle) and Professor Geoff Masters (Australian Council for Educational Research).

Educational leaders and those aspiring to leadership will be taking part in the conference hosted by UOW’s Australian Centre for Educational Leadership. The conference theme is ‘Effective Leaders: Leading Sustainable and Positive Change’. Major sponsors of the conference are the Catholic Education Office, Diocese of Wollongong; School of Education, University of Wollongong; and the NSW Department of Education and Communities.

Speaking on behalf of the conference organising committee, the Director of the Australian Centre for Educational Leadership, Associate Professor Narottam Bhindi, from UOW’s School of Education said that leading, managing and delivering effective educational change in an intensively political, social and economic environment was a challenge that all school leaders face as a critical aspect of their roles and responsibilities.

“New policies and strategic directions imposed from outside and within systems are constantly evolving to challenge current mindsets and skills,” he said.

The keynote speakers will share the latest research in the area of school improvement, leading sustainable and positive change, quality learning and teaching and improving student learning outcomes.

The Head of UOW’s School of Education, Associate Professor Ian Brown, said the topic of leading effective change was a perennial topic of interest to all educational stakeholders.

More information: See educationalleadershipconference.com.au for a list of the conference speakers and their topics

Note to media: The conference is being held in the McKinnon Building (Bldg 67) at UOW. The best time for photo/media interviews is the conference morning tea break in the McKinnon foyer from 10.15am to 10.45am.

Media contact: Associate Professor Narottam Bhindi on +61 2 4221 5477