OAM, FACE, FACEL, GAICD
MEd (Systems Leadership), MEd (Leadership), BEdStudies, BSc, GDipTeach (Secondary)
John is Deputy Director of Catholic Education South Australia. He has responsibility for 101 Catholic schools. These comprise 46 000 students and 6000 staff across South Australia.
He believes the key to successful Catholic education is focusing equally on two fundamentals: mission in the context of Jesus’ mission for the church and quality education.
John was the executive director of Catholic Education Tasmania from 2015 to 2019. Here he was instrumental in leading a vision to reimage the future for the teaching profession.
John has 40 years’ experience in education in roles including teacher, deputy principal and principal. He has also held roles in senior administration and management.
He is a teacher and educational leader with experience in diverse educational settings. This includes preschool to Year 12 schools, day and boarding schools, city and country schools. It also includes post-compulsory adult education, boys Independent Catholic college, co-educational Catholic colleges and an Independent boarding college.
From 2010 to 2014, John held the position as diocesan director of schools for the Diocese of Armidale. In 2010 John was named a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators (ACE). The New England Chapter of Australian College of Educational Leaders (ACEL) awarded John the William Walker Award for Educational Leadership in 2014.
In January 2015, he was appointed executive director of Catholic Education in Tasmania. In 2016 he was awarded a Fellow of the Australian College of Educational Leaders. From 2017 to 2019 John served as deputy chair of the National Catholic Education Commission.
In 2020, John was appointed deputy director of Catholic Education South Australia.
He currently sits on the boards of Education Services Australia (ESA), Asia Education Foundation (AEF) and the Australian College of Educators (ACE). He also chairs the Nazareth Catholic Community Governing Council.
John was recognised in the Queen’s Birthday 2021 Honours List for his outstanding contribution to Catholic Education with an Order of Australia Medal (OAM).
John has degrees in Science and Educational Studies from Griffith University and University of Queensland. He also has Masters degrees in Educational Leadership and Educational Systems Leadership from Australian Catholic University. John also has a Graduate Diploma in Teaching, a Diploma in Christian Leadership and a Certificate IV in Systematic Theology.
