QELi congratulates Professor Donna Pendergast, Dean and Head of the School of Education and Professional Studies at Griffith University, and Chair of the QELi Board, on recently being awarded the Miller-Grassie Award for Outstanding Educational Leadership by the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) Queensland Branch.
This award recognises Professor Pendergast’s extensive contributions to our sector, from her early career as an educator through to her scholarly contributions to the field, particularly in areas of middle years education, student engagement, teacher education, and school reform.
Accepting her award, Professor Pendergast spoke about the significance of collaboration, creativity and change in 21st Century educational leadership.
Neil McDonald, Chief Executive Officer, QELi congratulates Professor Pendergast on behalf of QELi and her fellow QELi Board Directors.
“I warmly congratulate Professor Pendergast on this richly-deserved award,” said Mr McDonald.
“In her oration Professor Pendergast spoke about the need for strong leadership in education – leaders who ask questions, make connection, imagine what might be, explore options, reflect critically and constantly ask ‘what if’. Professor Pendergast exhibits these leadership qualities in her position as QELi Board Chair and we are extremely fortunate to have her guiding our organisation.”
The ACEL Queensland Branch Awards recognise outstanding leadership and honour education leaders who, in the view of their peers, have made a significant contribution to the understanding and practice of educational leadership. The annual Miller-Grassie address and President’s Citation acknowledges and perpetuates the memory of the life and work of pioneering educational leaders, Dr Laurie Miller and Associate Professor MacCrae Grassie. The Miller-Grassie Award for Outstanding Leadership in Education recognises an outstanding Queensland educational leader or team whose achievements have shown exceptional merit in ways that are reflective of the ideas and work of these two pioneering educational leaders.
Pictured: Professor Donna Pendergast receives her award from ACEL Queensland Branch President Deborah Kember