Minister for Education Bill Shorten today announced the appointment to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) Board of Ms Susan Bowden and the reappointment of Deputy Chair Mr Tony Mackay.

ACARA is the independent authority responsible for developing the foundation stones of Australia’s modern education system including the nation’s first National Curriculum, the National Assessment Program (including NAPLAN) and a national data collection and reporting program (including My School).

Through the dedication and hard work of all those at ACARA, including the Board, Australian schools are now implementing the first national curricula for English, mathematics, science and history.

We also now know more about the performance of each and every school in Australia and can develop a needs based funding model which aims to make every school in this country a great, high performing school.

It is a great pleasure today to announce the appointment of Ms Susan Bowden from the Northern Territory to the Board of ACARA and the reappointment of Mr Tony Mackay as Deputy Chair.

Ms Bowden is currently Executive Director Education Services for the Department of Education and Children’s Services in the Northern Territory. She brings a wealth of expertise to the Board from her various roles including most recently the foundation Senior Director for the Centre for School Leadership, Learning and Development at Charles Darwin University.

Ms Bowden’s portfolio also includes Curriculum, Teaching and Phases of Learning, ICT for Learning, Student Services and NT Music School. Prior to her work in the Northern Territory she worked in both the schools and corporate areas for Education Queensland.

Mr Tony Mackay is Executive Director of the Centre for Strategic Education, Melbourne, Australia, and Chair of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership and will continue his great work which focuses on strategic thinking and facilitation for Government bodies, education agencies and think tanks.

Professor Barry McGaw AO is Chair of the Board, which was announced in 2009 and has 13 members in total, representing the Australian Government and all education streams (independent, government and Catholic) across all states and territories.

For more information please see www.acara.edu.au and extended biographies below.

MEDIA CONTACT: Andrew Porter 0419 474 392

Ms Susan Bowden

Susan Bowden is currently Executive Director Education Services for the Northern Territory Department of Education and Children’s Services where she has worked for the past nine years. Her portfolio includes Curriculum, Teaching and Phases of Learning, ICT for Learning, Student Services and NT Music School.

Her roles included Principal, General Manager Student Services, Director School Performance and more recently as the foundation Senior Director for the Centre for School Leadership, Learning and Development at Charles Darwin University. Prior to her work in the Northern Territory Ms Bowden worked in both the schools and corporate areas for Education Queensland.

Mr Tony Mackay

Tony Mackay is Executive Director of the Centre for Strategic Education, Melbourne, Australia; Deputy Chair of ACARA; Chair of the recently announced Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership, immediate Past President of the Australian Curriculum Studies Association; Board Director of the Australian Council for Educational Research; Board Member of the University of Melbourne, Graduate School of Education and Australian College of Educators 2006 medallist.

Internationally, Mr Mackay is President of the International Congress for School Effectiveness and Improvement (ICSEI); Founding Member of the Governing Council of the National College for School Leadership in England; Co-Chair of the Board of Directors of the Innovation Unit. Ltd; England. OECD Senior Consultant for Projects on Schooling for Tomorrow, School Leadership and New Models of Learning; and a DEMOS International Associate.

He is currently working on ‘Next Practice Projects’ on educational reform in Australia/New Zealand, UK, Europe, US/Canada and Asia.

Tony’s work focuses on strategic thinking and facilitation for Government bodies, education agencies and think tanks.