The Educator would like to thank the advisory panel of judges who generously contributed their time going through the nominations and casting their votes for the recent Australian Education Awards 2025.
The panel consisted of 21 experts and leaders in the Australian education space, whose expertise and insight were instrumental in recognising outstanding individuals, schools, and their many groundbreaking programs in the K-12 education sector.
- Dr Barbara Blackburn – keynote speaker, consultant and author, CEO of Blackburn Consulting Group Incorporated
- Dr Keith Graham PSM OAM – Senior Principal Reviews, School and Region Reviews, Queensland Department of Education
- Tina King – President, the Australian Principals Federation
- Liliana Mularczyk – Director, Secondary Education, Learning and Teaching Directorate, NSW Department of Education
- Angela Falkenberg – President, the Australian Primary Principals Association
- Mark Breckenridge – President, the Queensland Secondary Principals Association
- Allan Dougan – CEO, the Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers
- Matthew Johnson – President, the Australian Special Education Principals’ Association, Representative General – International Confederation of Principals
- Megan Edwards – CEO, Primary English Teaching Association Australia
- Mat Grining – President, the Tasmanian Principals’ Association
- Dr Ragnar Purje – Neuroscientist, educator, and Adjunct Senior Lecturer, Central Queensland University
- Richard Stokes – CEO, the Australian Boarding Schools Association
- Denise Lofts – President, NSW Secondary Principals Council
- Gavin McCormack – Co-founder, UpSchool.co
- Paul Foley – Faculty Learning Leader for Humanities, Loreto College Marryatville
- Derek Scott – CEO | Principal, Haileybury
- Robyn Evans – National Advisory Council, NSW Primary Principals Association
- Eva Kannis-Torry – President, South Australian Secondary Principals Association
- Pat Murphy – President, Australian Government Primary Principal Association
- Edwina Dohle – CEO, Teach For Australia
- Dr David Roy – Lecturer, University of Newcastle’s School of Education
“It is a joy and privilege to be a judge, presenter and peer for the annual Australian Education Awards,” Lila Mularczyk, Director of Secondary Education at the NSW Department of Education, told The Educator.
“The education community is brought together – all states and territories and each education sector – to celebrate, acknowledge and applaud schools, school leaders and teachers for excellence and outstanding achievements on behalf of young people in our schools. It is both significant and spectacular.”
A catalyst to continue great work being done
Dr Keith Graham, Senior Principal Reviews, School and Region Reviews at the Queensland Department of Education, said the Australian Education Awards are “an extremely important part of the education profession”.
“They foster a perfect opportunity to recognise and acknowledge the outstanding work and people who are driving education improvement and reform across Australia,” Dr Graham told The Educator.
“The judging methodology includes a diverse range of experienced experts from across the industry, supporting a rigorous and thorough process.”
Dr Graham said this ensures the award recipients are at the forefront of their initiatives and the work highlighted is embedded as a genuine part of school processes.
“While the awards showcase individual accomplishments across our profession, they also act as a catalyst to continue to progress educational initiatives supporting positive outcomes across the nation,” he said.
“It is my honour and great privilege to be a part of the Australian Education Awards which showcase the important work dedicated educators undertake each day for every student.”
‘These awards celebrate the strengths of Australian and our education system’
Dr David Roy, a lecturer at the University of Newcastle’s School of Education, said it has been “a real honour” to have been asked to be a judge for every year of the Australian Education Awards.
“It is rewarding to see the growth in innovation and outstanding practice from all school sectors and types across Australia and that is the real strength of the awards themselves,” Dr Roy told The Educator. “The awards recognise the diverse offerings and aspects across the school education sector.”
Dr Roy said the judging process can be difficult given the high calibre of schools, programs and individuals involved.
The challenge is that with so many schools and staff undertaking such excellent work, to notice that which is truly innovative and that which is significantly more impactful and the top-of-the game,” he said. “There are always nominations that are undertaking excellent work but to win, a nomination must be truly outstanding. What is unique in a program, delivery, school, or individual teacher.”
Dr Roy said too often schools are “noted for the wrong reasons”.
“These awards celebrate the strengths of Australian and our education system,” he said. “Schools would be outstanding with or without the awards but to have such national recognition can only but enhance Australia and our schools and staff.”
The team at The Educator would like to extend its appreciation to all the attendees, sponsors, and all others who supported the Australian Education Awards 2025. Congratulations once again to this year’s winners.