While school principals often take the spotlight, the smooth running of a modern school relies just as much on those working behind the scenes.
One might say that business administrators are strategic enablers – quietly and humbly navigating budgets, risk, HR, compliance and facilities – so leaders can focus on teaching and learning. In this way, business administrators are not just support staff; they’re trusted advisors, operational anchors and essential partners in school leadership.
Across Australia and New Zealand, more than 1,800 ASBA members are quietly driving excellence – managing budgets, compliance, HR and facilities.
Kathy Dickson joined ASBA as Chief Executive Officer in September 2023 after more than 27 years in school business management in the independent schools sector. Prior to this, Dickson served ASBA in a number of roles throughout her extensive career in School leadership at The Illawarra Grammar School (TIGS) and the Sydney Church of England Grammar School (Shore).
Below, The Educator speaks to Dickson about the evolving role of school business managers, the operational and economic pressures they face, the importance of resilience in leadership, and how ASBA is equipping its members with tools to thrive in an increasingly complex educational landscape.
TE: Principals are often seen as the face of a school, but business managers play an equally vital role behind the scenes. With more than 27 years of experience in school business management, what do you believe is the most valuable contribution a business manager makes to a school community?
A business manager has a unique role in a school with responsibility for the management of finance, strategy, risk and compliance, people, infrastructure and overall school operations, supporting the Principal and the Board in not only shaping the strategic direction but implementing processes to ensure the long-term success of the school. The business manager must be a team player and to be able to lead multi-disciplinary teams, be able to manage multiple tasks, and provide unwavering support to the senior leadership team.
TE: What would you describe as the most serious challenges that Australian school business manager in 2025, and what do you see as the main contributors to these challenges?
The ongoing need for a business manager to review and refine operational activities to minimise cost without impacting on the delivery of excellence in educational programs is challenging. Managing and preparing for economic changes that will impact the financial viability and stability of schools still remains a challenge business managers. Affordability of school fees, interest rates, varying workforce and family demographics and housing affordability all impact on our parents capacity to pay for the delivery of education to more than 720,000 students enrolled in the independent school sector (2023).
TE: I understand that ASBA’s 23rd Biennial Conference will be held on 20-23 May with the theme ‘Our theme Resilience at the Top End’. In your view, what will be the most important take aways from this conference for senior school leaders in the context of their role?
The ASBA 2025 Conference program will provide our members with critical and practical tools to ensure that resilience is considered a leadership strategy, essential for sustaining excellence and innovation in our schools. With a focus on leadership, our members will hear from inspiring speakers with expertise in leading under pressure, building strong and adaptable teams and maintaining vision and clarity amid disruption.
Business managers will have a deeper understanding of how resilient schools are built and how an agile organisation, and its ability to pivot quickly, and respond proactively to emerging challenges will be successful.
TE: Looking ahead, what’s next for ASBA? Are there any exciting initiatives in the works that you believe will help senior leaders thrive in their roles in 2025 and beyond?
ASBA has implemented a Learning and Development framework to guide our professional development activities into the future. With a focus on empowering our Members to lead with excellence, ASBA has developed a professional development pathway for our Members at all career levels with an Emerging Leaders and Empowering Leaders Program, an AI for Business Managers Program, a Mentoring Program and access to training with GIA and AICD. ASBA will soon release a podcast series titled, The Business of Education, with business and other leaders providing thought leadership content for our Members. ASBA is committed to providing its Members with diverse and cutting edge professional development opportunities to not only assist them excel in their careers, but improve the outcome of teaching and learning for the benefit of the students enrolled in our schools.