Australia’s bishops have appointed former Victorian senator Scott Ryan as the next executive director of the National Catholic Education Commission, succeeding Jacinta Collins.
Mr Ryan brings extensive educational policy knowledge and experience, having served within the federal Government during pivotal points in the educational landscape as a former ministerial advisor and Parliamentary Secretary/Assistant Minister for Education, then as Minister for Vocation Education and Skills.
Most recently, Mr Ryan was Australia’s High Commissioner to Canada, having previously held several senior positions in the federal Parliament, including President of the Senate and Special Minister of State.
In a statement, the NCEC said Mr Ryan “is respected across politics and the senior government bureaucracy, and his high-level public advocacy will ensure Catholic education continues to contribute significantly to the development of Australian Educational Policy and the delivery of school education”.
As the major provider of education outside of the Government, Catholic education enrols one in five Australian students.
The NCEC said that during Ms Collins’s seven-year tenure, “Catholic education has become a valued and influential voice in the educational landscape”.
“This is a legacy that Mr Ryan will step into comfortably to ensure the thousands of families who chose a Catholic education are represented at the national policy table,” the statement said.
Speaking about his appointment, Mr Ryans said the “demand for faith-driven education is growing as parents and families seek more than curriculum”.
“As well as quality teachers and a school community of shared values, they seek a faith and ethical framework for their children which can guide them throughout their lives,” he said.
“This upswing in the growth of Catholic Education presents both an opportunity and a responsibility – one I am delighted to have the privilege to lead”.
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