Education Advisory Panel

Paul Wood is the Executive Director, Equity, Multicultural and Inclusive Education in the NSW Department of Education. He is responsible for leading system-wide strategies and programs that ensure every student is known, valued, and supported to learn and thrive, with a particular focus on equity, inclusion, and strengthening outcomes for diverse and multicultural communities across NSW public schools. Paul has been a teacher, the principal of three schools, and a system leader at a state-wide level. He has a background in special and inclusive education and has previously worked in special education at the University of Sydney, where he lectured in inclusive education across the MEd, BEd and MTeach programs. In 2021, Paul was awarded the Public Service Medal in the Australia Day Honours list for his leadership of statewide curriculum support for schools during the COVID-19 pandemic. He holds a PhD in educational leadership from the University of Sydney. Paul is the NSW Government’s appointment to the ACTF Education Advisory Panel and is the panel representative on the ACTF Board.

Mark is a passionate educator with over twenty years’ experience in leading the delivery of service transformation and improvements to education, firstly as a teacher and school leader, then within the Education Directorate, across ACT Government, and in the Commonwealth public service. Mark has applied these skills at the executive level across a wide range of public administration functions, including change management, digital transformation, Ministerial and Commonwealth-State relations, and most recently, in driving a system-wide School Improvement service uplift across ACT Public Schools. Mark is the ACT Government appointment to the Panel.

Dene is proud to have worked in public education for over 20 years. She has held school leadership and teaching positions in both metropolitan and regional Western Australia. Dene also has leadership experience in a range of service provision portfolios within the Department of Education, including teaching and learning, disability services, student wellbeing and online services. Dene is currently Director, Service Design and Support, in the Department of Education’s Statewide Services Division. She holds a Bachelor of Arts, Graduate Diploma of Education and Master of Education Leadership from the University of Western Australia. Dene is the WA Government appointment to the Panel.

Gay is the Director of Teaching and Learning with the Department for Education, Children and Young People. With experience in teaching and leadership roles across schools in Tasmania and Victoria, including fifteen years as a Principal, Gay has a deep understanding of schools and education. Central to Gay’s work is enhancing quality teaching through a focus on what is taught, how it is taught, and how student progress is monitored and assessed. In her position, Gay actively engages with state and national groups to stay informed and provide insights that support Tasmanian children and young people to be successful in learning, life and work. Gay is the Tasmanian Government appointment to the Panel.

As Deputy Secretary, SEPS, Stephen leads policy and program development to improve learning and wellbeing outcomes for all students, regardless of their background. Stephen has extensive experience in education policy making and implementation. He has held a range of senior roles in Victoria, including Regional Director for the South Western Victoria Region and Executive Director for Implementation. He has also served as a seconded senior advisor to the Victorian Minister for Education and Deputy Premier. Following a long history in the Victorian Public Service, Stephen spent time in the UK, as Deputy Chief Executive for the Education Endowment Foundation, an independent charity dedicated to breaking the link between family background and educational attainment through the generation and use of high-quality evidence about what works to improve outcomes for students experiencing disadvantage. Stephen holds a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science. Stephen is the Victorian Government’s appointment to the Panel.

Tania Kolomitsev is the Senior Director Primary, Teaching and Learning Services, Northern Territory Department of Education and Training. Prior to this role, Tania has worked as a teacher and leader for over 35 years. She has worked in schools across Darwin, Top End and East Arnhem and has strong understandings of teaching and learning in the NT. As Senior Director Primary, Tania provides high-level leadership of evidence based, quality teaching and learning to support schools in achieving educational outcomes for all students. Tania leads multiple teams in Teaching and Learning Services working in partnership with regions, networks and schools to co-design and drive school improvement. Tania is the NT Government appointment to the panel.

Kylie is the Executive Director of Curriculum, Teaching and Learning in the Queensland Department of Education. She has extensive experience in education, first as a secondary teacher, then school leader and, since 2019, she has been working across a broad portfolio within the curriculum space as a system leader. Her work focuses on leadership coaching, leading development of Australian Curriculum implementation materials, prioritising student pathways and developing system capability in Queensland regions and with leaders in state schools. Kylie’s leadership is instrumental in aligning equity and excellence with the vision of the Alice Springs (Mparntwe) Education Declaration for a world class education system, contributing towards delivery of system initiatives that ensure sustainable improvement and realise the potential of every student. Kylie is the Queensland Government’s appointment to the Education Panel.

Amanda Rice is the Director, Curriculum Connections and Engagement, within the South Australian Department for Education. She brings extensive experience across the public sector, having led curriculum, engagement, and transformation initiatives at both state and national levels. Amanda’s work focuses on supporting high-quality educational programs, content and pathways, fostering system capability, and championing people-centred approaches to improvement in schools and educational organisations. She holds board roles across government and not-for-profit sectors and contributes regularly to national advisory and reform groups. Drawing on a strong background in organisational transformation and regulatory reform, Amanda is committed to ensuring equity, excellence, and relevance for all learners. Amanda is South Australia’s appointee to the Education Advisory Panel.