ACE announces National President-elect

National President of the Australian College of Educators, Ms Lyndsay Connors AM, today named Professor Robert (Bob) Lingard as the College’s next National President and Chair of the Board.

Professor Lingard, Professorial Research Fellow in the School of Education at the University of Queensland, becomes President-elect and Chair-elect of the Board effective immediately. He will then succeed Ms Connors as National President and Chair of the Board from 1 January 2012. 

Professor Lingard, who is a Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia,   has an international research reputation in the areas of sociology of education and education policy and is the author or editor of 17 books and some 100 journal articles and book chapters.

“At this moment of many national developments in education, especially in schooling, it is important that there be a national voice for professional educators and researchers,” Professor Lingard said.

“That’s why I think the role of ACE is so important and I hope to see the College lead debates and discussions on developments in Australian education.”

Professor Lingard’s appointment follows the decision by current President-elect, Professor Emeritus Alan Reid, from the School of Education at the University of South Australia, to step down due to a change in personal circumstances.   He will continue to serve as a member of the ACE Board.

“While the Board and council members understood the reasons for Alan’s decision, they were disappointed to be losing his services,” Ms Connors said. “I thank him for his sterling service as President-elect and for his support to me personally.”

She also announced that Professor Stephen Dinham OAM, Chair of Teacher Education and Director of Learning and Teaching, University of Melbourne Graduate School of Education, will become National President-elect and Chair-elect of the ACE Board on 1 January 2012 and follow Professor Lingard as National President and Chair of the Board at the beginning of 2014.

“It is very encouraging to have two highly respected, nationally and internationally recognised educators to lead the College in the coming years,” Ms Connors said.

ENDS

Media enquiries:Louise Reynolds, ACE national office, Tel: 03 9035 5002 or 0431 001 773