High honour for the Academy CEO

Dr Marcia Devlin, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership (the Academy), was awarded a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Australian Honours announced Thursday 26 January 2023.

The award recognises Marcia’s outstanding service to higher education and to women. The honour, which is awarded to only 605 people each year, represents another significant achievement for one of Australia’s most innovative education leaders, and an internationally recognised expert.

Marcia has been a distinctive voice within her field as a champion for Victorian schools and female leadership.

‘If I can say the award gives me a platform, I now have more of an opportunity to speak up about matters that I think are important to my work at the Academy,’ she said.

‘What I have to say might reach more ears - the ears of those I can influence to think about these issues in a different way, including raising public awareness of the complexity of work in our schools.’

Marcia’s advocacy and work over 3 decades has been building awareness and change in such critical subjects as raising the status teaching, and enhancing teaching and leadership in education.

With a PhD in professional learning, 30 years’ experience in the field working at universities, and being a qualified teacher, Marcia knows the power of teaching and is determined that teachers should be given their due recognition.

‘Kids are in expert, highly qualified hands: people who care deeply about their growth and wellbeing all day every day,’ she said.

‘If you want a job that has purpose and meaning, get a job in education. I can’t think of a better vocation – you can literally change the world; enable people to do things they otherwise couldn’t do.’

This combination of passion and expertise has given Marcia a strong sense of purpose as the Academy’s inaugural CEO. She is committed to ensuring high-quality school teaching and leadership, by inspiring teachers and leaders to continue to be the best professionals they can be. A key focus for her is leadership opportunities for women.

‘The research shows that the outcomes improve – no matter what the industry – and that women in senior leadership roles positively impacts the organisation.’

To help increase the proportion of female leaders in Victorian schools, Marcia said she is working to ensure gender representation across all Academy programs, particularly pathway to principal programs.

As excited today as when she began in the role back in 2021, Marcia said she is relishing the opportunity to put purpose at the centre of the Academy’s work to produce evidence-informed, inspiring professional learning.

‘We have the potential to help about a million kids through the work we do, by enhancing the quality of teaching and school leadership.’

A worthy contribution deservedly recognised. Congratulations to Marcia on this great honour.