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Latest appointments

Emma McDonald October 14, 2015

2 min read

AHISA welcomes Karen Spiller as National Chair

The Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia has appointed board member Karen Spiller, Principal of St Aidian’s Anglican Girls’ School, as its new National Chair.

Spiller has an international reputation for her work in encouraging and promoting women in leadership. She established the multi-award winning annual Aspiring Women Leaders conference in 2006.

She has been Principal of St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School since 2000 and has served on AHISA’s Board since 2005. She is a member of the CEO Business Faculty Advisory Group at Queensland University of Technology and a Fellow of Bond University. She is also Deputy Chair of Independent Schools Queensland and a board member of not for profit organisation Yalari.

At a conference announcing the appointment, Spiller said that she was looking forward to developing the Association’s impact and helping independent schools contribute to the national education reform agenda.

“As an Association we can have a profound impact on the quality of leadership of future generations of Heads by investing our wisdom and experience into emerging and aspiring leaders,” said Spiller.

“By reaching out to those who aspire to lead, we can positively influence the future of school education in this country and the futures of all young Australians.”

New CEO for the Ian Potter Foundation

The Ian Potter Foundation has appointed Craig Connelly to the role of Chief Executive Officer, following the resignation of Janet Hirst after 10 years in the role.

Connelly will also assume the role of Chief Executive Officer of the Ian Potter Cultural Trust and The George Alexander Foundation, all roles effective 15 December 2015.

With over 25 years in the financial services sector, with companies such as Price Waterhouse and JB Were, Connelly is a strategic fit for the role.

“We are delighted to welcome Craig to this important role,” said Chairman of The Ian Potter Foundation, Mr Charles Goode AC. “His expertise and experience in finance, analysis and business management will be great assets to the Foundation. Combined with his personal commitment to community, Craig will be an excellent leader for our organisation.”

Connelly is also dedicated to personal philanthropic pursuits, such as raising funds for the Royal Melbourne Hospital, Swim For Life and advancing a community club in north west Melbourne.

Keep Australia Beautiful appoints CEO

Philip Robinson has been appointed as the new Chief Executive Officer of Keep Australia Beautiful, and will head the organisation’s upcoming anti-littering campaign.

Robinson has a background in the fast-moving consumer goods sector and has held Senior Executive roles at Sunbeam, Kraft Foods, Dairy Farmers and Maxxium.

Robinson said that he was excited about the opportunity to work with the board and state members as well as government and corporate partners to facilitate new strategy and direction for the organisation.

Speaking on Robinson’s appointment, Keep Australia Beautiful Chairman Robert Thomas said “Philip is a natural leader with a great passion for the environment, a proven track record of stakeholder engagement and strong commercial acumen, so he was an obvious choice to lead Keep Australia Beautiful into the future.

“Philip has an impressive record of improving the performance of every organisation he works for and I’m sure he will do the same for us.”