The Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia is delighted to congratulate two esteemed Australian educators, who have been, and continue to be, leaders in the education of girls and young women, on their awards in the 2017 Queen’s birthday honours list.
Past Alliance board member Dr Amanda Bell was awarded Member of the Order of Australia (AM), for ‘significant service to education, particularly to young women as a leader and academic, and to the visual arts’. Dr Bell was Principal of Brisbane Girls Grammar School from 2002 to 2012 and is now the Principal of The Women’s College, The University of Sydney. Other service includes Honorary Lecturer, Education and Social Work Faculty, since 2014; Deputy Headmistress, SCECGS Redlands, Sydney, 2000-2001; Director, Co-Curricular Programmes, 1997-1999; Director, S H Ervin Gallery, National Trust, 1995-1997; Secondary Arts Advisor, South West, Ministry of Education, Western Australia, 1993-1994; Board Member, Art Exhibitions Australia, since 2015; Deputy Chair, Queensland Art Gallery and GoMA, 2012-2013; Board Member, 2008-2013. Chair, Advisory Committee, UTS International Centre for Youth Futures, since 2015 (Deputy Chair, 2009-2015); Member, Academic Advisory Committee, Menzies Research Centre, since 2013; Board Member, Queenwood School, since 2013; Board Member, Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia, 2009-2012; Chair, Audit and Risk Committee, 2011-2012 (Member, 2002-2012); Board Member, Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia, 2011-2012. Awards and recognition includes recipient, John Laing Professional Development Award, Principals Australia Institute, 2012; recipient, Australian Government National Award for Quality Schooling; Excellence by a Principal, 2008.
Past Alliance president Karen Spiller was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) recognising ‘her service to women and to education’. Her service includes Chair, Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia, current; Member, since 2006. Principal, St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School, since 2000. Founder, Aspiring Women Leaders Conference, 2006. Vice-President, Board of Management, Independent Schools Queensland, since 2014; Member, since 2013. National President, Alliance of Girls Schools Australasia, 2009-2011. Member, Board of Directors, Yalari Indigenous Education, current. Awards and recognition include Recipient, Churchill Scholarship, “to examine strategies for preparing female leaders for the position of Principalship in Australian schools”, 2011.
We would like to take this opportunity to bid a fond farewell to Karen as she prepares to depart St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School in Brisbane after 18 years of dedication, to take on new challenges at John Paul College in 2018.