NESLI’s global experts to tackle education leadership in low GDP areas

The National Excellence in Schools Leadership Institute (NESLI) has announced the ten global experts who will make up NESLI’s inaugural advisory board.

The first item of business for the board will be ensuring equity of access for educational leadership opportunities for schools and educators in low GDP areas around the globe. 

Co-Chairs Dr Janet Smith and Prof Mike Gaffney are joined by Prof Stephen Heppell (UK), Prof Jan Heystek (South Africa), Mr Antti Ikonen (Finland), Dr Bernadine Futrell (USA), Dr George Odhiambo (Australia, Kenya), Prof Gu Qing (UK, China), Prof Jim Spillane (USA, Ireland) and Prof Allan Walker (Hong Kong, Australia).

Co-Chair Smith said of the board: “NESLI is proud and delighted to announce the establishment of its new International Advisory Board, which consists of a diverse range of renowned global educational leadership experts who will provide us with strategic advice about our programs.

“The Advisory Board will assist us to explore important issues including equity and inclusion, gender, principal/teacher wellbeing and contemporary global challenges such as the education of refugees. It will be an honour for me to co-chair this advisory board with such an outstanding group of educational leaders.”

Prof Gaffney, Co-Chair, added: “The NESLI International Advisory Board brings together experts in educational leadership from across the globe.  

“Their collective experience in research, policy and practice relating to principalship, school improvement and education system transformation is unrivalled.  This will enable the board to provide authoritative and contemporary advice to assist in the design and delivery of NESLI programs for school leaders.

“NESLI’s priority is providing readily accessible, needs-based, futures-focussed professional learning for the next generation of school leaders in ways that are customised to local settings.  The board will play a key role in advising on the development of leadership programs that will make a difference, particularly in addressing the needs and challenges facing educators in low GDP countries.

“These are exciting and critical times in education – globally and locally.  The identification, development, and support of school leaders is paramount. The International Advisory Board is ideally positioned through its professional and academic networks to supporting our work in encouraging quality practice and inspiring futures for school leaders across the world.”  

The establishment of the board exemplifies the commitment and passion that NESLI has for supporting the wellbeing of all educators around the globe, and to providing as many school leaders and staff as possible with internationally acclaimed leadership development opportunities.

The board will meet for the first time this month. Find out more here.