TEREA Appoints Dr Stephen Brown as Interim Executive Chair
28 September 2022
Dear Members of the Edmund Rice Education Australia Community,
It is with great pleasure that I announce the appointment of Dr Stephen Brown as Interim Executive Chair of the Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) Board, which came into effect on 28 September 2022.
Educated by the Christian Brothers, Stephen has four decades of experience in education, public sector and not-for-profit leadership roles, and expertise in organisational renewal, leadership development and cultural change. He is also the founder and director of The Brown Collective, a consultancy that specialises in educational leadership development.
Stephen’s knowledge of strategic and operational governance is extensive. He is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors program, Director of Stuartholme School, a former member of the international advisory panel for the Scottish government’s school leadership college, a Board member of the Australian Rural Leadership Foundation and a graduate of Oxford University’s Saiid
Business School’s Executive Leadership Program.
Stephen was appointed Head of Transformation in early September 2022, with EREA expanding this role to Executive Chair of the Board due to the significant value Stephen has already brought to the organisation as a consultant.
A core focus of Stephen’s role will be to bolster the accountability and collaboration between EREA’s Executive and the Board – a critical step as we continue our journey of regeneration and reform, and our transformation as an important provider of Catholic education.
Stephen writes about his appointment:
“I am delighted with the opportunity afforded to me by the Trustees of Education Rice Education Australia (TEREA) to undertake the dual roles of Interim Executive Board Chair of Edmund Rice Education Australia (EREA) and the Head of Transformation. I believe that we have been presented with a unique opportunity to reform our system of schools that will enable and engender further system coherence and build on the wonderful and proud record of delivering an education provision envisioned by our founder, Blessed Edmund Rice.
“My leadership credo is based on a deep commitment to fairness, social justice and making a contribution to a greater purpose. I endeavour to be authentic in every encounter with people based on mutual respect, modelling deep listening, curiosity and trust. I care deeply about people and strive to understand what they value, their hopes, desires and dreams.
“I look forward to working with each of you as stewards of our cherished organisation. I am most grateful to be called to serve in this unique and exciting time for EREA.”
I am confident we will be enriched by Stephen’s internationally acknowledged acumen in educational leadership and his generosity of wisdom and grace during this period in EREA. On behalf of all members of the Edmund Rice Education Australia community, I warmly welcome Stephen to this role.
Blessings
Philomena Billington
President of the Trustees of Edmund Rice Education Australia
