Tim Bullard has been appointed new Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL), succeeding Edmund Misson, who has been acting in the role since January.
Bullard has served in senior executive roles in the Tasmanian Government and is currently Secretary of the Tasmanian Department for Education, Children and Young People. He also served as a Director on the AITSL Board from 2020 to 2021.
In a statement today, Federal Education Minister, Jason Clare, congratulated Bullard on his appointment, lauding his wealth of experience and
“Mr Bullard will lead AITSL in building the evidence base on the teacher workforce, delivering quality initial teacher education programs and upholding professional teaching standards,”
“I congratulate Mr Bullard on his appointment and look forward to working with him to support teachers and school leaders in delivering quality education outcomes for Australian students.”
Minister Clare also thanked the outgoing (Acting) CEO Edmund Misson, saying he looks forward to continuing to work with him and the AITSL board.
‘The perfect mix of expertise, knowledge, and leadership’
AITSL Board Chair, Dr Michele Bruniges AM, said Bullard’s depth of experience from leading Tasmania’s education system provides “the perfect mix of expertise, knowledge, and leadership required to ensure AITSL’s ongoing success.”
“Tim’s focus is clearly on achieving greater outcomes for students by supporting quality teaching and school leadership across the board,” Dr Bruniges said in a statement today.
“He will bring significant policy and government experience to AITSL, supporting teachers and school leaders to help them meet professional standards and ensure students thrive.”
Dr Bruniges said Bullard would no doubt “hit the ground running” as he continues to grow and nurture AITSL’s strong relationships with key stakeholders across the nation, including the federal government, state and territory governments, education systems and sectors, and others.
“My gratitude and thanks go to our Deputy CEO, Edmund Misson, who has been acting as CEO since January this year, leading our important work at an incredibly busy time,” Dr Bruniges said.
Incoming AITSL CEO, Tim Bullard, said he is excited about the opportunity to take on a national view of education.
“It is a privilege to have the opportunity to lead such a trusted company with such an exceptional reputation,” Bullard said.
“I look forward to working with the AITSL Board and team to progress the important national work to empower teachers and school leaders to have the maximum impact on the learning of Australia’s students.”
Bullard will serve a five-year term, commencing officially on 21 October 2024.