Chris Dickinson
Melbourne,VIC
Summary
I am an energetic, motivated and highly dynamic educational leader, with specialist expertise in developing professional learning programs and assessment measures for teachers, school leaders, and system leaders. I have significant experience at management and executive levels and possess analytical and conceptual abilities that have been recognised by senior executives. I have developed and implemented policies within a range of Government settings and possess extensive experience in designing large scale professional learning that build the capability of school and regional workforces.
I am exceptionally organised, and highly skilled at managing complex budgets and leading large scale professional learning. My writing and presentation skills are of the highest order – whether the output be a paper for wide distribution, a Ministerial brief, or a presentation requiring clear and concise explication of concepts. I have proven skills in engaging with and managing stakeholder expectations on sensitive issues, and in a professional manner.
I have been recognised as an exceptional team leader with proven experience in developing high performing teams, in dynamic environments that require agility and leadership. I am skilled in facilitating multi-disciplinary and cross-portfolio teams to achieve short and long-term objectives across individual, team and organisational level.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
MANAGER, EARLY CHILDHOOD QUALITY HUB
Department of Education
10.2023 - Current
- Led development of an Early Childhood Quality Hub (the Hub) as a key component of the Kindergarten and Pre-Prep Quality Strategy
- Key achievements include: Designed and sort approval of an 18-month implementation plan including approval to leverage department Learning Management System contract for the Hub
- Approved project to scope functional requirements in partnership with IMTD
- Led development of data dashboards to improve data management and reporting
- Led learning design requirements for two flagship professional learning packages targeted at intentional and team teaching.
MANAGER, HEALTH AND WELLBEING BRANCH
North-west Victoria Region
01.2021 - 01.2023
- Led a multidisciplinary team to collaborate with area-based Health Wellbeing Inclusion Workforce and school leaders to enhance health and wellbeing practice that supports schools in addressing the needs of priority cohorts
- I also led all expulsion and suspension processes across the region with a focus on reengaging students in their learning
- Key achievements include: Led delivery and improvement of Learning Places Connect, a secondary consult process that supports schools with complex student matters relating to challenging behavior, student wellbeing, inclusion, and safety
- Partnering with priority schools to progress their wellbeing goals outlined in their AIP
- Leading and strengthening attendance, expulsion and suspension processes and support for disengaged students
- Led design and facilitation of NWVR health and wellbeing strategic and operational meetings
- Chairing and overseeing all Expulsion appeal process for NWVR in line with Ministerial Oder requirements.
MANAGER, PRINCIPAL PROGRAMS AND VICTORIAN ASPIRING PRINCIPAL ASSESSMENT (VAPA)
Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership
01.2020 - 01.2021
- As the inaugural team leader of this new unit, I was responsible for reviewing current contracts, administering contract variations, prioritising and forecasting a 6M budget, program redesign and delivery, stakeholder engagement, transitioning delivery to fully online during COVID 19, and building a high performing team
- Key achievements include: Building a well-balanced team that consists of senior project managers (3), course coordinators (2), policy officer (1), Principals (3), former Principals (28) and expert partners (several) for professional learning delivery.
ACTING DIRECTOR
Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership
01.2019 - 01.2020
- Provided executive leadership of Bastow, with a focus on ensuring that the institute operates efficiently and cohesively
- I was responsible for designing, leading, and implementing educational leadership policy and strategy to support professional practice in schools and early childhood settings
- I led the delivery of Bastow’s courses and programs, including improvement in business and operation systems of the institute
- Key achievements include: Leading a leadership team comprising of up to 10 members and over 70 staff across the institute
- Rebuilding a budget of over 20M to improve finance management, team functions, reporting, and resource allocation
- Leading the commencement of a staffing realignment due to budget and new executive structure
- Leading workforce planning and implementation aligned to key priorities.
MANAGER, VICTORIAN ASPIRING PRINCIPAL ASSESSMENT
Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership
01.2018 - 01.2019
- Key achievements and duties included: Successful delivery of VAPA to aspiring principals
- Successful training of VAPA assessors to ensure they are following and adhering to the robust assessment process outlined in VAPA
- Successful validation of VAPA including calibration of the assessment framework and review of assessment methods
- Successful procurement of VAPA assessors and University of Melbourne to validate the assessment
- Minister approval to transition VAPA to a mandatory requirement for aspiring principals
- Successful state budget bid for the VAPA (8.2M of funding, successfully sort via three consecutive state budgets (2016/17, 17/18 and 18/19)
- Project Director of Bastow UP: Principal Preparation Program including the Graduate Certificate of Principal Preparation, Victoria.
MANAGER, SYSTEM LEADERSHIP
Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Key achievements and duties included: Leading the design and delivery of professional learning for System Leaders (SEILs, EILs), now known as the WISE program
- Writing a paper titled Building System Leadership - Bastow’s approach to developing Victoria’s school system leaders
- Leading the development of a Senior Educational Improvement Leader (SEIL) handbook.
MANAGER, OPERATIONS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE
Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership
01.2014 - 01.2017
- Key achievements and duties included: Managing all operational matters - successfully prepared a business case to extend Bastow’s infrastructure (new facility)
- Oversight of Bastow’s budget – led improvements in accounts reconciliation and payable processes and established a segment account for the Institute to streamline accounting processes
- Oversight of Bastow’s procurement
- Leading the development and implementation of Bastow’s new business model – led the development of a revenue expenditure decision making framework
- Leading the development and improvement of Bastow’s business processes and associated ICT platforms (Bastow’s Customer Relationship Management System)
- Leading a multidisciplinary team comprising of up to fourteen staff.
Education
Master of Education -
University of Melbourne
Melbourne, VIC11.2014
BACHELOR OF PRIMARY EDUCATION -
Australian Catholic University
Canberra, ACT11.2009
DIPLOMA OF MANAGEMENT -
Swinburne University of Tech
Melbourne, VIC03.2015
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF BUSINESS -
Swinburne University of Tech
Melbourne, VIC03.2015
Skills
Strong analytical and conceptual skills
Government procurement
Complex brief writing
PRINCE2 project management
Financial management (Ariba, contract workspaces etc)
Human resource management
Contract management
Team coaching and leadership
Learning design (specialising in school leadership professional learning)
Assessment of leadership performance
School leadership policy development
Stakeholder engagement (partnerships)
Individual coaching
Leading large portfolios of work
Certification
EXECUTIVE COACH – LEVEL 2
Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership / 2017
EXECUTIVE TEAM COACHING
Institute of Executive Coaching and Leadership / 2019
Genos Emotional Intelligence
Certified Practitioner / 2021
Timeline
MANAGER, EARLY CHILDHOOD QUALITY HUB
Department of Education
10.2023 - Current
MANAGER, HEALTH AND WELLBEING BRANCH
North-west Victoria Region
01.2021 - 01.2023
MANAGER, PRINCIPAL PROGRAMS AND VICTORIAN ASPIRING PRINCIPAL ASSESSMENT (VAPA)
Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership
01.2020 - 01.2021
ACTING DIRECTOR
Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership
01.2019 - 01.2020
MANAGER, VICTORIAN ASPIRING PRINCIPAL ASSESSMENT
Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership
01.2018 - 01.2019
MANAGER, SYSTEM LEADERSHIP
Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership
01.2017 - 01.2018
MANAGER, OPERATIONS AND CUSTOMER SERVICE
Bastow Institute of Educational Leadership
01.2014 - 01.2017
Master of Education -
University of Melbourne
BACHELOR OF PRIMARY EDUCATION -
Australian Catholic University
DIPLOMA OF MANAGEMENT -
Swinburne University of Tech
GRADUATE CERTIFICATE OF BUSINESS -
Swinburne University of Tech
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