NT welcomes new Chief Executive for Department of Education

Karen Weston has been appointed as Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Territory Department of Education. 

Ms Weston joins the NT Education Department from South Australia’s Department for Education, where she has been leading reforms of a number of programs including early childhood, inclusion and an Aboriginal Kindergarten-to-Year-12 lifelong education strategy.

Much of her 20-year career in education has involved early childhood education and broader school reforms, a complement of her Masters qualification, which focused on education policy, educational leadership and evaluation.

Her appointment was announced following a national recruitment process, which commenced when her predecessor, Vicki Baylis, retired on February 14 2020. Ms Weston will formally commence in the role effective 23 March. 

Following Ms Weston’s commencement, Leanne Nixon, who has been acting CEO since Ms Baylis’ retirement, will return to her role as Deputy Chief Executive of the NT Department of Education.

NT Minister for Education Selena Uibo said the appointment of Ms Weston was significant, given “the Territory Government puts children at the centre of all decisions it makes,” saying leadership of the Department “is one of the Northern Territory’s most important jobs”.

“Ms Weston brings a wealth of knowledge to the role. Her extensive experience in early childhood education particularly aligns with our government’s goals to focus on generational change and to be the most improved education system in the country,” she added. 

“I have every confidence Ms Watson will effectively manage the Northern Territory Department of Education, including its $1.16 billion budget, 4000 staff and, of course, the Territory’s most important asset: our children.”

For more information about the work of the Northern Territory Department of Education, please see here.