The 2022 Bill Kennedy Medal is awarded to Craig Petersen for his outstanding leadership and contribution to the SPC.

Craig Petersen has been an outstanding member of the NSW Secondary Principals’ Council’s Executive since 2012. Craig was elected as Deputy President (2014-2019), and served as Acting Presdient for an extended time before he was elected as President in 2020. Over this time, Craig has been incredibly active in all areas of council business. As President, Craig has led the SPC’s response to the 2019 bushfires, COVID Pandemic, and the ongoing implementation of current policies to support public school students and their school leaders. Craig strongly advocates for principals and public schools and has represented the council across every area of the NSW Department of Education such as budget and finance improvements, professional standards, health and safety, technology infrastructure and the rural and remote strategy.

Craig has also contributed significantly to initial teacher education. He is currently a member of two of Western Sydney University’s Expert Advisory Committees: Postgraduate Specialist Studies; and Initial Teacher Education (School). He is a member of the NESA/NSW Council of Deans of Education ITE Professional Experience Working Group. Craig also provides regular advice on ITE to the University of Technology Sydney Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences/Teacher Education. He has recently been appointed to the AITSL Teacher Education Expert Steering Committee.

Craig has been active in representing SPC internationally. Craig represents SPC and Oceania-Pacific as a Council Member, International Confederation of Principals (ICP). With other SPC Executive members, he has co-presented keynotes at ICP Conferences in Helsinki (2015), Capetown (2017) and Shanghai (2019). In 2014 and again in 2018, Craig represented SPC in study tours of Canada, including presenting a keynote to the Alberta Rural Education Symposium.

Receiving the 2022 Bill Kennedy Medal is a well-deserved acknowledgement of Craig’s service and commitment to the Council and its members

Congratulations Craig!