The Daily Telegraph's 2025 Top 20 leaders who shape our students, schools and universities

ACA NSW is most humbled to be included in The Daily Telegraph's NSW education power rankings: The leaders who shape our students, schools and universities.

From prominent principals to policy heavyweights and university visionaries, the top 20 in NSW are:

1. The Hon Prue Car MP, NSW Deputy Premier & NSW Minister for Education & Early Learning

2. The Hon Courtney Houssos MLC, Acting NSW Minister for Education & Early Learning

3. Mark Scott, University of Sydney Vice-Chancellor & President

4. Dallas McInerney, Catholic Schools NSW CEO

5. Margery Evans, Association of Independent Schools of NSW CEO

6. The Hon Abigail Boyd MLC, NSW Greens MP

7. Chiang Lim, Australian Childcare Alliance NSW CEO

8. Paul Martin, NSW Education Standards Authority CEO

9. Murat Dizdar PSM, NSW Department of Education Secretary

10. Anne Johnstone, Cranbrook Head of School

11. Korn Ferry, Recruitment firm

12. George Williams, Western Sydney University Vice-Chancellor

13. The Hon Steve Whan MP, NSW Minister for Skills and TAFE

14. Georgie Dent, The Parenthood CEO

15. Henry Rajendra, NSW Teachers Federation President

16. Glenn Fahey, Centre for Independent Studies Education Director

17. Gemma Quinn, NSW P&C Federation CEO

18. Vince Caughley, National Tertiary Education Union State Secretary

19. Danny Casey, Catholic Schools Broken Bay Director

20. Rebecca Birch, Queenswood School Academic in residence

And the national rankings are :

1. The Hon Jason Clare MP, Federal Minister for Education

2. Tony Cook, Federal Department of Education Secretary

3. Senator the Hon Jess Walsh, Federal Minister for Early Childhood Education

4. Eddie Woo, YouTube star and mathematics teacher

5. Luke Sheehy, Universities Australia CEO

6. Dr Alison Barnes, National Tertiary Education Union President

7. Fish Nankivell, Executive search firm

8. Vicki Thomson, Group of Eight CEO

9. Graham Catt, Independent Schools Australia CEO

10. Phil Honeywood, International Education Association of Australia CEO

11. Jacinta Collins, outgoing National Catholic Education Commission Executive Director

12. Chloe Hand, Edmund Rice Education Australia Director of New Initiatives

13. Trevor Cobbold, Save Our Schools Convenor

14. Andy Mison, Australian Secondary Principals Association President

15. Kayla Muscat, Teacher

16. Jordana Hunter, Grattan Institute Education Program Director

17. Kylie Penchoe, National Indigenous Employment and Training Alliance CEO

18. Correna Haythorpe, Australian Education Union President

19. Professor Eddie Cubillo, NAIDOC 2025 Education Award winner 

20. Julian Leeser MP, Federal Shadow Minister for Education

Also available are the lists for Victoria, Queensland, South Australia and the Northern Territory.

ACA NSW continues to strongly represent and advocate for our members' interests, values and aspirations for our children, our families, our early childhood educators and teachers.

For any further information/clarification, members can contact the ACA NSW team via 1300 556 330 or nsw@childcarealliance.org.au.

PUBLISHED: 24 NOVEMBER 2025