Three education leaders have joined the Executive Team of Catholic Education Western Australia for 2020, bringing significant educational and leadership experience and expertise to their new roles. 

Wayne Bull, newly appointed to the position of Deputy Executive Director, has worked in Catholic education for 40 years, most recently serving as Team Leader School Improvement. 

Mr Bull was Principal at La Salle College from 2006 to 2018, and Principal at Lumen Christi College prior to that, however his contribution to Catholic education and the Catholic Church does not stop there. 

He is the current Chair of the Lasallian Mission Council for the District of Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan and New Guinea, and served as a member of the Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia (CECWA) for six years, including membership of various CECWA committees. 

He also has a personal investment in Catholic education, with his two children working as staff members in Catholic schools, and his six grandchildren all attending CEWA schools. 

“Working as a teacher and principal at CEWA schools was a wonderful vocation, being able to see and contribute to the spiritual formation, faith development and learning journeys of students,” Mr Bull said. 

“I am excited for the opportunity to work closely with school leadership teams in this new role, as well as getting out to visit many of our schools to see the fantastic teaching and learning happening.” 

New to the role of Director Religious Education is Dr Chris Cotter. 

Dr Cotter has extensive experience in teaching, leadership and administration across a number of Australian Catholic education systems, and most recently worked as Mission Consultant for the Oceania Province of the Redemptorist Congregation. 

Christopher has tertiary qualifications in Teaching, Theology and Religious Education and has recently completed a doctorate in theology at the University of Divinity, Melbourne. 

His research thesis focused on practices that enhance the evangelising mission of Australian Catholic schools. 

Dr Cotter is looking forward to building new relationships with staff and educators across the system as he settles into his role on the CEWA Executive Team. 

“Since I started in this role in early January, I have been enjoying working with staff in my directorate, and already some school leaders and educators, but I am really keen to learn more about how we support educators and students in Religious Education, now that schools are up and running for the year,” he said. 

After a fond farewell from her school community of Holy Cross College at the end of 2019, former principal Mandy Connor has taken on the role of Director Teaching and Learning this year. 

Ms Connor’s career in education began in secondary schools, but she has spent the majority of her time as a Principal of Pre-Kindergarten to Year Twelve colleges, along with periods of time in leadership positions in regional schools. 

She holds two masters degrees, and has presented at education conferences interstate and abroad, sharing her expertise in contemporary pedagogies and utilising technology to enhance learning. 

Ms Connor said that she was excited to work with educators across the system and to build strong partnerships through which to develop a shared understanding of the CEWA Vision for Learning. 

“I’ve had the chance to work with so many fantastic, passionate and skilled educators at Catholic schools over the years,” she said. 

“I am looking forward to working from a broader system perspective in this role and exploring how we can learn together and from each other for the benefit of all students at Catholic schools across the State.” 

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