Susan Pascoe AM

Susan was the inaugural Commissioner for the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC), Australia's first national, independent regulator of charities from 2012 – 2017. She led the Taskforce to create the ACNC in 2011 working across Commonwealth agencies, with the sector, and with states and territories to win consensus for a workable model.

Prior to this appointment, Susan was Commissioner of the State Services Authority in Victoria. In this role she chaired or co-chaired reviews into the regulation of the not-for-profit sector (2007-08), the design and governance of regulatory bodies in Victoria (2008-09), and Victoria's Indigenous Employment Strategy (2008-09). Susan was appointed in 2009 as one of three Commissioners for the Royal Commission into Victoria’s Black Saturday Bushfires.

In 2017 Ms Pascoe and Prof Deborah Brennan chaired a review into Early Childhood Education for the Council for the Australian Federation, culminating in the Lifting our Game Report.

Susan’s earlier career was in education. She participated in state, national and international efforts to improve the quality and equity of education. She served as President of the Australian College of Educators, CEO of the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority and Chief Executive of the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria. Susan chaired the Australian National Commission for UNESCO, and was a Patron for the Melbourne Parliament for the World's Religions.

Susan Pascoe is a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, the Institute of Public Administration of Australia and the Australian College of Educators. Her significant achievements and leadership were acknowledged in 2007 when she was appointed Member of the Order of Australia for service to education through a range of executive roles, and international Initiatives for educators in the Pacific region. In November 2016 she was awarded the Leadership in Government Award for her outstanding contribution to public administration in Australia.

Previous Appointments

2012 – 2017 Inaugural Commissioner, Australian Charities and Not-for-Profits Commission (ACNC)
2011 – 2012 Leader of Taskforce to create ACNC
2009 – 2010 Commissioner, 2009 Victorian Bushfires Royal Commission
2006 –2008 Commissioner, State Services Authority
2003–2006 Chief Executive, Catholic Education Commission of Victoria
2003 - 2006 Director of Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Melbourne
2001–2002 CEO, Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority
1994 Visiting Scholar, Harvard University
1989–2001 Coordinating Chairperson, Policy and School Services, Catholic Education Office, Melbourne
1974–1988 Teacher in Victoria and Western Australia, Resident Tutor in WA, parent and part-time researcher at Harvard University

Honorary Appointments and Awards

2018 - Adjunct Professor, University of Western Australia
2018 - Australian Institute of Company Directors NFP Chairs’ Forum
2016 Winner, Leadership in Government Award (CAANZ)
2009 Appointed Life Member, Australian College of Educators
2008-2009 Patron, Parliament for the World’s Religions
2007 Appointed, Member of the Order of Australia (AM)
2006 Leader, Australian Delegation to UNESCO Meeting, Hanoi
2003 Invited to Fellowship of the Institute of Public Administration of Australia (FIPAA)
2002 Invited to Fellowship, Australian Institute of Management (FAIM) and Australian Institute Company Directors (FAICD)
2001 Sir James Darling Medal for Excellence in Education
2000 Australian Representative, Opening of Asia-Pacific Centre for International Understanding, South Korea
2000 Leader, Australian Delegation, UN World Education Forum
1998 Australian Delegate, Civitas Citizenship Meeting, Malaysia
1995 Elected Fellow, Australian College of Educators
1993 Elected Fellow, Australian Council for Educational Leaders
1993 Member, Australian Delegation to the OECD, Paris

Qualifications

1990 Masters in Educational Administration, University of Melbourne
1978 Graduate Diploma in Special Education, Edith Cowan University
1973 Diploma in Education, University of Melbourne
1972 Bachelor of Arts, University of Melbourne

Board Memberships – Government

2019 - Independent member of Victorian Government’s Kindergarten Reform Implementation Board
2006 – 2011 Member of the Board of the State Services Authority, Victoria
2006–2008 Chair, Australian National Commission for UNESCO. Member from 1999–2006, and delegate to General Conference in Paris in 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007
2004–2006 Board Member, Curriculum Corporation
1995–2001 Deputy Chairperson, and Member, Advisory Council of National Archives of Australia
1994–2004 Member, Civics Education Group and Civics Expert Group, reporting to Australian Prime Ministers Keating and Howard
1994–1995 Member, Vocational Education and Training Accreditation Board
1992–2001 Executive Member, Victorian Board of Studies
1991–1992 Member, Australian Education Council (AEC) Review Committee into the education and training of 15 to 19 year olds in Australia
1991–1992 Member, AEC's Review Committee on the Education of Girls in Australian Schools
1990–1992 Member of Council, Institute of Educational Administration

Board Memberships – Education, Health, Religion and Community

2020 – 21 Co-chair (with Rev Tim Costello), Charities Crisis Cabinet created for the NFP sector to liaise with Government during the COVID pandemic
2020 - Chair, Catholic Emergency Relief Australia `
2019 - 20 Member Australian Catholic Bishop’s Conference (ACBC) and Catholic Religious Australia (CRA) Governance Review Project Team which wrote The Light from the Southern Cross Report.
2018 - Trustee, St John of God Health Care Inc
2018 - Member, Board of Mercy Health Australia Group
2017 - Chair, Australian Council for International Development
2017 - Chair, Community Director’s Council
2010 - 2011 Chair of National Education Board for Loreto and FCJ schools
2006 – 2011 Board Member, Cabrini Health and Chair of Patient Experience and Clinical Governance Committee
2003–2006 Chair (and CEO) Catholic Education Commission of Victoria Board
2003 – 2006 Member, National Catholic Education Commission (NCEC) and NCEC Executive
2001–2009 Director of Senate of Australian Catholic University (ACU) and member of Executive
1998–2000 Chair (and National President), Australian College of Educators Education Board
1998–1999 Chair, Victorian Curriculum and Standards Framework Review

Photograph of Susan Pascoe by Piccolo Photography
Copyright 2021 Susan Pascoe