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It Is Time
 I became CEO of ACEL at a time when the
organisation was at the cross-roads. Nine years later, I feel a sense of great
professional satisfaction at ACEL's metamorphosis into a highly respected organisation
with a redoubtable reputation for excellence within the education sector it serves.
ACEL's achievements are built on a robust platform of principles, programs,
processes, and people. Farsighted strategising and exemplary execution have underwritten
its resilience and sustainability throughout these years.
A well-known Australian superannuation fund harks back to a "life unchanging,"
even as John Lennon's (Allen Saunders'?) croons the antithesis that "life
is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans." Regardless of
the adage that organisations and/or people subscribe to, when life begins turning
on a dime, wisdom lies in embracing change as it manifests. As Eastern philosophy
counsels, everything in the material world is impermanent - successful organisations and their service models included!
The COVID-19 crisis has given all of us time for pause
and a willingness to try new things. I will be departing ACEL on the 19th of
August, firm in my belief that I leave behind an organisation and a management
team that is skilled and willing to deliver results, notwithstanding. I am confident
that given ACEL's strengths it is ready, willing and able to respond to any
new challenges that these uncertain times may bring.
It would be remiss of me if I did not acknowledge the many remarkable people
from ACEL's board, branches, members, partner organisations, and our global
thought-leader community that have shared some parts of this nine-year long journey
with me and enriched my life with their association. It also behoves me to thank
the team at ACEL's National Office that made it all possible. As an old Urdu
couplet goes, "each one of us starts out alone, but some journeys have good
kismet, and people join-in to form a joyous caravan." I am truly blessed that
in the years I spent in ACEL, I had the great good fortune to work with Jane Lowman,
Kara Vassallo, Jonathon Parker, Heather Porter, David Clark, Nalaka Perera, James
Reynolds, Peggy Reevell, Chris Newcombe, Alex Fitzgerald, Theresa Tran, Suman
Patel, and Nerisha Harilal. They brought unique perspectives, great skills and
willing ways to bear on everything - a very special band of men and women.
I would like to end this missive with some final thoughts
that I know will resonate with many of you. It was in 1597 that Sir Francis Bacon
proclaimed that "knowledge itself is power" in his Meditationes Sacrae. Four
centuries later the eternal wisdom of his words is underscored by movements like
the Arab Spring, Me Too, and Black Lives Matter. Knowledge is indeed power, and
education is the fundamental precondition for political development, democracy
and social justice. Education empowers by creating knowledge, building
confidence, underwriting access, promoting participation, and unlocking opportunity.
Education shapes dreams, crystallises goals and untethers potential. As Nelson
Mandela once said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world."
The essence of ACEL's social covenant and organisational
purpose are rooted in this inalienable and humbling truth of education's transformative
power. If we are to contribute in any meaningful way to education's magical
potency, we must endeavour to build and nurture Australian educational leadership's
capacity by bringing it up close and personal to all that is new (and different),
all that works (and doesn't), all that is made here (and not), and all that
affirms (and challenges). Inspiration, motivation, reflection, inquiry, must never
be the handmaidens of narrow worldviews, or constrained by exclusionary categories
if it is to serve the soaring aspirations of future generations. Let us all solemnly
commit to rise to education's pure calling by summoning our better angels. Nothing less will do.
We live in interesting times but rest easy that all our bests are yet to come.
Cheers,
Aasha Murthy
ACEL CEO
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On behalf of all of us here at ACEL we welcome
you back to the school year for 2020. Of course, we cannot commence with any message
to the year without sending our sincere thoughts to everyone effected by the recent
devasting bushfires. We send our support to each community and every individual
effected and join the rest of Australia in thanking the tireless firefighters,
volunteers, community support workers and every single selfless person who has
assisted our fellow citizens in this tragic time of need. This tragedy has brought
sadness and devastation to so many, but in the midst of such hardship the inspiration
of witnessing community, neighbours and strangers alike coming together in solidarity
to support one another has once again been a demonstration of the collective spirit
of humanity and compassion we can share as fellow citizens. To all once again we say thank you.
In 2020 ACEL will introduce a new and improved
communications schedule, bringing targeted news, offers and events in a combined
weekly ACEL newsletter. This new and comprehensive newsletter delivered each Tuesday
[commencing Feb 11th] will cover all aspects of professional development including
news, events, publications, programs and special offers streamlined to provide
the essential information and support in a more concise manner. This weekly newsletter
will also be supplemented by fortnightly members newsletter highlighting links
to new resources made available within each period, plus a new regional newsletter
will be sent each month to our regional members and subscribers focusing on local offers and events.
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