Mark Scott to lead department of education

NSW Premier Mike Baird today announced the appointment of Mark Scott AO as Secretary, Department of Education.

Mr Scott recently completed a decade as managing director of the ABC, where his reforms included the creation of iview, News24, ABC3, digital radio, expansion of ABC online and introduction of ABC mobile services.

In the 1980s, Mr Scott was a teacher at St Andrew’s Cathedral School before working in senior roles for two education ministers in the Greiner Government, Virginia Chadwick and Terry Metherell.

He then completed a Master of Public Administration at Harvard before joining Fairfax as a journalist, rising to senior editorial and executive roles, then moving to the ABC.

“Mark’s appointment takes our reinvigoration of the senior executive of the NSW public service a step further,” Mr Baird said.

“Along with promoting outstanding young talent from within the service, we have sought out the best and brightest from the corporate world.

“Like Rob Whitfield, who took the reins at Treasury last year, Mark is ready, willing and able to bring the fruits of his immense experience to the benefit of the entire NSW community.”

Mr Scott said, “On leaving the ABC, I was asked what I planned to do next. I can think of no more important opportunity than working alongside the teachers of NSW and the staff of the Department to improve teaching and learning in our schools.”

Education Minister Adrian Piccoli said, “I look forward to working with Mark to continue delivering the most comprehensive set of reforms of school education in a century. Our focus remains on improving student results and delivering the skills base needed to grow the NSW economy.”