Three outstanding Australian school leaders have been awarded prestigious scholarships to attend a world-renowned leadership program at Harvard University, where they will gain cutting-edge insights to translate into action in their school communities.
Hala Ramadan, Principal of Belmore Boys’ High School in New South Wales, Mathew Burt, Principal of Broome Senior High School in Western Australia and Michael West, Executive Principal of Bellbird Park State Secondary College in Queensland have each been recognised for their exemplary leadership and commitment to public education. These scholarships, awarded by Teachers Mutual Bank, the Harvard Club of Australia, and the Public Education Foundation, provide a unique opportunity to engage with global experts and advance educational leadership in Australia.
Hala Ramadan – Teachers Mutual Bank Principals Scholarship
Hala Ramadan, Principal of Belmore Boys’ High School, has been awarded the Teachers Mutual Bank Principals Scholarship. Belmore Boys’ High School serves a linguistically diverse and low socioeconomic community, and Ramadan sees this scholarship as an opportunity to empower both staff and students.
“The Teachers Mutual Bank scholarship allows me to empower staff and students by providing access to world-class educational resources, training, and opportunities. It promotes the idea of expanding horizons and stepping outside stereotypical frames of disadvantage to achieve excellence,” Hala said.
With deep personal and professional experience in working with high-complexity schools, Ramadan is dedicated to fostering an inclusive and nurturing environment where learning and wellbeing thrive. She believes this scholarship will enable her to support shared learning opportunities, strengthen leadership networks, and inspire students and staff to reach their full potential, creating a culture of excellence in learning and leadership.
Teachers Mutual Bank’s Sponsorship and Community Engagement Manager, Glinda Major, said: “We are thrilled to offer Hala this unique opportunity to explore all that Harvard has to offer and provide her with further skills to design, shape, and lead transformative learning experiences for students and teachers.
Hala’s commitment and dedication to her students and wider community is remarkable and is a reflection of her passion for creating a thriving, inclusive environment. She is a role model for her students and community.”
Murat Dizdar, Secretary of the NSW Department of Education, also praised Hala and Belmore Boys’ High School more broadly. “I congratulate Hala, a thoroughly deserving recipient of this prestigious Harvard scholarship. She is an outstanding principal, and this Harvard program will only enhance her already considerable skills as a leader.
Belmore Boys’ High School has gone from strength to strength during her nine years of leadership, with a significant increase in community confidence in school operations, considerable growth in student enrolments, and academic achievement.
Hala fosters an inclusive environment at the school where more than 90 per cent of students come from diverse cultural and linguistic backgrounds.
A great example of this is the introduction of the annual Eidster event where the school community comes together to celebrate both the Muslim festival of Eid and the Christian festival of Easter.
Hala has built strong connections with the school community, engaging parents and carers in free TAFE courses to help them expand their skills and further their careers.
Her leadership is marked by embracing all students in her school community and having high expectations of their engagement with schooling.”
Mathew Burt – Harvard Club of Australia Principals Scholarship
Mathew Burt, Principal of Broome Senior High School, has been awarded the prestigious Harvard Club of Australia Principals Scholarship. As a regional school leader, Burt is passionate about ensuring students in rural and remote areas have access to the same opportunities as their metropolitan counterparts.
“Receiving this scholarship is an incredible honour, representing both personal growth and the opportunity to bring world-class leadership practices to Broome Senior High School. It acknowledges the potential of regional leaders to drive meaningful change and reaffirms my commitment to fostering excellence, equity, and innovation in education for all students,” Mathew stated.
Burt’s leadership is critical in addressing regional challenges such as staff retention, cultural inclusivity, and equitable access to resources. He believes this educational opportunity will enhance his leadership capacity and enable him to drive initiatives that foster collaboration and future-ready education practices.
Ricky Campbell-Allen from the Harvard Club of Australia highlighted the importance of leadership development. “The Harvard Club of Australia wants to celebrate and support Australian public school principals who work every day to lead communities that transform Australian kids’ futures through access to world-class professional leadership learning. We believe that a scholarship for a principal is an investment in a school and, over time, in a community.”
Michael West – Public Education Foundation Principals Scholarship
Michael West, Executive Principal of Bellbird Park State Secondary College, has been awarded the Public Education Foundation Principals Scholarship. West sees this scholarship as a validation of his team’s dedication and a chance to bring world-class strategies to public education.
“This scholarship is a significant honour and a validation of the hard work and dedication of my team at Bellbird Park State Secondary College. It offers me a unique opportunity to learn from global leaders, refine my leadership skills, and bring world-class strategies to public education, ensuring our students and staff continue to excel and thrive,” Michael said.
Sharon Schimming, Director-General of the Queensland Department of Education recognised this opportunity is a reflection of the outstanding leadership shown by Michael over many years in numerous education settings. “I would like to congratulate Michael on being awarded this highly regarded scholarship and have no doubt this opportunity will be of immeasurable benefit to Michael personally, but also to his staff and broader school community.”
West is committed to building strong teams, creating inclusive environments, and driving innovative strategies to empower students and staff. He believes the opportunity at Harvard will equip him with the tools and insights to address complex challenges and implement cutting-edge educational practices for lasting benefits in his school and community.
Paul Somers, Chief Operating Officer of the Public Education Foundation, emphasised the impact of these scholarships. “These scholarships represent an extraordinary opportunity for public school leaders to engage with global best practices and bring back invaluable insights to their communities. Investing in leadership development is one of the most powerful ways to strengthen public education, and we are incredibly proud to support principals who are driving innovation, equity, and excellence in schools across Australia.”
These three principals will join an elite cohort of education leaders at Harvard, where they will engage in rigorous learning and bring transformative insights back to their school communities. Their commitment to public education will ensure long-term benefits for students, staff, and the broader community, reinforcing the vital role of strong leadership in shaping the future of Australian public education.
For more information, please contact: Paul Somers, Tel: 02 7814 2806
About Teachers Mutual Bank
Teachers Mutual Bank is dedicated to helping Australian education sector employees and their families secure their financial futures. In 1966, a group of passionate teachers with a shared vision of giving those alongside them better financial options came together to form a credit union. More than 50 years on, that passion is stronger than ever. We’re still supporting teachers, their families, and the education community with superior banking products and member service.
We’re more than just a bank; we’re a market leader in member advocacy in the Australian banking sector and committed to strong standards of corporate responsibility through community investment and ethical business.
Teachers Mutual Bank is one division of Teachers Mutual Bank Limited, alongside Health Professionals Bank, Firefighters Mutual Bank, UniBank, and Hiver Bank. Collectively, Teachers Mutual Bank Limited has more than 230,000 members and over $10 billion in assets. See more details at www.tmbank.com.au.
About the Harvard Club of Australia
Since its founding in 1961, the Harvard Club of Australia (HCA) has dedicated itself to the mission of furthering exchange between Australia and Harvard. HCA aims to promote fellowship among alumni of Harvard University in Australia and make a difference as a Harvard community in Australia. See more details at www.hcaustralia.clubs.harvard.edu.
About the Public Education Foundation
The Public Education Foundation is a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to providing life-changing scholarships to students and educators in public education, and enhancing the value and reputation of public education. See more details at www.publiceducationfoundation.org.au.
