Very Rev Dr Gerald Gleeson VG Adm
Chair – Sydney Catholic Schools

I am pleased to announce the appointment of Mr Peter Turner to the role of Interim Executive Director Sydney Catholic Schools.

Undoubtedly, many of you already know Peter as a familiar face from his previous role as the Director of Catholic Education – Diocese of Wollongong, a position he held for thirteen years.

As the head of the Wollongong Catholic Education Office, Peter saw enrolments increase to almost twenty-thousand students, while also establishing three new schools, a modern K-12 precinct, and the innovative Emmaus Catholic Education Centre in Macarthur.

Along with his service to the Diocese of Wollongong, Peter has a long and fruitful history with Sydney Catholic Schools, where he served as the Director – Southern Region for five years.

He is the recipient of the Australian College of Educational Leaders fellowship, along with the Catholic Schools NSW award for outstanding System leadership, and the Brother John Taylor award for school leadership. He also served as the foundation Principal of both Freeman Catholic College Bonnyrigg Heights and Aquinas Catholic College Menai in the SCS network.

On his appointment, Auxiliary Bishop for Sydney Most Rev. Daniel Meagher said he was
thrilled that Peter would be acting as custodian of Sydney Catholic Schools while
an extensive global search is undertaken for a permanent Executive Director.

“Peter has demonstrated a lifetime commitment to Catholic Education spanning more than fifty years.”

“We are delighted to have a dedicated and experienced leader serve as steward of our
schools. We look forward to him carrying on Tony Farley’s faith-filled legacy of Catholic
education in Sydney, while we undergo a comprehensive search for a new Executive Director,” Bishop Danny said.

With an educator and administrator of Peter’s calibre, working with our experienced senior leadership team, we can be guaranteed a seamless transition process which will allow us to continue our mission of delivering a strong faith-based education to our 70,000 students across 147 primary and secondary schools.

Peter’s temporary appointment will commence on April 29th.

He is a member of Our Lady Star of the Sea parish Miranda, along with his wife Yvonne.