Two women whose combined service to education totals more than 70 years are among the leading NSW educators acknowledged today in the King’s Birthday Honours.

NSW School Leadership Institute Executive Director Joanne Jarvis and Regional South and Connected Communities Executive Director Kathy Powzun received the Public Service Medal for their contribution to public education.

Ms Jarvis paid tribute to her family for their support across her 40-year career and acknowledged the “exceptional colleagues, mentors and educators whose support and wisdom have shaped my career and made any contribution I have been able to make possible”.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to serve students, teachers and school leaders, including through the establishment of the NSW School Leadership Institute, and to be part of a profession dedicated to improving the lives of young people,” she said.

“It has been a privilege and a joy over my years with the SLI to work with so many teachers and leaders across our wonderful public school system.”

A former principal Ms Jarvis was honoured for her transformative work at a school, department and systemic level.

This included her leadership roles in the former NSW Board of Studies, shaping assessment systems fundamental to student achievement recording and curriculum design.

“By embedding citizenship education into the History syllabus, Joanne enriched the curriculum to foster responsible, informed citizens, an innovation that remains embedded in NSW education,” her nomination said.

At the school level, Ms Jarvis’s application of evidence-based practices and value-added data analysis established benchmarks for continuous school improvement that were adopted by colleagues.

As the head of the School Leadership Institute, Ms Jarvis has helped create a strong pipeline of future leaders while contributing to the ongoing growth and development of current principals.

Across a 30-year career in public education, Ms Powzun’s impact has been “profound and far reaching” in opening up educational opportunities to those facing disadvantage.

The citation noted Ms Powzun’s work leading the state’s educational recovery from the 2019–2020 bushfires, delivering rapid and coordinated support to more than 200 schools and 50,000 students, implementing trauma-informed approaches and restoring stability and hope to fire-affected communities.

“Her visionary work laid the foundations for a cross-agency emergency response model now embedded in departmental operations,” her nomination read.

Ms Powzun said she was herself a “proud product of public education”.

“My experiences as a student, teacher and leader have shaped my belief in the transformative power of education,” she said.

“I have been inspired by the many students, families, teachers and school leaders I have worked alongside, particularly those who demonstrate resilience, optimism and an unwavering commitment to making a difference for others. Their dedication continually reminds me why this work matters.”

NSW Department of Education Secretary Murat Dizdar congratulated all the NSW educators who were honoured today.

He said the work of Ms Jarvis and Ms Powzun highlighted the extraordinary impact of a career in teaching.

“We have the great honour in our role as educators of being able to mould and influence minds and outcomes across the whole learning pathway for our children and young people. It is the one career that shapes all others.

“Joanne and Kathy’s careers exemplify the transformative power of dedicated teachers – we are so proud they are part of our public system.”

Mr Dizdar also noted the educators who were recognised for their community work.

“Our schools and our teachers are central to their communities and it is wonderful to see our staff’s commitment to their broader networks honoured.”

Other recipients were:

Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division

Elisabeth Pickering for service to secondary education, and to the community.

• Cabramatta High School staff member and specialist school counsellor was co-ordinator of the Department’s Refugee Resettlement Project between 1999-2009.

Francis Pikardt for service to secondary education.

• The former principal of Northern Beaches Secondary College, Freshwater Senior Campus, 2007-2021 and Balgowlah Boys High, 2003-2007.

Brian Ralph for service to secondary education.

• A former Auburn Girls High School principal and long-serving member of the New South Wales Secondary Principals’ Council (NSWSPC)

Juley Clarke for service to primary education.

• A teacher at Forbes North Public School since 1988 and recipient of a 30-year service medal

Bijinder Dugal, St Ives for service to aged welfare.

• Assistant principal, specialist teacher and teacher in schools including, Auburn Girls High School, Clarke Road School, Redfern Public School, Ryde Public School and Spastic Centre, West Ryde Public School.

Paul Lemmon for service to surf lifesaving.

• A teacher in schools including Terrigal Public School, since 2025, Brisbania Public School, Gorokan Public School and Niagara Park Public School.