Neil Carrington PhD, FAIM, GAICD

Since graduating from Griffith University, Dr Neil Carrington has dedicated his career to helping others, whether that be through philanthropy, improving the standard of Australian healthcare training, or educating the next generation of industry leaders.

During his career, he has also been CEO of national charity Act For Kids, an organization dedicated to supporting abused and neglected children. As CEO, Dr Carrington took the organization from two loss-making years, before his arrival, to one with an annual revenue of more than $40 million, delivering ten successive surpluses. During that period, staff numbers grew from 60 to over 450, and the number of abused and neglected children receiving assistance grew to more than 50,000. The organization, which only ran in Queensland, now operates nationally in over 30 sites. In 2019 Human Resources Director magazine presented Act for Kids with the Gold Employer of Choice Award across all industries and sectors, recognising the organisation as a top performer in their Leadership, Work-life Balance, and Health and Wellbeing categories.

After graduating from Griffith University (then Mt Gravatt College of Advanced Education) in 1981, Dr Carrington spent several years teaching in secondary schools in rural Queensland. He became one of the first to qualify as a specialist Resource Teacher and received a scholarship to complete a Master’s degree in 1991. He worked as a Guidance Officer before taking an educational leadership position in London. He continued studying in these fields, adding a Master’s degree from James Cook University in 1998. From 1993 to 1997 Dr Carrington held academic positions at Western Sydney University (lecturing in Educational Psychology and Teaching Practice), Queensland University of Technology (Coordinator of an International Teacher Training Program), and University of New England (Director of School Experience and Deputy Head of Smith House Residential College).

In 1998 Dr. Carrington was appointed Foundation Director of Education and Organisation Development for Mater Health Services, responsible for all organizational and professional development, education, and training for over 7000 medical, nursing, allied health, and executive staff. There he developed and honed his knowledge and skills as a business development consultant—nationally and internationally.

In 2004 Dr Carrington became Director, Teaching and Learning at Queensland University of Technology, responsible for teaching evaluation and quality assurance across the University. After three successful years there, he became Director of the National Leadership Centre at the Australian Council of Educational Research (ACER). Within 12 months, Dr Carrington moved ACER from a $3 million loss into a profitable business unit.