Conducting an Executive Search for a CEO to Represent and Advocate for Independent Schools in Victoria. Leading Strategic Governance and Cultural Renewal Post-COVID.
The Brief
Future Leadership™ partnered with a prominent advocacy organisation for independent schools to appoint a new Chief Executive Officer following the resignation of the incumbent after a long tenure.
The organisation sought a dynamic and interactive leader to represent and advocate for the best interests of independent schools in one of Australia’s states. The CEO’s responsibilities included ensuring the organisation’s long-term success, strengthening its reputation across the sector, and addressing critical challenges such as cultural renewal and COVID recovery for schools and students.
Candidate net Promote Score
Future Leadership combines truly personalised relationships with innovative technology solutions to ensure an approachable and efficient process for all our Net Promoter Score across clients, successful candidates and unsuccessful candidates is well above industry standard.
Candidates supported every year
We maintain genuine relationships with past candidates and continue to support them with leadership solutions long term, after they land their role.
Senior Women Appointed since 2002
Over half of the executive search assignments undertaken by our team have resulted in the appointment of outstanding female or LGBTQI+ leaders to high profile roles.
Candidate Retention Rate for 12 months since 2002
Our thorough briefing process and ability to engage passive candidates mean that we go to great lengths to find the right person for the role – long term!
The Process
Future Leadership, led by a Managing Partner, executed a tailored recruitment strategy:
- Comprehensive Briefing: Collaborated with the Selection Committee to define the role’s background, critical focus areas, challenges, and the ideal candidate’s attributes.
- Search Strategy Development: Leveraged extensive networks within the education sector to identify and connect with highly qualified candidates.
- Candidate Engagement and Evaluation: Managed a targeted advertising campaign, processed approximately 50 applications, and conducted psychometric assessments aligned with the Future Leadership™ Capability Framework.
- Structured Selection Process: Facilitated two rounds of panel interviews and conducted thorough 360-degree reference, probity, and qualifications checks.
This rigorous and collaborative process ensured the Board had access to a high-calibre shortlist of candidates.
Emerging Capabilities
Strategy and Purpose
Develops and leads strategy for the function/organisation, taking a broad and long-term perspective. Communicates and gains buy-in to organisational goals and vision, promoting change initiatives.
Culture and Engagement
Fosters a positive culture, creating a sense of belonging and inclusiveness. Creates an environment that encourages diverse perspectives and facilitates a psychologically safe environment.
Governance and Compliance
Establishes, champions, and measures the effectiveness of an organisation’s regulatory and reporting systems. Identifies and evaluates risks and develops strategies to mitigate risk.
Stakeholder Relations
Establishes rapport with stakeholders, builds and sustains trusted and collaborative relationships. Identifies and draws on relevant and diverse perspectives and integrates them to support productive interactions.
Communication and Influence
Communicates with clarity and impact to facilitate individual and collective understanding, inspire action and enable information exchange. Leverages human-centric communication and storytelling to effectively influence stakeholders across the physical and virtual realms.
The Outcome
An accomplished professional with extensive experience in education leadership, strategy, and advocacy was appointed as Chief Executive Officer, commencing in July 2024.
- The appointee’s ability to represent members across a diverse range of schools and drive strategic governance positioned the organisation for continued success.
- The Board unanimously endorsed the appointee, highlighting their depth of experience and alignment with the organisation’s mission.
As a recent applicant, I had an exceptional experience with Future Leadership. Each of the Fisher team members that I engaged with demonstrated high EQ and empathised with the emotional journey that I was on as a candidate. They took time to build rapport and ensure there was alignment between my experience and interests and the role on offer.
They were encouraging and supportive, gave practical advice as to how to understand the role and clear instructions. Each person made me feel my application mattered to them and that they wanted to work with me to present myself in the best possible light.
As results came through from each stage of the process, the feedback was very prompt and insightful. Support onsite for my presentation was also thoughtful and attentive. This meant I was able to focus on what I was saying and not be stressed about the technology. These small details made a huge difference to my ability to focus on engaging with the panel.
A special thanks to Liz Jones, for her encouragement and support. I feel like a have made a true friend. Thanks also to Kirsti Hitz-Morton, Larissa Langley and the ever-efficient Katherine Smith.
