2025 Winners
Congratulations to the winners of the 2025 National Excellence in Teaching Awards.
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For 30 years, NEiTA has acknowledged outstanding educators. Discover our NEiTA alumni:
Taylor Child Care and Education Centre
Kambah, ACT
Winner of the Seed Early Childhood Team Award
Taylor Child Care and Education Centre, at Kambah ACT, has been awarded the NEiTA Seed Award for Early Team Excellence and a $10,000 professional development grant from NEiTA Foundation.
This remarkable team operates under a distributed ‘champion model’ of leadership, where every educator is empowered to lead, innovate, and grow.
Taylor Child Care and Education Centre has achieved ‘Exceeding’ in all seven Quality Areas of the National Quality Standard and is recognised for its active contribution to research projects, and pilot programs.
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The Centre has also secured funding grants for inclusive communications programs for Culturally and Linguistically Diverse families and non-verbal children.
Abigail Blessing
St Andrew’s Anglican College,
QLD
Winner of the NEiTA Apple Award
Abigail Blessing, Head of Science at St Andrew’s Anglican College at Peregian Springs Queensland, has been awarded the NEiTA Apple Award for Secondary and a $5,000 professional development grant from NEiTA Foundation.
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Throughout the past year, Abigail led the re-write of the Year 7-10 science curriculum, launched several College-wide science initiatives and events, introduced student science ambassadors, and secured a grant from the Australian Science Teachers Association for a new frog pond in the College’s Sustainability Garden.
Abigail is a passionate and intentional educator who believes in the power of relationships. She creates a safe and inclusive environment where learning is joyful and responsive, ensuring every student feels seen, supported and inspired.
Lysandra Stuart
Glenbrook School,
NZ
Winner of the Founders' Principal for Leadership Award
Lysandra Stuart, Principal of Glenbrook School, has been awarded the NEiTA Founder’s Principal’s Award for Leadership and a $10,000 professional development grant from NEiTA Foundation.
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Lysandra has revitalised the Franklin Principal’s Association, a collective of 49 local schools, by creating opportunities that ensure all tumuaki in the region have access to purposeful, future focused and cultural sustaining professional development.
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Lysandra is Lead Principal of Franklin and Waiuku, and the architect of Franklin’s Middle Leadership Program. Through workshops, courageous conversations, and leadership
from within, she equips emerging leaders with the tools and confidence to lead authentically.
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Lysandra’s mentoring of new principals reflects her deep belief in the power of optimistic, inclusive leadership, grounded in the value of manaakitanga, pono, and whanaungatanga.
Sonya Nicol
Fairholme College
QLD
Winner of the NEiTA Apple Award
Sonya Nicol, Kindergarten Teacher and Educational Leader at Fairholme College, has been awarded the NEiTA Apple Award for Primary and a $5,000 professional development
grant from NEiTA Foundation.
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After more than three decades of teaching, Sonya steps into the Kindy classroom each day with the energy, creativity, and passion of a first-year teacher. Sonya’s love for early childhood education is simply unmatched, and the impact she has made on generations of students, families, and colleagues is extraordinary.
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She deliberately creates an inclusive, nurturing environment, where every child feels safe, valued and seen. Her work also embeds First Nations perspectives into daily learning, which is a wonderful example of cultural respect and genuine reconciliation.
Joanne Gray
Department of Education,
NSW
Winner of the NEiTA Trustees' Alumni Award
Joanne Gray from the NSW Department of Education has been awarded the NEiTA Trustees' Alumni Award and a $10,000 professional development grant from NEiTA Foundation.
Since winning the Founders’ Principal Award for Leadership in 2021, Joanne has continued to make a significant impact on public education through system level leadership.
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As Director of Educational Leadership for the Hunter Network, she worked closely with principals to strengthen leadership capacity and improve outcomes across diverse schools. Currently, as Director of High Potential and Gifted Education for the NSW Department of Education, Joanne leads the implementation of an innovative and equity driven policy that redefines gifted education as the development of potential across intellectual, creative, physical and social emotional domains. This approach moves beyond individual recognition to ensure every student in every public school has access to opportunities for excellence.
Emma Webber
Grafton High School,
NSW
Winner of the Terry O’Connell Regional, Rural & Remote Award
Emma Webber, a special education teacher at Grafton High School NSW, has been awarded the Terry O’Connell Regional, Rural & Remote Award and a $10,000 professional development grant from NEiTA Foundation.
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Emma is a special needs education innovator who consistently goes above and beyond to make learning meaningful, inclusive, and accessible for every student. Emma’s classroom is a place where every student feels seen, supported, and challenged. Whether through differentiated instruction, the use of assistive technology, or just a thoughtful, empathetic approach, Emma creates an environment where each student can thrive.
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Emma collaborates closely with families, allied health professionals, and community partners to support each student’s growth and wellbeing.
Amelian Meertens
Matangi School,
NZ
Winner of the NEiTA Apple Award
Amelia Meertens, Team Leader, Enviro Leader, Production Leader at Matangi School, has been awarded the NEiTA Apple Award for Primary and a $5,000 professional development grant from NEiTA Foundation.
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Amelia is an extraordinary educator who consistently goes above and beyond in every aspect of her role. Her unwavering commitment to empowering students and colleagues creates a ripple effect of positivity and growth throughout the school community. She is a compassionate, selfless leader who puts the needs of others above her own.
In addition to her teaching responsibilities, Amelia oversees the school’s musical production with passion and creativity, ensuring there is an opportunity for each student to be involved, and leads Matangi’s environmental program, which inspires students and staff to make meaningful change.
Dr. Adrian Camm
Westbourne Grammar School,
VIC
Winner of the NEiTA Founders’ Principals Award for Leadership
Dr Adrian Camm, Principal of Westbourne Grammar School at Truganina and Williamstown Victoria, has been awarded the NEiTA Founder’s Principal’s Award for Leadership and a $10,000 professional development grant from NEiTA Foundation.
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Through sector-leading employment conditions, reduced workloads and clear pathways for leadership, Adrian has cultivated a culture where staff can do their best work and emerging leaders are encouraged to step forward.
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A visionary leader and lifelong learner, Adrian champions innovation, inclusion and connection, inspiring a school community committed to purpose, potential and meaningful impact.
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Warren Bull
Frankston East Primary School,
VIC
Winner of the Smith Family-NEiTA Award for Powering Potential
Warren Bull, Principal of Frankston East Primary School (Melbourne), has been awarded the The Smith Family-NEiTA Award for Powering Potential and a $10,000 professional development grant from NEiTA Foundation.
Warren is a deeply respected educator and mentor who has an unwavering commitment to equity, inclusion, and student wellbeing.
Throughout his career, he has gone above and beyond to support students experiencing disadvantage, constantly working to remove barriers to ensure every learner has the opportunity to thrive.
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He’s a tireless advocate for students facing complex challenges, often working silently behind the scenes to arrange uniforms, learning adjustments, meals or supporting external agencies.