Greg Whitby
{{short description|Australian educator (born 1952)}}
{{BLP sources|date=May 2021}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Greg Whitby
| image = Greg Whitby (born 1952).jpg
| caption = At an event on 13 November 2007
| imagesize =
| birth_name = Gregory Byrne Whitby
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|8|1|df=y}}
| birth_place = Sydney, NSW, Australia
| occupation = Educator; activist
| title = Executive Director
| years active = 1974-2022
| known for = Executive Director of Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta
| website = [http://bluyonder.wordpress.com Bluyonder]
}}
Gregory Byrne Whitby KSG {{post-nominals|country=AUS|AM}} (born 1 August 1952{{cn|date=August 2024}}) is an Australian educator. He was the Executive Director of Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta, a system made up of more than 80 schools across Greater Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains, a position which he held since 2006 until he retired in November 2022.{{cite news |author= |agency= |title=A lasting legacy: Greg Whitby farewelled in Parramatta |url=https://catholicoutlook.org/a-lasting-legacy-greg-whitby-farewelled-in-parramatta/ |quote= |newspaper=Catholic Outlook |date=2022-11-17 |access-date=2024-08-12 }}
Whitby started his career as a teacher in 1974, serving in a variety of school leadership positions before taking up the role as Executive Director of Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta. In 2018, he was recognised with an Order of Australia (AM) award for his outstanding contribution to education and the transformation of schooling for young people across Greater Western Sydney.{{Cite web|date=2018-01-25|title=Australia Day Honour for Greg Whitby|url=https://catholicoutlook.org/australia-day-honour-greg-whitby/|access-date=2021-05-19|website=Catholic Outlook|language=en-AU}} Whitby regularly writes for The Daily Telegraph in his weekly column which touches on issues affecting the education industry.{{cn|date=August 2024}}
Early life
Whitby completed his primary education at St Monica’s in North Parramatta before going on to undertake his secondary years at Oakhill College in Castle Hill.
Career
Whitby started his career as a classroom teacher in 1974. In 1976, he moved to Liverpool Boys High School where he taught English and History. Whitby's leadership career started to take shape in 1982 when he was appointed as the English and History Coordinator at John Therry Catholic High School. Whitby moved out of the classroom and into an administrative role in 1985 as the Assistant to the Principal at Patrician Brothers College, then became the Executive Assistant to the Executive Director of Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta for four years.https://au.linkedin.com/in/gregwhitby {{Self-published source|date=June 2022}}{{Better source needed|date=May 2021}}
In 1992, Whitby returned to the classroom as Principal of Emmaus Catholic College until being appointed as the Head of Curriculum and Special Programs at Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta. In 1999, Whitby became the Executive Director of Schools for the Diocese of Wollongong, a position which he held for seven years until being appointed as the Executive Director of Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta in 2006. He held this position until his retirement in 2022.
He has also lectured in the faculty of business at Western Sydney University.{{cite web |url=https://www.parra.catholic.edu.au/whats-on/latest-news/2022/05/25/23/19/catholic-education-champion-calls-time-after-48-years-service |title=Catholic education champion calls time after 48-yearsservice |date=2022-05-26 |accessdate=2024-08-12 |quote= |publisher= }}
Awards
In 2007, Whitby was named the most innovative and creative educator in Australia by The Bulletin Magazine in its annual Smart 100 Awards.{{Cite web |url=http://gbwhitby.parra.catholic.edu.au/resources/bulletin.htm |title=Catholic Schools Executive Director Tops Smart List |access-date=12 July 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080724225621/http://gbwhitby.parra.catholic.edu.au/resources/bulletin.htm |archive-date=24 July 2008 |url-status=dead }} In the same year, he received a Presidential Citation from the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL),[http://www.acel.org.au/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Awards_book.pdf Current Awards Book] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080720131446/http://acel.org.au/fileadmin/user_upload/documents/Awards_book.pdf |date=20 July 2008 }}, Australian Council for Educational Leaders (2007), pg. 18. of which he has been a Fellow since 2002.[http://www.acel.org.au/index.php?id=53 ACEL Awards] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719152851/http://acel.org.au/index.php?id=53 |date=19 July 2008 }}, Australian Council for Educational Leaders, acel.org.au; accessed 29 November 2016.
In 2011, he presented the AW Jones Oration for the Australian College of Educators, South Australian branch on the changing nature of schooling in today's world. He was named Apple Distinguished Educator "for his contribution to the implementation of Learning Technologies in Education".[https://www.apple.com/au/education/ade/biographies/emeritus2003.html Emeritus Apple Distinguished Educators] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060227050456/http://www.apple.com/au/education/ade/biographies/emeritus2003.html |date=27 February 2006 }}, apple.com; accessed 29 November 2016.
In 2013, Whitby was appointed Knight of the Knight the Order of St Gregory the Great for his contribution to Catholic schooling.
He was also the recipient of the 2017 Sir Harold Wyndham Medal awarded by the Australian College of Educators to those who have made an outstanding contribution to the education of young people in New South Wales.{{Cite web|title=ACE NSW Annual Awards 2018|url=https://www.austcolled.com.au/product/ace-nsw-annual-awards-2018/|access-date=2021-05-19|website=Australian College of Educators|language=en}}
Whitby was appointed a Member of the Order of Australia in the 2018 Australia Day Honours.{{Cite web |title=Mr Gregory Byrne WHITBY |url=https://honours.pmc.gov.au/honours/awards/2000265 |access-date=2024-10-11 |website=Australian Honours Search Facility}}
References
{{Reflist}}
Sources
- {{cite news|first=Hannah|last=Edwards|title=E-volution of schools|url=http://www.smh.com.au/news/technology/evolution-of-schools/2006/10/09/1160246042551.html|work=The Sydney Morning Herald|date=9 October 2006|accessdate=12 July 2008}} (includes photo of Whitby)
- {{cite news|title=$96,000 raised for cancer|url=http://bega.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/96000-raised-for-cancer/788889.aspx|work=Bega District News|date=13 June 2008|accessdate=12 July 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080728095313/http://bega.yourguide.com.au/news/local/news/general/96000-raised-for-cancer/788889.aspx|archive-date=28 July 2008|url-status=dead}}
- [http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/features/funky-school/story-e6frg8h6-1226130668112 Funky School], theaustralian.com.au, 10–11 September 2011
{{DEFAULTSORT:Whitby, Greg}}
Category:Australian Roman Catholics
Category:Knights of St. Gregory the Great
Category:Academics from Sydney
Category:Roman Catholic Diocese of Parramatta
Category:Members of the Order of Australia
Category:People educated at Oakhill College