Released 31/05/2019
With the announcement of her retirement today, I want to acknowledge the contribution Ms Natalie Howson has made to the Canberra community through a distinguished public service career.
During many years in executive roles, including as Director-General of both the ACT Community Services and Education Directorates, Ms Howson has shown a unique style of leadership, empowering the people around her and providing exceptional service to successive governments.
I have been lucky to work with Ms Howson in portfolios spanning education, early childhood development, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander affairs, community services, housing, women and multicultural affairs. In every aspect of this work she has shown her deep commitment to serving our community and through these portfolios has also helped deliver major social reforms in the ACT.
The transition to the National Disability Insurance Scheme, the first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Agreement, the $600 million Public Housing Renewal Program, the Future of Education strategy and countless other important projects have all been enabled by Natalie’s abilities and commitment.
In particular, I want to pay tribute to her leadership of the ACT’s public education sector. Principals, teachers and other school staff have rightly come to admire Ms Howson as someone who has constantly worked to better their schools and workplaces, taking on issues such as occupational violence in the determined way which has been required.
I want to put on record my personal thanks to Natalie for her outstanding service and advice to me as minister over more than four years.
More importantly though, I’d like to thank Ms Howson on behalf of our community and wish her the very best in retirement.
- Statement ends -
Yvette Berry, MLA | Media Releases
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