Ms Sharon Schimming is the Acting Deputy Director-General, State Schools Division, in the Queensland Department of Education. She has more than 30 years’ experience in education including over 20 years of Principalship, Regional Director North Queensland and most recently, Deputy Director-General of Early Childhood and Educational Improvement since 2017.
As Deputy Director-General of Early Childhood and Educational Improvement, Ms Schimming led complex reforms within the department, resulting in effective and efficient administration and operations within the Early Childhood and Education Improvement division. Sharon has been instrumental in the development of the Whole-of-Government Early Years Plan, inclusive of the government’s first cross-agency initiative, Connect for Children. She has represented the Queensland Department of Education on a range of national and state consultations, internal and external Boards, and government working parties.
Sharon has successfully led negotiations with state and territory Regulatory Authorities and the Australian Government to effectively revise and streamline legislative and regulatory frameworks that support the ongoing reform agenda. As Chair of the department’s Executive Response Team, Sharon led the department through complex and challenging scenarios.
With over 30 years’ experience in the Queensland public service, Sharon continues to provide high levels of strategic leadership in the development and implementation of a range of state-wide systemic initiatives that have improved outcomes for Queensland’s children – from early childhood development through to high school.