Dear brothers in the ordained ministry, sisters and brothers in Christ,

In the joy and hope of Easter we, the bishops of Western Australia, write to share with you the news that the consultation and discernment process to identify the next Executive Director for Catholic Education has concluded, and that Annette Morey has been appointed as Executive Director, Catholic Education Western Australia, commencing Semester 2, 2025.

Presently the Deputy Executive Director of Catholic Education Western Australia, Annette is a distinguished, experienced and highly credentialed leader of faith and learning who has served Catholic education in Western Australia as a leader within Catholic school communities (Mater Dei College, Prendiville Catholic College, St Norbert College), as well as across our system, for over 32 years. As Deputy Executive Director, Annette has actively contributed to the planning and implementation of Catholic Education Western Australia’s Strategic Initiatives 2030. In doing so, Annette has established close and robust professional relationships with key stakeholders, including the bishops of Western Australia, school principals, the Minister for Education, and colleagues at the Department of Education and the Association of Independent Schools of Western Australia (AISWA).

In 2023, Annette was invited by the Minister for Education to be a member of the Post-School Success Review Expert Panel and, between 2020 and 2023, served as a member of the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA) Principals Advisory Committee. Annette has had significant and ongoing engagement with principals and was previously an Executive Member of the Catholic Secondary Principals’ Association of Western Australia, the WA Director of the Catholic Secondary Principals Australia and President of the Associated and Catholic Colleges of Western Australia.

During her career in Catholic education, Annette has served on various Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia (CECWA) committees and working parties, including the School Improvement Committee, the Aboriginal Community Committee, and the Audit and Risk Committee. Annette holds a Bachelor of Applied Science (Human Biology) and a Master of Education (Leadership) from Edith Cowan University, as well as a Master of Religious Education from the University of Notre Dame Australia.

We take this opportunity to gratefully acknowledge the contributions offered to this discernment process by the interview panel who, in conjunction with executive search firm, Gerard Daniels, met with a number of experienced Catholic educational leaders from Catholic school systems around our country who formally expressed their interest in the role of Executive Director. We also express our thanks to the members of this interview panel:

•    Bishop Tim Norton SVD DD – Bishop of Broome, Panel Chair
•    Ms Eva Skira AM – Chair, Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia
•    Ms Siobhan Allen – Executive Director, Catholic School Parents Western Australia
•    Dr Edward Simons - Executive Director, Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools
•    Mrs Therese Temby - former Executive Director, Catholic Education Western Australia
•    Mr Peter Yensch – Commissioner, Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia

During Term 2, Annette will commence a progressive transition and hand-over with Mr Wayne Bull.

In announcing Annette’s appointment today, we, together with the Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia, acknowledge and affirm our gratitude for the leadership, service and unwavering dedication of Wayne’s commitment to Catholic education across our state. We look forward to celebrating Wayne’s service as Executive Director, and to acknowledging his 47-year commitment to Catholic education in Western Australia, before he begins the next season of his life journey in retirement at the end of Semester 1, 2025.

We, together with families, young people, clergy, school leaders and staff of Catholic school communities across Western Australia, look forward with Christ-like hope in this Jubilee Year to the continued contribution that our Catholic parishes and schools offer as Christ-centered and Child-focused expressions of the living gospel.