Principal Ms Ros Curtis AM honoured for contribution to girls’ education

The International Coalition of Girls’ School has bestowed the Founders’ Leadership Award on Ms Curtis – a richly deserved honour celebrating her extraordinary impact on girls’ schools around the world.

Ms Curtis’ visionary leadership, commitment to the global advancement of girls, and steadfast support of the global coalition have inspired so many across continents.

Since beginning her career as a History and Drama teacher, Ms Curtis has held a variety of roles from teacher to senior leader in six schools, with the majority of her career spent in girls’ schools, including as Principal of St Margaret’s Anglican Girls School since 2011. Throughout her 14 years at St Margaret’s, Ros has demonstrated a deep commitment to the advancement of extraordinary teaching, creative excellence, and curriculum innovation, dramatically changing the school’s landscape.

Driven by her strong passion for educating girls as well as the teaching profession, Ms Curtis has also made a significant contribution to professional associations across the years, including having previously held the position as Chair of the Alliance of Girls’ Schools Australasia (AGSA), now the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools (ICGS).

Ms Curtis was delighted to accept the award at the ICGS Conference in Philadelphia, USA, where she shared in discussions around best practices and educational trends with educators and girls’ school advocates from around the world.

“My educational approach has been shaped by my experience working in girls’ schools and with the International Coalition of Girls’ Schools, which has affirmed my view that we need to be completely focused on providing opportunities to prepare and empower young women to have the confidence to be the great contributors and leaders of society. Girls’ schools provide that avenue.

“This award is recognition of the parents, students and educators who believe in girls’ schools as the best possible environments for girls to learn, grow and develop.

“Whether it’s opportunities, confidence and courage, global citizenship, leadership or studying STEM, girls’ schools are places where every girl has every opportunity to make their mark on the world,” Ms Curtis said.

This award comes off the back of Ms Curtis being recognised as a national leader in education, named an Excellence Awardee in the category of School Principal of the Year Non Government earlier this year.  

In 2024, Ms Curtis received a Member of the Order of Australia General Division in the King’s Birthday Honours for her significant service to education and professional associations and was recognised by the Queensland College of Teachers for Teaching and Leading Excellence with a TEACHX award.