Starting out in the health field, Furler was appointed the first Ministerial Adviser in Women’s Health in Australia in 1984, and spent some years in the South Australian and Tasmanian governments before being appointed to the Commonwealth Health Department where she rose to First Assistant Secretary.
Neville Lyngcoln, Chair of the Australian Primary Principals Association said, “Liz’s career in health is characterised by her focus on policies and programs aimed at reducing inequalities, strengthening prevention and primary care, and health promotion.”
Furler worked in education for the first time in 2002 when she joined the Australian National Training Authority. Since joining the South Australian Department of Education and Children’s Services in February 2008 to lead the Policy and Inter-Governmental Relations work, she has been involved directly in high-level Council of Australian Governments and Ministerial forums shaping the future of schooling, early childhood development, skills and higher education.
“With her knowledge of national policy settings, her track record in leading complex and challenging reform, and a particular interest in the translation of evidence into policy and practice, Liz is ideally equipped to assist Principals Australia with the next phase in its development,” said Lyngcoln.