In a significant milestone for Teach For Australia’s board, Chair Larry Kamener steps down and endorses Patrick Forth as the new Chair.

Founding member and long-serving Chair Larry Kamener was an inaugural board member of Teach For Australia (TFA) from 2009 and Chair from 2016-2022.

“Larry is a leading figure in Australia’s social sector and I am incredibly grateful for his advocacy, belief in our mission and his care for our organisation over this long time,” said Teach For Australia founder and CEO Melodie Potts Rosevear.

“We thank Larry for his monumental contribution to TFA since 2009. His guidance has been integral to our success and we know he will continue to champion our work. He departs with TFA’s warmest wishes and gratitude.”

Kamener expressed his gratitude to TFA and said that it had been a great pleasure to be involved with Teach For Australia from its inception and see it flourish.

“I have seen TFA grow from Victoria to WA and then the NT, Tasmania, SA and finally into NSW from 2023. I have seen more than 1000 Associates matriculate from the Leadership Development Program and many go on to leadership roles in schools and in the sector,” said Kamener.

Teach For Australia’s new board member and Chair is Patrick Forth, a Senior Advisor at The Boston Consulting Group. He was officially appointed at the December 2022 board meeting.

“I am delighted that my former colleague Patrick Forth is taking over as chair as I know TFA will be in good hands,” he added.

Dr Forth has spent 35 years advising senior executives globally in the technology, media and telecommunications industry and brings to the TFA Board a wealth of experience in governance, resourcing and digital transformation.

“After a thorough search supported by People For Purpose, we’re excited to welcome Patrick as our new Chair. As we look to the future and embark on another phase of organisation growth and program expansion, Patrick joins us with expertise in business transformation and the passion for educational equity which unites everyone at TFA,” said Potts Rosevear.

Dr Forth said he was delighted to be taking on the role of Chair for an organisation that he considers has played “a catalytic role in education in Australia for more than a decade”.

“Excellent education is a top priority for all communities across Australia, and I am excited about the role we can play as the country grapples with issues like increasing the supply of excellent teachers for our students.”