Former university deputy vice-chancellor Patrick Garnett new Curriculum Council chair

Former deputy vice-chancellor of Edith Cowan University, Professor Patrick Garnett, has been appointed chair of the Curriculum Council.

Professor Garnett succeeds Professor Bill Louden, who served in the role for more than four years.

Education Minister Liz Constable said Professor Garnett was highly respected among his colleagues and would provide ideal leadership for the council.

"He is highly qualified and has outstanding curriculum and examination experience," Dr Constable said. "He is very well suited for the role and I look forward to working with him."

Professor Garnett will oversee the agency which administers school exams in Western Australia at a time when State Parliament is considering legislation that would see the Curriculum Council become the School Curriculum and Standards Authority (SCSA).

Professor Garnett holds a PhD in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Education from The University of Western Australia, a Master of Arts in Science Education from the University of Maryland (USA) and was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Education by Edith Cowan University upon his retirement in 2007.

He has extensive experience in educational leadership and management. In his role of deputy vice-chancellor at Edith Cowan University he had responsibility for the university's academic profile, research and research training, quality assurance, human resources, risk management and audit assurance. Prior appointments at ECU included six years as executive dean and five years as head of school.

During his career, Professor Garnett was also involved with the Board of Secondary Education and the Secondary Education Authority as a long-standing member of the Chemistry Joint Syllabus Committee. He also chaired two Chemistry Syllabus Review Committees and was examiner and chair of the TAE Chemistry Examining Panel.

He has extensive teaching experience in chemistry and science education and is the co-author of more than 100 publications in chemistry and science education, including six chemistry textbooks.

The Minister thanked Professor Louden, who retired from the position, for his efforts in the role.

"I would like to acknowledge the enormous contribution of Professor Louden, especially his leadership in guiding the implementation of the Western Australian Certificate of Education and advice with the proposed national curriculum," Dr Constable said.