Emeritus ProfessorKaren Starr

Emeritus Professor Karen Starr, PhD Faculty of Arts & Education, Deakin
University FAICD FACE FACEL Research interests: education leadership,
education business and governance, education policy and practice, teaching and
learning, adult learning, and equity and social justice in education at all
levels. Most recent books: Education Policy, Neoliberalism, and Leadership
Practice: A Critical Analysis (2019, Routledge); Education Game Changers:
Leadership and the Consequence of Policy Paradox (2015, Rowman & Littlefield)
Above and Beyond the Bottom Line: The Extraordinary Evolution of the Education
Business Manager (2012, ACER Press). Karen Starr supervises PhD students whose
research focuses on education leadership, policy and practice, teaching and
learning, equity and social justice, adult learning, and all facets of
education business and governance. Emeritus Professor Karen Starr has held
senior leadership roles as University Professor and Inaugural Chair, School
Leadership and Development at Deakin University; school principal (K-12) in
South Australia and Victoria; Chief Writer of South Australia's Curriculum,
Standards and Accountability Framework (SACSA); author and researcher
(focusing on education leadership, education business, policy, equity and
adult learning). She developed the Graduate Certificate, Education Business
Leadership for Deakin University - the first course of its type in Australia.
Karen also spent 19 years in the mutual banking sector as a company director.
In 2004, Karen Starr won Australian and Victorian Telstra Business Women's
Awards for the not-for-profit sector. She is a Fellow and Advanced Graduate of
the Australian Institute of Company Directors, Fellow of the Australian
Council for Educational Leaders and Fellow of the Australian College of
Educators. In 2015 Karen and the Education Business Leadership team at Deakin
University won a Vice Chancellor award for teaching excellence. In 2017 Karen
was awarded the Hedley Beare Educator of the Year Award by the Australian
Council for Educational Leaders, Victoria. Deakin University Council conferred
on her the title of Emeritus Professor in May 2020.

Research Groups
Applied learning, professional education and training