Vale Dr Neil MacNeill: A Leader of Leaders

Remembering Dr Neil MacNeill - A Leader of Leaders
Today I received the sad news that my good friend, colleague, mentor and peer, Dr Neil MacNeill, passed away. I heard the news mid-morning during our school faction carnival and, like so many who knew Neil, I’ve been reflecting on his extraordinary life and influence ever since, taking time to move away from the hype of the event to shed a tear and draw a breath.

Neil was someone I saw as a leader of leaders. When I think of the saying “We stand on the shoulders of giants,” I think of Neil as those shoulders. He grew so many leaders who, in turn, have grown even more leaders because of what he taught, modelled and stood for. His influence on the educational landscape of Western Australia was significant, far greater than many people may realise and it will continue to be felt for decades to come.

I must admit I shed a tear or two when I received the news. I was, however, fortunate to have been able to visit Neil while he was in ICU earlier this week and to thank him for the support he had provided me over the 25 years I’ve known him. Neil often referred to me as his Phar Lap. The truth is that I would not be the leader I am today had my path not crossed with his.

A Lifetime Dedicated to Education
Dr Neil MacNeill began his teaching career in 1969 in Bremer Bay and between 1969 and 1975 he taught and also served as a superintendent in the Bunbury district (1972–1975), laying the groundwork for a career that spanned classroom teaching, district leadership, research and system-wide reform.

During his time as principal of Roebourne Primary School in the Pilbara, Neil saw first-hand the learning gap that existed for Aboriginal children in remote communities. This became a lifelong driver of his work: improving outcomes for disadvantaged children, promoting Aboriginal parental involvement in schooling, and elevating the role of Aboriginal Liaison Officers across the region and beyond. He wrote extensively for The Aboriginal Child at School journal during the 1980s, sharing insights from his work in Roebourne and across WA.

Neil later served as Principal Liaison Officer in the Swan District Office, working alongside Dr Steffan Silcox, then District Director. Together they co-authored the influential article “Pedagogic Leadership: The Key to Whole-School Renewal,” which became the foundation for their book on whole-school renewal and a widely adopted framework for school leadership teams seeking to lift student achievement.

Under the leadership of the Hon. Peter Collier, MLC, Neil contributed to the small working party that developed the Government’s “Empowering School Communities” policy,  the foundation for Western Australia’s Independent Public Schools initiative, which has had lasting positive implications for public schools across the state.

Neil’s scholarly achievements were as impressive as his school leadership. He completed a PhD at Curtin University (awarded the Walter D. Neal Award for Excellence in Research in 2007), followed by a Doctor of Education in 2013 examining Csikszentmihalyi’s concept of flow in the work and learning of WA school leaders. He also held master’s degrees from the University of Queensland and RMIT.

He published more than 160 articles on education and leadership nationally and internationally, was a reviewer for Corwin Press, and in 2021 co-authored Leading School Renewal with Dr Steffan Silcox for Routledge.

Neil’s leadership at Ellenbrook Independent Primary School placed the school at the centre of national conversations about how to achieve significant, sustained improvement in literacy and numeracy outcomes. Studies by ACER and the Grattan Institute, as well as national media coverage, documented the success of his work and brought educators from across all sectors to visit and learn from his approach.

He also mentored and supported the Coalition of Schools between 2009 and 2015, shaping the next generation of educational leaders. Neil’s close mentorship of me directly influenced my own leadership journey, my own school turnaround work and successes were built on the foundations of his guidance, wisdom and challenge.
Neil’s impact reached Catholic and public schools alike. In 2022, just prior to his retirement, he delivered a keynote for the Shenton Schools Network at Optus Stadium. He had also spearheaded the formation of the Swan Regional branch of ACELWA in 2004, creating a model for leadership conversations with top-tier researchers such as Bill Louden, Patrick Duigan and Stephen Dinham.

A Lasting Legacy
Neil MacNeill’s life was one of service, leadership and scholarship. He made an indelible mark on Western Australian education, from remote Aboriginal communities to metropolitan schools, from district leadership to state-level reform, from academic research to mentoring the next wave of school leaders.

Neil never asked for anything in return. He simply and quietly worked in the shadows to help others grow, believing that true leadership is measured not by personal accolades but by the success and wellbeing of those you serve.

He was also a deeply generous mentor and friend. Neil’s influence on my own leadership journey is immeasurable, and I know countless others would say the same.
We have lost a giant today. But Neil’s legacy lives on in the educators he mentored, the schools he helped transform, and the students whose lives were changed because he believed education could and should be better.

Vale Dr Neil MacNeill.
 
Academic and Professional Achievements
Qualifications: BA, BEd(Hons), MEdAdmin (UQ, 1986), MEd (RMIT, 2002), PhD (Curtin, 2007), EdD (2013).
Walter D. Neal Award (2008) – for best doctoral research in Curtin University Faculty of Education.
Authored/co-authored 160+ scholarly articles on education and leadership.
Reviewer for Corwin (international publisher).
Co-author, Leading School Renewal (Routledge, 2021).
Lecturer, Curtin University (Masters of Education).
Professional Recognition
ACEL WA Branch Scholarship in Educational Leadership and Management (2012).
Awarded ACEL National Fellowship (2016).
Co-founder, Swan Regional ACELWA branch (2004), promoting leadership conversations across WA.
Keynote speaker for Catholic and Public Education networks, including Shenton Schools Network at Optus Stadium (2022).
Principalship – Ellenbrook Primary School (2003–2022)
Foundation Principal, led Ellenbrook PS through rapid growth and complex demographics.
Introduced evidence-based literacy and numeracy approaches, achieving significant and sustained student improvement.
Recognised by:
ACER (2015) – case study of sustained school improvement.
Grattan Institute (2014) – one of four national case studies in Turning Around Schools: It Can Be Done.
Featured in The Australian for innovations in mathematics curriculum, attracting professional visits from schools nationwide.