Sherrill Nixon has been appointed the new Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Australian Schools Plus, an organisation dedicated to ensuring equity in education for all children across the nation. Nixon replaces Schools Plus founding CEO, Rosemary Conn, effective immediately.

Prior to her promotion, Nixon had been instrumental in the functioning of Schools Plus since joining as its second employee in 2014. During her tenure, she worked closely with Conn and the senior leadership team to establish the effective strategy and successful school programs that exist today. Nixon successfully led the organisation's donor relations team for the past eight years, managing to raise over $62 million in philanthropic support to assist disadvantaged learners.

Nixon’s career background is steeped in Australian journalism and editing. She served with Fairfax Media, Australian Associated Press, and News Corp in various roles across Sydney, Melbourne, Canberra, and Adelaide prior to joining Schools Plus. Nixon's commitment to advancing social justice, driven by her encounters with inspiring teachers during her schooling in Adelaide’s northern suburbs, has been key to achieving exceptional results for Schools Plus.

“Education is the key to unlocking every child's potential. However, many kids miss out on vital opportunities due to their location, background, or family circumstances,” says Nixon. “Our mission at Schools Plus is to ensure that every child receives the learning opportunities they need to thrive at school and confidently step into the world equipped with knowledge, skills, and a bright future. Already our initiatives have impacted over 500,000 children in more than 1500 schools.”

As CEO, Nixon articulates her vision for the continued growth of Schools Plus; increasing access to equal education opportunities for thousands more children, strengthening the organisation’s impact in underserved communities, and affirming their status as an authority on education in disadvantaged contexts.

Angus James, Chair of the Australian Schools Plus Board, expressed his confidence in Nixon’s appointment. “We are delighted that Sherrill will be our next CEO. Her deep understanding of the organisation and its strategy, combined with her incredible fundraising success and her dedication to social justice and equitable education, make her the perfect choice to lead Schools Plus. We’re confident her leadership will continue to enhance the work of Schools Plus and drive positive change in the lives of students and schools across the country," James says.

Schools Plus is a national not-for-profit organisation, which advocates that every child should have the same opportunities. The organisation supports students by providing the necessary resources for them to not only succeed at school, but also in life, irrespective of their postcode or background.