The John Gallagher Memorial Award was established by the English Australia Board in 2003 to recognise the contribution to the sector made by John Gallagher, ELICOS Sector Executive Officer within the then Department of Education, Science and Training, for seven years before he passed away in 2003.
The Award was set up to recognise an outstanding contribution to ELICOS made by an individual working for an English Australia member college in any department of the organisation: administration, accommodation/welfare services, marketing, teaching or management.
The winner receives:
The John Gallagher Award is awarded to the person who has made the most significant contribution to the ELICOS sector above and beyond their normal role at their college. The judges will evaluate:
This Award is open to anyone employed by an English Australia member college. Nominations must be supported by an authorised representative eg Director, Director of Studies/Academic Manager.
Current members of the English Australia Board are not eligible for consideration, however any other employees of their college are. Winners of other English Australia awards are welcome to apply for this award. Previous winners of this award are eligible to apply for this award however cannot nominate projects or initiatives that have already won an English Australia Award.
Nominations for the 2025 John Gallagher Award are now closed. 2026 nominations will open in March 2026.
Each year, the Award is presented to the winner in a special award ceremony at the English Australia Conference Gala Dinner.
As the Director of Studies for UNSW College’s Academic English Programs, and as a former Board member for English Australia, Aparna Jacob has been sharing her leadership experience and making significant contributions to the ELICOS sector since 2016. Aparna’s eight-year tenure on the English Australia board involved substantial contributions during critical advocacy activities, including the ESOS review, COVID-19 responses, and ELICOS standards review. Aparna also led initiatives such as the Women in Leadership Program later renamed to Diversity and Inclusion, to create a space for conversations around gender, inclusion and empowerment within the sector. Aparna is currently serving on the UECA Committee of Directors, where with Ben Doran, she is co-leading the Peer Review Project aimed at establishing best practice benchmarks in Direct Entry Pathways. Recently, Aparna has been engaging with sector-wide issues through her contributions to The Koala News, providing informed commentary on immigration policies, visa changes, and their broader impacts on international education and leadership. Aparna also uses her LinkedIn account to creatively and convincingly advocate for ELICOS and build the social license of our sector. As a former international student in Australia, she understands the student perspective deeply and portrays student success stories poignantly. Congratulations on this well-deserved recognition of your contributions to the ELICOS sector, Aparna.
2024 – Anne-Marie Wright, University of Western Australia Centre for English Language Teaching
2023 – Sandra Caon-Parsons, Education Advisor, University of Adelaide English Language Centre
2022 – Katherine Olston, Director, The University of Sydney Centre for English Teaching and Learning Hub
2022 – Sandra Pitronaci, National Academic Director, ELICOS and Pathways, ILSC Australia
2021 – Dr Pamela Humphreys, Director, Macquarie University International College and English Language Centre
2021 – Highly Commended: Michaela Nelson, Student Services and Welfare Manager, Intensive English Language Institute
2020 – Trish Behan, Senior Teacher, Macquarie University English Language Centre
2019 – Vicki Bos, Institute of Continuing and TESOL Education at the University of QLD and Louise Kane , Navitas English Brisbane
2018 – Renata Chylinski, Monash University English Language Centre
2017 – Nicki Blake, Kaplan International Perth, WA / Sarah Bissell, GELI, QLD (highly commended)
2016 – John Smith, Griffith English Language Institute (GELI), QLD
2015 – Joanne Kwai – AMEP Case manager, TAFE Queensland, Southbank Campus, QLD
2014 – Molly Bonnefin – Manager, Student Experience and Homestay, Monash University English Language Centre, VIC
2013 – Jenelle Klintworth – Manager, Student Services – RMIT English Worldwide, VIC
2012 – Usha Rao – Director, Student Services & Admissions -La Trobe Melbourne, VIC
2011 – Stephanie Schembri – Teacher – CELUSA, SA
2010 – Ann Simons – Manager, Admissions – Hawthorn-Melbourne, Vic
2009 – Carol Aeschliman – Leader E-Learning – Swinburne University English Language Centre, Vic
2008 – Lisa Barrett – Director, Assessment – Centre for Macquarie English, NSW
2007 – Marie Gorman – Student Services Manager – Phoenix English Language Academy, WA
2006 – Jake Garman – Teacher – ACL Darwin English Centre, NT
2004 – Damian Connell – Teacher – Milner International College of English, WA
