QCAA resignations: Jacqueline Wilton and Carol Nicoll stand down

Two bosses at a leading Queensland education body have sensationally announced their resignations.

Two bosses have resigned from the QCAA.

The Acting Chair and Chief Executive Officer of the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority have sensationally announced their resignations.

In two separate emails sent to staff on Thursday about an hour apart, QCAA CEO Jacqueline Wilton and QCAA Board Chair Carol Nicoll’s resignations were announced.

The shocking development comes around the same time the University of Melbourne’s final report into QCAA’s new QCE system was due to be completed in “mid-2025”.

At 3pm, Ms Wilton said she wished to advise that she would be concluding her time at QCAA at the end of the month and would be taking leave from Friday.

“The QCAA Board will commence a recruitment process for a new Chief Executive,” she said.

QCAA CEO Jacqueline Wilton. Picture: Linkedin

“In the interim, Claude Jones will be acting CE and I know he will have your full support.

“Doune Macdonald will be acting chair.”

Ms Wilton said the past 11 years at the QCAA had been some of “the most professionally and personally rewarding of my life.”

“The work you do each day to assist and support schools is first class and I am humbled to have had the opportunity to work with you,” she said.

Meanwhile an hour later at 4.12pm QCAA Acting Chair Doune Macdonald sent out an email with a “leadership update”.

“Emeritus Professor Carol Nicoll PSM has resigned from her role as QCAA Board Chair and member, effective June 4,” she said.

“I wish to thank Carol for her outstanding service and leadership on the Board, to the QCAA and to the education sector in Queensland during her term on the Board and as Chair.

“As provided for under the Education (Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority) Act 2014, I will now take on the role of Acting Chair until a new chair is appointed by the Minister for Education.”

Ms Macdonald said they also “wished to advise” Jacqui Wilton was on leave and would finish as CEO on June 30.

QCAA Board Chair Carol Nicoll. Picture: Linkedin

“Claude Jones will act as Chief Executive Officer whilst Jacqui is on leave,” she said.

“The board is very grateful to Claude for taking on this role.

“Longer term arrangements will be determined in line with the processes set out in the Act.”

Ms Macdonald said Jacqui’s contribution and commitment to QCAA and to education in Queensland as CEO and in her previous roles had been “extraordinary”.

“The Board met today to discuss leadership arrangements and our priorities for the remainder of the 2025 school year,” she wrote.

“Later today, advice will be sent to our key external stakeholders with an update of arrangements to assure them of continuity of the QCAA’s services.”

Ms Macdonald said she understood the professional and personal impacts that any change in an organisation could have.

“I thank you for your continued work and support and encourage you to seek a discussion with your supervisor or senior leader, should you need to do so,” she wrote.

The QCAA is the overarching body which develops kindergarten through to senior secondary syllabus development.

According to QCAA’s website, in 2023 it “engaged the University of Melbourne’s Assessment and Evaluation Research Centre to conduct an independent evaluation of the new Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE) system and its processes.”

“The evaluation will focus on the development and implementation of the new QCE system to assess its efficacy and make recommendations for future improvements. It will include extensive consultation with the education and wider community,” the website says.

“Queensland’s new senior secondary curriculum and assessment system was implemented in 2019 as part of the Queensland Government reform, Advancing futures: New senior assessment and tertiary entrance systems in Queensland.”

Mr Jones said Ms Wilton was on leave until her contract ends on 30 June.

“Former chair Carol Nicoll resigned independently effective 4 June,” he said.

“These leadership changes are not related to the University of Melbourne’s ongoing evaluation of the Queensland Certificate of Education system. A report is still to be finalised.

“We are continuing to deliver all our usual curriculum and assessment services to schools.”