Why Gold Coast principal Sue Dalton turned down lucrative offers in the corporate world
Sue Dalton has been offered plenty of lucrative roles to lead prosperous businesses – but prefers to lead the next generation.
Women of the Year
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SUE Dalton has been offered plenty of lucrative roles to lead prosperous businesses – but prefers to lead the next generation.
In her time as principal of Miami State High, Ms Dalton has transformed the image and outcomes of the school into one of the most successful education hubs on the Gold Coast.
It is her dedication to her job and the school community that has earned her a place as a finalist in our Harvey Norman Women of the Year awards.
“I’ve had enormous opportunity to go into the corporate world of positions of CEO and that, but I love that I can influence the lives of the next generation,” Ms Dalton said.
“When you have to lead a large school there’s so many complexities and challenges and you have to adapt daily.
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“That’s what I love about it — I can create change and innovate and connect with the community to bring forward the next generation.”
Ms Dalton is especially proud of her work encouraging young women to dream big and achieve their goals across sport, STEM and the arts.
Last year Ms Dalton created a Girls in Leadership group and successfully nominated two students to attend a UN conference in the US.
Miami High is also now home to Australia’s only rugby 7s excellence program, has two students in the Gold Coast Junior Council including the junior mayor, and has had pupils recognised for talent in science and creative writing.
“Last year we had a student win the state award for STEM, the Peter Doherty Award,” Ms Dalton said.
“We’ve also just found out we’ve got the number one creative writer in the country. She won a competition after submitting a 20,000 word novel.
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“If you put all of that together, the outcomes across our country, the leadership and how it’s all filtering down, we’re making it on the world stage. It’s really about every child having their passion and pathway, and I will make sure that they find a way to achieve it.”
As a finalist in the Women of the Year awards, Ms Dalton has a chance to be crowned the winner of her category, champions of education, as well as People’s Choice.
Readers can vote for one of 24 finalists to win the popular vote at womenoftheyear.com.au
The poll closes tomorrow.
The winners of eight categories and the popular vote winner will be announced on June 27.
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