A commitment to the vision of every student succeeding has driven Patrea Walton on a career-long journey in education, which began at a chalkboard in a rural Queensland state school and has included service as a teacher, principal, supervisor of schools, as CEO of the state's curriculum and assessment authority, and now as Deputy Director-General responsible for the operations and performance of Queensland’s 1,239 State Schools. With responsibility for more than half a million students and staff from the remote Torres Strait Islands to the sunny Gold Coast, Patrea knows that great student outcomes are built on a foundation of empowered principals supported by a clear and focused school improvement agenda. Patrea’s contributions to education have been recognised with numerous awards, including the Australian Council for Educational Leaders Educational Leadership award and the Australian HR Institute’s CEO Diversity Champion Award.