State Council of the NSW Teachers Federation will farewell General Secretary, John Dixon today,1 May, 2021 -- May Day.
Maxine Sharkey has been elected to replace Mr Dixon as General Secretary. She will take up the position when Council concludes today.
Ms Sharkey has served as Federation's Deputy Secretary (Post Schools) since 2013. She was elected as a TAFE Organiser in 2007, coming to the Teachers Federation from Cootamundra /Young TAFE.
Federation President Angelo Gavrielatos said: "John has served the union with distinction for almost 40 years."
"We thank John for his unwavering service to our union, public education and the broader union movement and congratulate Maxine on her appointment."
Mr Dixon, who began teaching in 1979, was first elected as a Federation Relief Officer in 1985 and then took on various roles, including the positions of Membership Officer and City Organiser before 10 years as Assistant General Secretary (Communications and Administration). He was elected General Secretary in 2014
Over the past 30 years Mr Dixon has left an indelible mark on public education, working to improve conditions for casual, part-time and temporary teachers, including his contribution to the creation of the temporary teacher classification.
He revolutionised the union's approach to technology and the internet, but it is his achievements since his appointment as General Secretary in 2014, that have established the NSW Teachers Federation as the pre-eminent union in the state and raised every benchmark for its future operations.
