1994: Knowledge transfer

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Dorothy Jenner, MEdSt

Dorothy Jenner in Bhutan with a colleague

By helping people help themselves, Dorothy Jenner has successfully improved education systems throughout the Pacific islands.

“Having the goal of making yourself obsolete sounds strange but it’s the key to most of the activities I am involved in,” Ms Jenner said.

Ms Jenner is the team leader for UniQuest’s Kiribati Education Management Information System (EMIS).

A specialist in education planning and policy, Ms Jenner was presented with UniQuest’s 2009 Award for Best Practice in International Development Assistance.

EMIS projects provide technical support for education authorities throughout the Pacific Islands, enabling schools to monitor and manage students’ learning outcomes using information technology.

Ms Jenner’s expertise in a range of education policy, planning and training issues has helped teachers from schools in the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu to build capacity for their education ministries.

“Observing the transformation as local colleagues are able to use their newly acquired knowledge and skills in their day-to-day work is very rewarding,” she said.

Ms Jenner began her career as a primary school teacher, working in a number of Queensland’s rural and urban community schools. Interested in furthering her education, she enrolled in a Masters of Education Studies (Guidance and Counselling), graduating in 1994.

While studying, she became involved in non-teaching roles with Education Queensland, further developing her interest in social justice, equity and disability-related issues.

In 2005, Ms Jenner became involved with international development projects for the Vanuatu Police Force and Ministry of Health and Medical Services in the Solomon Islands.

Ms Jenner also held senior positions at Port Moresby Grammar School before holding management roles within Education Queensland’s Murrumba District Office.

Ms Jenner said she was honoured to receive the award, which had been presented in previous years to colleagues for whom she had enormous respect and admiration.

“To be acknowledged in this way is very gratifying and I thank UniQuest for giving me the opportunity to do this work for the last four years,” Ms Jenner said.

“However, I did not work alone. I would like to say thank you to my colleagues on the EMIS projects – both those in-country and at the St Lucia office – for all of their support, advice and guidance which helped me to achieve the outcomes on the projects.”

By Allison Rock

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