Cheryl Vardon is the Chief Executive and Principal Commissioner of the Queensland Family and Child Commission (QFCC) and has held the role since October 2015.

Cheryl was recently awarded an honorary doctorate (Doctor of the University) by Griffith University. She has a distinguished career as an educator and is recognised for her leadership in the protection of vulnerable children and young people.

Cheryl has been a member of the Teachers Disciplinary Appeals Board for the Victorian Education and Early Childhood Development Department, a member of an advisory council for the Australian Institute of Family Studies and the Chief Executive Officer of the Australasian Gaming Council.

She is an experienced mentor of senior executives, consults to organisations and speaks on leadership development.

Cheryl is a former Director General of Education for Western Australia and a former Chief Executive of the ACT Department of Education and Children's Services.

She was a Vice Principal of the University of Melbourne and an Adjunct Professor at the University of Canberra.

In 2004, while Commissioner for Public Administration in the ACT, Cheryl led a review (the 'Vardon Report') of child protection services. She is an experienced reviewer of systems and services.

In 2001-03 Cheryl built a national charity with philanthropic leaders in Victoria, Tasmania and South Australia with a focus on programs and services for disadvantaged young people.

She has also been the Chief Executive of the Department of Public and Consumer Affairs and Commissioner for Consumer Affairs for South Australia and a Regional Director of Education in Victoria.

For four years she assisted with the establishment of a secondary school for indigenous Fijian children on Turtle Island in Fiji, advising on curriculum and standards, professional development and student retention.

Cheryl has held many board and university council positions and statutory roles on tribunals and commissions - including the Social Security Appeals Tribunal and the Commonwealth Safety and Rehabilitation Compensation Commission.

Cheryl is a fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and was made a Fellow of the Australian College of Education. She is a member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

Her work in indigenous education received a Prime Minister's Award.

Areas of Expertise