Queenwood’s Head of Service Learning has received national recognition for her contribution to community engagement and future-focused educational leadership.
Ms Ashleigh Mace, Head of Service Learning at Queenwood, has been included in The Educator’s Hot List 2026, recognising her work in building community connections and creating opportunities for young people to engage with the world beyond the classroom.
The recognition highlights two important areas of Ashleigh’s leadership: Community Engagement, through fostering inclusive growth and strengthening community networks, and Future-Focused Leadership, reflecting her commitment to ethical leadership, sustainability and cultural inclusion.
At Queenwood, Ashleigh leads service-learning opportunities that encourage girls to apply their knowledge, challenge their assumptions and develop an understanding of their responsibilities to others.
Connecting learning with community
A central part of Ashleigh’s approach is helping students move beyond their immediate experiences to develop a deeper understanding of people and communities whose circumstances may differ from their own.
One example is Mahboba’s Promise, a program connecting Queenwood students with people from refugee backgrounds.
Ashleigh has spoken about how these personal relationships and conversations can deepen students’ understanding beyond what they encounter through written accounts alone.
“They start to look at people and communities beyond themselves.”
— Ashleigh Mace, Head of Service Learning
Through experiences like these, students encounter new perspectives and develop the capacity to listen, question their assumptions and consider the needs of others.
Service as part of education
Queenwood’s approach to service-learning brings together community engagement, academic growth and character formation, with reflection playing an important role in how students understand their experiences.
This October, 31 Year 11 students took part in the Rough Edges Sleepout in Darlinghurst. As part of this experience, students and staff spend the night sleeping rough to raise awareness and funds for Rough Edges — an outstanding organisation that supports some of Sydney’s most vulnerable people through meals, companionship, practical assistance, and a welcoming community.
Through experiences like this, our girls are encouraged to recognise a community’s needs before considering how they can contribute and take action.
This is central to Queenwood’s approach to Service Thinking, where knowledge and understanding inform purposeful contribution.
Recognising leadership through service
Ashleigh’s inclusion in the Hot List acknowledges the work involved in establishing and sustaining community partnerships, and creating opportunities for students to learn through meaningful engagement.
“I am proud of our students (almost half of the Year 11 cohort), who have embraced this opportunity to serve others and deepen their understanding of the challenges faced by members of our community. Their commitment to making a difference reflects the very best of the Queenwood spirit.”
— Ashleigh Mace, Head of Service Learning
Her achievement recognises the educational leadership behind these opportunities and the role service-learning plays in preparing our girls to contribute with empathy, judgement and responsibility.
Read the Hot List 2026 report and see the full list of winners.
