Adrian Piccoli

Senior Client Partner and Global Account Lead - Government and Education

The Hon Adrian Piccoli is a Senior Client Partner and Government and Education Global Account Leader at Korn Ferry.

Prior to joining Korn Ferry, Adrian was the founding Director of the Gonski Institute for Education at the University of New South Wales from 2017 to 2020.

Adrian has a distinguished career in government and educational leadership. He served as a Member of NSW Parliament for 19 years and as the NSW Minister for Education for 6 years from 2011 to 2017. He is highly regarded in the Australian government and education sector for his leadership in education policy and reform delivery particularly in relation to needs-based school funding reform, his support and strengthening of the teaching profession in Australia and his focus on the learning needs of disadvantaged children particularly those living in rural and remote Australia.

His leadership has been recognised through his appointment as a Fellow of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders in 2018. Adrian continues to be invited to speak at Australian and international conferences on education and public sector leadership.

During Adrian’s more than 25 years’ experience in business and government he has forged a reputation as a skilled negotiator with complex stakeholders and as a progressive thinker, undaunted by complex and controversial issues. He is highly regarded as an effective leader of people and organisations through times of immense change.  

Adrian holds a Bachelor of Laws and Bachelor of Economics from the Australian National University. He is the author of multiple university publications and has written two books: 12 Ways Your Child Can Get The Best Out of School (Harper Collins) and Power, Politics and the Playground: Perspectives on Power and Authority in Education.