Bishop announces new CEO to lead DOSCEL

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Christ,

Following an extensive national search by a recruitment company and interview process undertaken by the Diocese of Sale Catholic Education Limited (DOSCEL) Selection Panel, I am delighted to confirm, based upon the Selection Panel's unanimous recommendation, the appointment of Mr Paul Velten as the Director of Catholic Education/ Chief Executive Officer of DOSCEL with effect from 24 December 2022.

Paul is known to many of you through his current work as a member of the DOSCEL Executive team. In the role of Chief Finance, Information & Infrastructure Officer, he currently leads and manages a large staff group of educational and company professionals. Paul is also a member of several committees of the Catholic Education Commission of Victoria (CECV) and a Board Member of the Catholic Development Fund Archdiocese of Melbourne.

Prior to his current role in DOSCEL, Paul held a number of roles within the Catholic Church and its agencies in the Diocese of Sale and the Archdiocese of Melbourne. In Melbourne he was Director of Finance & Corporate Services and in the Diocese of Sale was previously Deputy Director of Catholic Education - Business Services, Catholic Education and also served as Diocesan Business Manager for a number of years. Prior to joining the Diocese Paul was the Business Manager of Marist-Sion College Warragul.

Paul is a deeply committed Catholic and active parishioner with his wife Donna and family at St Patrick's Pakenham. As a parent he acknowledges and shares the hopes and aspirations of parish primary schools and secondary colleges throughout the Diocese. Core to this mission is an invitation to the discovery and experience of the Good News of Jesus Christ which enables students to flourish, to grow and to achieve. Our schools are to be places where students encounter the God who is love, merciful and compassionate and where their dignity is honored - sacred places of welcome, prayer and learning.

As Paul assumes this most important position in Catholic Education he will bring his many gifts to the service of the Diocese. He will work closely in partnership with the Board, Secretariat, Principal - teachers - staff and me in ensuring we continue to concentrate every effort and all our resources on the students of our primary and secondary colleges who are the primary focus of this most important mission, which spans over a century in Sale.

Finally, as we congratulate Paul on his appointment to the position of Director of Catholic Education/ CEO DOSCEL, we wish to acknowledge once again, the extraordinary leadership and management of Ms Maria Kirkwood in this role over the past decade and wish her the very best for the future.

We entrust our Diocese and all that lies ahead under the prayerful intercession of Our Lady of Perpetual Help.

Yours sincerely,

Bishop Greg Bennet

Bishop of Sale