The Edu Salon

Deborah Netolicky talks with José Bowen about the inevitability of AI in education and in life. They discuss where AI is already transforming schools, universities, work and everyday life; where it can enhance learning and productivity; where caution is needed; when we should outsource thinking to machines and when we should resist doing so; and why the serendipity and randomness of human encounte...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Dr Catherine Smith about care and inclusion in an age of AI. Catherine is a Senior Lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne. Her work sits at the intersection of wellbeing, inclusion, digital technologies and social justice in education, with a focus on how education can remain relational, ethical and deeply human in systems shaped by account...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Janine Stratford about being a relational, strategic leader in schools. Janine is a Leadership Coach, Career Strategist, Founder of her company Coaching Focus and facilitator passionate about helping educators lead with clarity, confidence, and purpose. After 28 years in schools, including as a Deputy Principal, Janine started Coaching Focus in 2015 to empower school l...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Dr Jeremy Hannay about counter-cultural leadership, navigating the pace of change, and how to pursue happiness and high performance at the same time. Jeremy is Executive Principal of Three Bridges Primary School and Wolf Fields Primary School in Southall, London. Originally from Canada, he has spent over a decade leading in one of the world’s most high-stakes education...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Associate Professor Paul Kidson about leadership in schools that is hopeful, sustainable and personalised. Paul leads Educational Leadership postgraduate courses at the Australian Catholic University. He is one of the researchers on Australia’s largest and longest running principal wellbeing research project, the Australian Principal Occupational Health, Safety, and We...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Dr Amanda Bell AM about leadership and governance in schools. Amanda is a highly experienced leader, an accomplished non-executive director and strategic facilitator whose advisory work concentrates on strategic futures, leadership development and masterclasses for boards, CEOs and senior managers. She holds several board directorships and is past Principal of The Wome...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Professor Erica McWilliam AM about the joy in the rigour of learning, reclaiming the magic of teaching, and the importance of knowing. Erica is an internationally recognised scholar of pedagogy and creativity, whose career spans more than forty years. Moving from classroom teaching to senior academic roles in Australia and Singapore, Erica is known for her work on inno...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Professor Gert Biesta about teaching, knowledge and the purpose of education. Gert is Professor of Public Education at the Centre for Public Education and Pedagogy, Maynooth University. His work on the theory and philosophy of education is translated into over 20 languages, covering key interests such as curriculum, teaching, teacher education, democracy, and citizensh...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Dr Adrian Camm about principalship, self-transformation, innovation in schools and the possibilities of AI for education. Adrian is the Principal of Westbourne Grammar School in Melbourne, where he leads with a future-focused philosophy grounded in purpose, human connection, and deep learning. A Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors and with a PhD f...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Kristen Douglas about mental health challenges in schools and society, and how educators can support themselves and the children and families in their communities. Kristen has a Bachelor and Master of Education and over 30 years’ experience in the education, health, mental health, suicide, in not for profit and government sectors. Kristen has significantly contributed...

In this special 50th episode of The Edu Salon podcast, Deborah Netolicky hosts a collaboration between The Edu Salon and EdLeaders Australia podcasts. Mathew Irving co-host of EdLeaders, joins Deb in a broad ranging and candid conversation about school principalship, leadership, transitions, finding professional nourishment and sustaining wellbeing. Want to know more? - EdLeaders Australia podcast...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Dr Paul Teys about principalship and the realities of leading in a school. Paul spent 36 years in middle and executive leadership roles in Australian independent schools, including 24 years as Principal across diverse schools in three states. Paul now coaches and mentors school principals and works in executive leadership recruitment as an Associate of Slade Group. Pau...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Dr Fiona Longmuir. Fiona is a Senior Lecturer in Educational Leadership in the Faculty of Education at Monash University. She is also co-leader of the Education Workforce for the Future Research Impact Lab. Her most recent projects have focused on examining working conditions for educators. In other research Fiona has investigated interactions of school and system lead...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Matthew Esterman about the role of AI in education, including its possibilities, limits, impact on student learning and potential to reduce teachers’ workloads. Matthew has held a number of teaching and leadership roles in schools, most recently as Director of Innovation and Partnerships at Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta. He is currently Adjunct Fellow at Western...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Kylie Bice about how ‘differentiation’ means designing responsive teaching and learning to students’ diverse needs. Kylie (BA, DipEd, MEd) is an experienced and award-winning teacher and scholar, and now Director and Education Consultant with Growing Up Greatness. Kylie specialises in gifted education, differentiation, assessment, disability and educating diverse stude...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Karen Spiller OAM CF about leadership and governance in schools. For 23 years, Karen was Principal of two schools in Queensland: St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School and John Paul College. She has also been the Chair of the national bodies the Association of Heads of Independent Schools, Australia and the Alliance of Girls Schools, Australasia. Karen was a member of the B...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Dr Barbara Watterston about leading and leadership in education, including mentoring, coaching, professional companioning and sponsoring. Barb is CEO of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL) and has held several school and system leadership positions across Australia. She is an Honorary Fellow of the University of Melbourne Faculty of Education and a Na...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Associate Professor Glenn Savage about education policy and practice, and the future of schooling. Glenn is a policy sociologist, leading researcher and public commentator on education policy and reform. He is Associate Professor of Education Futures in the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne and author of the book ‘The Quest for Revolution in Australia...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Dr Claire Golledge about school leadership, education research, aboriginal education and culturally nourishing schooling. Claire is a Lecturer in Education at the University of Sydney, the co-ordinator of - Secondary Human Society and its Environment Curriculum - in the Sydney School of Education and Social Work, and a Researcher for the Culturally Nourishing Schooling...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Professor Yong Zhao about teaching, curriculum, schooling, educational leadership, and schools within schools. Yong is a Foundation Distinguished Professor in the School of Education at the University of Kansas and a professor in Educational Leadership at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education in Australia. He previously served as the Presidential Chair, Associate...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Fiona Hutton about search, recruitment and support of educational leaders. Fiona is an educator, executive search professional and keynote speaker. She is the founding Director of Hutton Consulting Australia and a Victorian Branch executive member of the Australian Council of Educational Leaders. Her client portfolio includes leading schools in the Independent, Governm...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Dr Jared Cooney Horvath about brain science, memory, learning, and the impact of technology on young people. Jared (PhD, MEd) is a neuroscientist, educator, and author of 'Stop Talking, Start Influencing: 12 Insights from Brain Science to Make Your Message Stick'. At the crossroads between the laboratory and the classroom, Jared spends most of his time working directly...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Dr Karen Edge about leadership, diversity, kindness and education workplaces. Karen is a Reader in Educational Leadership at University College London. Before joining UCL, Karen worked in senior advisory roles for the Ontario Minister of Education and the Centre for Educational Leadership at UC-Santa Barbara. She also worked as a Research Fellow at the World Bank in Wa...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Dr Christine Grice about decentring leadership, leading the child, and leading together. Christine a Senior Lecturer in Educational Leadership, and postgraduate coordinator of the Master of Education Programs at the University of Sydney. Christine’s research is centred in the practices of educational leadership with a focus on leading pedagogy in schools and systems. C...

Deborah Netolicky talks with Dr Simon Breakspear about implementing change in schools and education systems. Simon is a researcher, advisor and speaker on educational leadership, policy and change. He develops frameworks and tools that make evidence-based ideas actionable and easy to understand. Over the last decade his capability building work has given him the opportunity to work with over 100,0...