Stepping into [ed]Leadership

Supporting Character Energy In this episode of Stepping into [ed]Leadership, we welcome Amanda Katagiri, Director of Professional Practice at the Franklin School in New York. Amanda brings deep expertise in supporting teachers to thrive across a whole career, not just survive their first few years. In her current role, she leads professional learning, coaches teachers in pedagogy and practice, run...

Our conversation with Dr. Anne Knock dives straight into the messy, exciting work of redesigning schools for the future. Across the episode we unpack how leaders can think more like complexity strategists; reading the whole system rather than just reacting to individual problems, and how three levers; learner experience, professional culture and physical space, can work together rather than in sil...

Investing in people In this episode of Stepping into [ed]Leadership, we sit down with highly experienced and inspirational Middle Leader, Tracey Matyk from Woodcroft College. Tracey shares her journey from scientist to teacher, how working with undergraduate students during her PhD drew her into education, and why she has never looked back. She reflects on stepping into her first leadership role a...

Stepping Back into schools In this episode, we welcome back returning guest Nicholas Brice. After several years with the SACE Board, Nick has made a sea change, joining Peninsula Grammar as Deputy Principal. He shares what it’s been like to step back into schools, reconnect with students and teachers, and rediscover the rhythm and energy of daily school life. Nick reflects on the first few weeks o...

Cognitive Cadence in Leadership In our conversation with Dr Lisa Rigel, we explore the connection between neuroscience and leadership, and how understanding how the brain works can strengthen the way we lead and learn. Lisa shares how her background as an English and journalism teacher, followed by time in administration, leads her to think deeply about purpose, relevance, and what students really...

Emma Grave – The Heart of Community In this first episode of a three‑part series, we chat with Emma Grave as she prepares to step into her first principalship at Scots PGC in regional Queensland later this year. Emma’s career has taken her from Ballarat, to 15 years at Geelong Grammar, to Deputy roles at Seymour College and now Scotch College Adelaide, with experience as Head of House, curriculum...

Being the head - Understanding people In this special collaborative episode of  Stepping into [ed]Leadership , we join forces with the UK-based  Being The Head  podcast to explore what it really means to lead with humanity first and outcomes second. Drawing on Jane and Jacquie’s rich experience as head teachers, we dive into the emotional labour of leadership, the invisible work of holding communi...

In our first episode for Season 3 of Stepping into [ed]Leadership , we sit down with Dr Adrian Camm, Principal of Westbourne Grammar and 2025 Educator  Principal of the Year.  In a far reaching conversation, Adrian shares what it really means to lead with the conviction that people come first, drawing on his leadership journey and the experiences, and opportunities that have shaped his approach. H...

Keep the why, change the how In this episode, we’re joined by Jamie Clark, Head of Professional Growth at Mercedes College in Perth and author of the popular OnePagers series. An English teacher at heart, Jamie shares his deep commitment to teaching and learning, reflecting on his journey from classroom practice in the UK to leading professional growth initiatives grounded in research, trust, and...

Professional nourishment In this episode, Kerri Proctor shares her journey from classroom teacher to middle leader and now executive, reflecting on the power of professional dialogue. She highlights the unique learning that comes from collaboration and leading with humility, emphasizing that culture and community always come before strategy. We discuss the challenges and gifts of middle leadership...

Leading leaders In our conversation with Senior Middle Leader Mathew D’Aloisio, we explore how understanding self, shapes leadership and influence. With much of his career in leadership roles, Mathew sees this work as a calling centred on creating lightbulb moments for both students and colleagues. He reflects on moving in and out of formal roles, navigating imposter syndrome, and asking the key q...

Experimenting with Success In this inspiring episode, Ramya Deepak Kumar shares her journey from research science to the classroom, bringing her thirst for learning and passion for education into every role. She reflects on the steep learning curve of teaching all subjects in a primary school class, the value of high expectations, and how visible learning empowers students to take ownership of the...

Reflecting on self Our conversation with Principal Steven Trotter explores his journey of self-reflection, leadership, and adaptability in education. He shares insights from his story of origin, emphasizing how each new role required him to become a different kind of leader and how understanding both self and the needs of others is at the heart of effective leadership. His perspective on building...

Reframing imposter syndrome This episode focuses on a topic which has appeared in many of our conversations on the podcast – imposter syndrome. Guest Madhavi Nawana Parker shares with us her profound journey from early loss to purposeful leadership. Madhavi advocates for leaders to develop self-discipline through daily habits that build resilience, including her practice of "doing one hard thing"...

Helping people shine In this episode of Stepping into [ed]Leadership, we sit down with Middle Leader Cassie Gray, whose journey from teaching overseas to working on the acclaimed stage production of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child to leading Performing Arts at Westbourne Grammar, Melbourne,  offers many lessons in leadership. Cassie shares how her theatre roots shape her approach to middle leade...

Building a culture of trust In this episode of Stepping Into [ed]Leadership, we meet experienced Principal, author and current Managing Director of Vivedus, Dr. Paul Browning. In our conversation, Paul reflects on the essence of educational leadership as the ability to influence and transform people and school culture. He highlights that effective leaders are those who know themselves deeply, alig...

Thriving through growth In this episode we are joined by Angela Phillips from Westminster School, who brings a wealth of experience as both a teacher and leader. Angela shares how she models continuous professional growth across her networks, while balancing the demands of teaching and leading. She talks about the importance of student voice, the joy she finds in seeing others succeed, and how the...

A moral endeavour In this episode of Stepping into [ed]Leadership, we are joined by Carolyn Grantskalns, former principal and Chief Executive of AISSA. Carolyn reflects on leadership as good work for a good purpose. She highlights the challenges of middle leadership, where educators often feel caught between being more a teacher than a leader. She shares that leadership can be hard to see in actio...

Revealing the machine In this episode of Stepping into [ed]Leadership, we are joined by Trent Driver, Principal and CEO of Scotch College in South Australia, who shares his journey from classroom teacher to educational leader. Trent reflects on being tapped on the shoulder for early leadership roles and the joy he found in teaching and learning – a passion that continues to ground his work today....

Stepping out to consider the bigger picture In this episode of Stepping Into [ed]Leadership , we welcome career strategist and coach Janine Stratford for a great conversation about the ways educators can strategically position themselves as leaders. We discuss the challenges of working in education, including the fast-paced nature of the work and the undervaluing of educators by those outside the...

Building a community In this episode, we sit down with Nicholas Brice to explore his journey of leadership in education. From stepping up as Acting Principal to navigating the complexities of collaborative and directive leadership, Nick shares insights on career growth, professional identity, and building a strong learning community. We discuss the power of networking—why it’s not a “dirty word”—a...

The quality of our conversations In this episode, we are delighted to share the irrepressible Tracey Ezard with you. Tracey dives into concepts that are essential for creating dynamic and effective teams, sharing core ideas from her fabulous books, The Buzz and Ferocious Warmth to show us how to balance head and heart in leadership to create compelling environments of possibility. We discuss build...

Amplifying the human voice Join us for our latest episode where we chat to Adrian Cotterell. Adrian is an experienced leader who has recently shifted to consultancy, specialising in assessment and AI in education. He shares the ways he is supporting schools and educators with their response to the challenges and opportunities of generative AI. Adrian unpacks his innovative traffic light system; a...

Success is achieved in the middle Our guest this episode is Deputy Principal Peter Westhead. Wezz shares his journey from the UK to Adelaide, Melbourne and now to Queensland, where he is in his second year as Deputy Principal at Springfield Anglican College. We discuss the ways we can impact the cultures at our schools and the ways they will in turn undoubtedly impact us. As a previous Director of...

Permission to be human To kick off 2025 and our second season, we are delighted to be joined by wellbeing specialist Meg Durham. Meg shares brilliant strategies to start the new academic year with a mindset of being strategic and not surprised at the many things heading our way. She reminds us to recharge our personal batteries and shares that wellbeing is a verb which requires action and daily pr...