The Art of Teaching

What does it mean to do the right work, in the right way?

It’s a question that has stayed with me throughout my own leadership journey.

In this episode of The Art of Teaching, I have the privilege of speaking with Professor Viviane Robinson about the ideas behind her book Virtuous Educational Leadership: Doing the Right Work the Right Way.

This is the third time I’ve had the opportunity to speak with Viviane, and each conversation has challenged me to think more carefully about leadership, decision-making and the impact we have on t...

Schools are full of worthwhile ideas. The hard part is deciding which ones deserve our time and attention, and what we need to let go of to do them well.

My guest today is Michael Rosenbrock. Michael has spent more than 15 years working in and with schools as a teacher, leader and education consultant. His work focuses on helping schools put good ideas into practice. He’s also the author of The Pruning Principle, a book about strategic subtraction in education.

In this conversation, we explore what it takes to make change stick, how leaders de...

What helps students feel that their learning matters? And what happens when an educator steps away from work to ask the same question of her own life?

In this episode, I speak with Loni Bergqvist, an educator and school development consultant who has supported more than 50 schools to rethink how young people experience learning. We explore what high-quality project-based learning looks like, how teachers build the conditions for student agency and belonging, and why lasting change depends on working together.

Loni also shares the story behind The Sabbatical Diaries. We talk about stepping back, reconsidering...

What if one of the most important things we give young people at school is the opportunity to struggle?

My guest today, Nicole Dyson, believes classrooms should help young people build the confidence and agility to navigate uncertainty, challenge and change.

This is the second time Nicole and I have spoken on The Art of Teaching, and I’m thrilled to welcome her back.

Nicole is a multi-award-winning educator, entrepreneur and founder of Future Anything. Across two decades in education, she has worked with more than 130,000 students and teachers, helping schools design learning th...

Alan Rogers is Director of Education for a multi-academy trust serving nine schools across the West Midlands and the founder of Kilter Leadership. Having worked as a teacher, headteacher, executive headteacher and trust leader, Alan has extensive experience of leading school improvement, developing people and creating the conditions in which teams can perform successfully.   Through Kilter Leadership, Alan explores how leadership can be made teachable at every level. His work brings together people, performance and wellbeing, helping leaders balance high expectations with strong relationships, clear systems and a healthy organisational culture. Alan is particularly interested in responsibility, leadership behaviour and t...

Today, I’m joined by Janine Stratford, recipient of the 2024 Most Influential Educator Award.

Janine’s work brings together evidence-informed practice, personalised coaching and a deep understanding of professional growth. Through her thoughtful approach, she has supported educators and leaders to strengthen their capabilities, navigate career development and achieve meaningful goals.

Janine is committed to creating inclusive learning environments where people feel supported, challenged and equipped to grow. Her influence reaches beyond individual coaching. She continues to develop leadership capacity, strengthen professional communities and contribute to better outcomes for educators and students.

It i...

What if the answer to feeling stuck was not a bigger goal, a clearer plan or greater certainty, but a tiny experiment?

My guest today is Anne-Laure Le Cunff, a neuroscientist, researcher and the author of Tiny Experiments. Her work explores how curiosity and an experimental mindset help us navigate uncertainty, reconsider inherited definitions of success and make choices that feel more aligned with who we are.

In this conversation, Anne-Laure shares how a serious health scare prompted her to rethink her relationship with work and achievement. We discuss identity, ambiguity, people-pleasing, procrastination and the...

What if the answer to feeling stuck was not a bigger goal, a clearer plan or greater certainty, but a tiny experiment?

My guest today is Anne-Laure Le Cunff, a neuroscientist, researcher and the author of Tiny Experiments. Her work explores how curiosity and an experimental mindset help us navigate uncertainty, reconsider inherited definitions of success and make choices that feel more aligned with who we are.

In this conversation, Anne-Laure shares how a serious health scare prompted her to rethink her relationship with work and achievement. We discuss identity, ambiguity, people-pleasing, procrastination and the...

Have you ever wondered How Leaders Create High-Performing Team Cultures?

Dr Vanessa Druskat returns to The Art of Teaching Podcast for round two, this time for a deeper conversation about her book and the conditions that help teams thrive.

Vanessa is an award-winning researcher, teacher and leading expert in team leadership. Across three decades of field research, she has examined the cultures that support trust, collaboration and high performance. This work led to the development of the Team Emotional Intelligence model, which has been used by leaders and organisations around the world.

In...

Joel Birch is a creative facilitator, learning designer, educator, and self-described benevolent troublemaker who believes people do their best thinking through play.

After years supporting creativity in classrooms and helping schools navigate digital transformation, Joel shifted his focus to helping teams across industries think more openly, communicate more honestly, and collaborate with greater courage.

As a Certified Facilitator and Pro Trainer of LEGO® Serious Play®, Joel works with teams on strategy, innovation, vision, and change. Across education, enterprise, leadership, and youth programs, he helps people bring their ideas to the table and build something better to...

David is one of the world’s leading authorities on personal and organisational productivity. He is the creator of Getting Things Done, widely known as GTD, and the bestselling author of Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity, Ready for Anything and Making It All Work. His work has helped millions of people manage commitments, reduce mental overload and create greater clarity in their work and lives.

David is the founder and chairman of the David Allen Company, which delivers GTD training and coaching around the world. More recently, he co-authored Team: Getting Things Done with Ot...

Amber Fuller is a substantive Deputy Principal, currently working as a HALT Talent Pipeline Advisor with the NSW Department of Education. She is a Highly Accomplished Teacher and serves as a committee member of the NSW HALT Association.   Amber is committed to growing expert teacher capacity across the NSW public education system by supporting aspiring and accredited HALTs through innovative, practical approaches that embed the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers into everyday practice. She is passionate about teacher quality, professional learning, and developing teacher leaders who create lasting impact for students, colleagues, and schools.

Andy Brown is currently a Senior Education Officer in Education Scotland, with a specific interest in Mathematics.  Andy was appointed as the first National Specialist Adviser for Mathematics to the Scottish Government in 2024. In that role he bridged policy and practice, working closely with ministers, policy officials, academics, schools and settings, and wider stakeholders. Much of Andy’s current work focuses on the Curriculum Improvement Cycle for Mathematics in Scotland. Andy has been involved in education for over 20 years. He has held roles as a Secondary Teacher of Mathematics, Faculty Head, Depute Head, and Interim Head Teacher of two schoo...

Glenn Solomons helps educational consultants scale and school systems design professional learning that works. He started his career as a high school teacher and school leader before moving into educational consulting, working with organisations including Catholic Schools NSW, the University of Sydney, and the Tasmanian Department of Education.
Today, Glenn runs Cheeky Learning, where he helps educational thought leaders design scalable online courses and learning systems that extend their impact well beyond the room. He's worked with more than 50 organisations to turn deep expertise into learning experiences that are practical, engaging, and built to last, because he's convinced...

Today I am joined by Shane Leaning. Shane is a Shanghai-based organisational coach who works with international schools around the world. He supports school leaders and teams to strengthen culture, collaboration and meaningful change.

He is the co-founder of Work Collaborative and co-author of the best-selling book Change Starts Here. Shane also hosts Education Leaders, a podcast featuring impactful interviews with renowned thought leaders and deep dives into school trends and strategies from around the world, all designed to support school leaders in their leadership journey.

Through his work across Asia, the UK and beyond...

Lottie Dowling is the Director Of Education at Culture Agents, the Australasia Lead at Inspire Citizens and a life long learner specialising in Global Citizenship/Competence, Intercultural understanding and Student Leadership. She has worked in education 25 years+ as an educator and PD facilitator on a global, national and regional levels and run networks of schools working on pedagogical change and whole school improvement. She designs student programs and works with young people to build their global capabilities. She believes in the transformative power of education for all young people.

Today, I’m joined by Scott D. Anthony, Clinical Professor of Strategy at the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College, whose work focuses on the adaptive challenges posed by disruptive change.

Scott is the author of nine books, including his latest, Epic Disruptions: 11 Innovations That Shaped Our Modern World. The book was selected for JPMorgan’s Next List, which recognises cutting-edge ideas across technology, business, financial markets, the arts and culture.

Before joining Dartmouth, Scott spent more than 20 years at Innosight, the growth strategy consultancy founded by Harvard Business School Professor Clayton Christensen.

...

Adriano Di Prato is an experienced educator, executive leader, author and podcast host whose work continues to shape conversations about learning, leadership and the future of education.

With more than thirty years of experience across schools, higher education and global advisory practice, Adriano brings a rare depth of wisdom, clarity and purpose to his work. He has led significant improvement across student outcomes, governance, strategy and organisational culture, while continuing to champion the human side of education.

He is the co-author of the bestselling book Game Changers: Leading Today’s Learning for Tomorrow’s World, co-h...

A career spent at the sharp end of human services tends to clarify your priorities. After decades in executive roles across the sector, Andrew eventually served as NSW Public Guardian, leading an organisation safeguarding the rights and dignity of people who depend on others to make decisions in their best interest. Andrew then made a late career change by transitioning to the ‘best job in the world’ – being a teacher. Working in alternative education with young people who don’t always fit neatly into other settings, his approach is grounded in nervous system support —creating calm, predictable and empowering...

Amy Berry PhD has worked in education for more than 20 years as a teacher, researcher, author, and professional learning facilitator. She is the creator of The Engagement Hub and is widely recognised for her work in learner engagement, agency, formative evaluation, and play-based learning. Her work has supported educators across Australia, the United States, Asia, and the Middle East.

Dr. Benjamin Freud is Head of School and Strategic Lead, Regenerative Education at Green School Bali. He founded the Biomimicry for Regenerative Design (BiRD) Lab, K-12 programme built on the recognition that life has been designing for 3.8 billion years longer than we have. Students learn to look closely at how the living world works and to bring what they find into the things and processes they design.

He holds a PhD in History, along with an MSc in Education, an MBA, and an MA in International Relations. His background in sociology, philosophy, and history shapes how he...

Andrew Gray is an experienced board member, CEO of not-for-profit organisations, consultant, leadership mentor, and entrepreneur who owns and runs multiple businesses. With a strong track record across governance, leadership, and organisational development, he brings both strategic insight and real-world execution to the spaces he serves.

He spent 18 years on the board of a private Christian school, including 13 years as Chairman, where he played a key role in shaping vision, culture, and long-term sustainability. His depth of experience in education governance and leadership makes him a trusted voice in both school and organisational contexts.

Andrew...

I’m joined by Dr Adam Fraser PhD, and Bob Willetts to explore The Flourish Movement. Their work focuses on the real experience of educators. Not the surface-level conversation, but what sits underneath. The emotional load. The cognitive demand. The quiet accumulation that builds over time.

At the centre of this conversation is Secondary Traumatic Stress. It is present in schools more than we often think. It shapes how teachers think, feel, and respond. It also shapes whether people stay in the profession.

Adam and Bob bring both research and lived experience. They speak with ho...

Prue Car is the Deputy Premier of NSW, Minister for Education and Early Learning, and Minister for Western Sydney.

Prue grew up in Western Sydney and has represented the Western Sydney seat of Londonderry in NSW Parliament since 2015. Following the 2023 NSW election, Prue was appointed Deputy Premier, Minister for Education and Early Learning and Minister for Western Sydney. In her role as Minister for Education and Early Learning, Prue has prioritised listening to teachers, principals, and parents and is working tirelessly to improve the NSW education system. Prue’s goal is to ensure every child in the sta...

Rachael Lehr is the foundation Associate Principal at Dayton Primary School, which opened in 2023, and the WA Branch President of the Australian Council for Educational Leaders. She is deeply committed to empowering teachers and leaders to believe in themselves and reach their full potential.

Rachael leads by example, embracing lifelong learning, stepping into discomfort, and continually seeking personal growth. Her work is grounded in the authentic integration of digital technologies and STEM in the classroom, an area she is currently exploring through her doctoral research at the University of Western Australia. She is a strong advocate for...

With a passion for reimagining education, Dave works with educational organisations across Australia and internationally to help build new systems and unlock innovative outcomes. As Director of Future Schools, he partners with executive leadership teams, boards, associations and education organisations, supporting educators to discover, design and implement innovative approaches to teaching and learning.

At the centre of Dave’s work is a focus on systemic change. He works alongside school leaders and educators to navigate complexity and build the adaptive leadership and thinking needed to create future-focused schools.

With deep expertise in change leadership, culture an...

For more than two decades, Damian has worked alongside teachers, school leaders and policymakers to explore how research and thoughtful reflection can strengthen teaching and learning in technology-rich classrooms. As a research professor at Boston College’s Lynch School of Education and Human Development, his work focuses on designing and leading research that helps schools make sense of innovation and translate ideas into meaningful practice.

Damian is a widely respected author and speaker, contributing numerous articles, book chapters and the book The School Mission Statement, which explores how a school’s local vision can shape, illuminate, and some...

Up next on The Art of Teaching is Charlie Burley.

Charlie is a former primary school teacher who knows, from lived experience, the pace, pressure and emotional weight that often come with life in the classroom. After feeling the toll that the profession can take on personal health and well-being, Charlie made a significant shift in his own career, choosing to focus on helping educators look after themselves with the same care they give their students every day.

Today, he is a qualified nutritionist, health coach, and the founder of The Teachers' Health Coach Ltd...

Michelle Michael is an internationally recognised education leader specialising in digital innovation and artificial intelligence in education. With more than 30 years of experience across schools, government and global advisory contexts, she brings a rare blend of strategic insight and practical implementation. As a former Director in the NSW Department of Education, Michelle played a pivotal role in shaping the state’s response to generative AI. She led the development and launch of NSWEduChat, one of the largest system-wide AI initiatives in education, supporting teachers and leaders to engage with emerging technologies thoughtfully and responsibly. She also led major reforms including th...

Kerrie Quee is a nationally accredited Highly Accomplished teacher with over 40 years of classroom experience. Kerrie has a strong commitment to equity in education, inspiring the next generation of teachers and leading teacher professional growth. She works as an EAL/D Education Leader for the Department of Education, supporting schools to strengthen evidence-informed pedagogy and improve outcomes for multilingual learners.

Kerrie also works as an academic at Western Sydney University (WSU), contributing to the development of pre-service teachers through tutorials and as a senior advisor during professional experience.

In addition, Kerrie is a NESA HALT...

Today’s guest is Olli-Pekka Heinonen, one of the significant voices in global education and a leader who has spent decades shaping how the world thinks about learning.

Olli-Pekka is the Director General of the International Baccalaureate, guiding a worldwide community of schools committed to developing curious, capable and principled young people. Before stepping into this global role, he served as Finland’s Minister of Education and Culture and later as State Secretary, playing a key part in the evolution of Finland’s internationally respected education system.

He is also the author of Learning as if Lif...

Heidi Horne is a Stress Strategist, keynote speaker, and Wiley author of The One-Minute Reset, available across Australia. For close to 20 years, she’s worked in high-pressure environments where burnout is common and attention is constantly pulled in a hundred directions.

Heidi believes that when stress hits, we don’t need more theory or another long program. We need something simple, practical, and backed by science. Her work focuses on powerful resets that take 60 seconds or less and can be used right in the moment, before stress hijacks focus, performance, or well-being.

Trusted by organisations incl...

Natalie is a passionate and enthusiastic teacher who shares her journey and key takeaways from a career in education spanning decades. Having taught across a wide range of year levels, she reflects on the insights, strategies and practical tools she has gathered along the way. In this conversation, we explore what experience really teaches you about the craft of teaching. Whether you’re early in your career or a seasoned educator, Natalie’s hope is that teachers feel supported, inspired and genuinely valued in the work they do every day.

Today on The Art of Teaching, I’m joined by Katharine Birbalsingh, one of the most talked-about and uncompromising voices in education. As headteacher of Michaela Community School, Katharine has challenged long-held assumptions about behaviour, curriculum and equity, advocating for high expectations, explicit teaching and a knowledge-rich education for every child. In this conversation, we explore school culture, discipline, leadership and what it really takes to create classrooms where all students can thrive.

Today on the podcast, I’m joined by Jim Knight, one of the most influential voices in instructional coaching anywhere in the world.

Jim is the founder of the Instructional Coaching Group and the creator of the Impact Cycle, a practical, research-informed framework that has shaped how schools think about coaching, professional growth and instructional improvement. His work has supported thousands of teachers, coaches and school leaders to focus on what matters most, improving teaching in ways that genuinely lift student learning.

Jim has authored several landmark books, including Instructional Coaching, Better Conversations and The De...

Today I'm joined by Tim Bullard, a leader whose career spans law, public policy and large-scale education reform. Tim began his professional life as a lawyer before moving into senior policy roles in Australia and the United Kingdom. Over more than a decade with the Department of Premier and Cabinet in Tasmania, he played a key role in major national reforms, including the development of Child and Family Learning Centres and the negotiations around the Gonski schools funding agreement. In 2016, Tim joined the Tasmanian Department of Education and later became Secretary of the Department for Education, Children and Young...

Natalie, co-founder of Amplify Music Education, sits at the meeting point of music, education and entrepreneurship. From being the kid who woke early every Saturday to watch Rage, collecting CDs, vinyl and ticket stubs, to helping build a national organisation championing high-quality music education, her story is shaped by curiosity, persistence and a deep conviction that music matters.

In this conversation, we explore what music offers young people beyond technique and theory, why school leaders need to rethink the place of the arts, and what it takes to build something meaningful from the ground up. Natalie brings...

I’m joined today by Professor Viviane Robinson, one of the most influential thinkers in educational leadership. This is the second time that I have the privilege of speaking with her.

Viviane is the author of Student-Centred Leadership, a book that has quietly but powerfully reshaped how school leaders around the world think about their work. At its heart is a deceptively simple question: What leaders do, day to day, that genuinely makes a difference to students.

In this upcoming conversation, we explore what student-centred leadership really demands in practice. Not the slogans or surface-level fr...

John Goh is an educator who has never been afraid to question the way schools work, or why they work that way at all.

Across his career as a principal and system leader, John has led bold changes around time, space and learning culture, always with a clear focus on what helps students thrive. Known for opening walls, rethinking routines and building strong partnerships with families and industry, his work shows what’s possible when curiosity and courage sit at the centre of leadership.

John is also a sought-after speaker with a strong online presence, sh...

Next is a conversation I recently had with Casey Ellis, a global leader in cybersecurity and the founder of Bugcrowd.

Casey has spent his career thinking deeply about risk, trust and what happens when you invite smart, curious people into complex systems. Through Bugcrowd, he helped pioneer crowdsourced security, connecting organisations with ethical hackers from around the world to find problems before they become crises.

In this conversation, we explore leadership under uncertainty, the ethics of technology, and what education, schools, and systems can learn from the way cybersecurity approaches prevention, responsibility, and human behaviour...