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Jessie Atkins is an inspirational leader. She carefully listens to all perspectives as part of her decision making and creates environments where it is safe to question, and to be curious about why, and how, we can improve learning environments for all students in our care. Jessie has a wide-ranging vision that is firmly grounded in the principles of inclusion, and she actively seeks to value narratives that may have been lost in the mainstream. A confident and creative leader, Jessie has navigated a year of unprecedented challenge and complexity, with integrity and purpose. 

Julie Murkins is a leader with a powerful presence and force for bringing her authentic self to all aspects of her work. Her voice is so valuable because she is a fearless advocate for the continual search for improvement through professional learning that is connected to lived experience. She has always made me feel seen for who I am, valued for what I can bring where I am at now, and where I need to be next. She has a calm and commanding aura that radiates warmth and authenticity, and she maintains a relentless focus on growing others around her.

Lana Read is a beacon of light to those of us working in education in the ACT. She has modelled the way to be courageous as a leader, through seeking out a rigorous evidence-based process of reflection and peer analysis of her work. This has led her to making history as the first ever Principal Certification Award in the ACT.  A strong proponent for wellbeing, she reminds us that we will be our best selves when we look after our hearts, souls and bodies as well as our minds. She inspires us to be our best selves for our communities that we serve.

Kerrie Grundy is a leader with a clear vision for growing excellence with student agency. Working with her teams, her school has defied national trends with increasing numbers of students graduating from high level Math, Science and Languages courses. With a rich grounding in Literature, Kerrie brings a rare leadership skillset that transcends disciplines. She values her teams as human beings, who bring their own complexity to the ever important work of educating our future generations, and she is inspiring in her belief in the dignity and meaning that our profession holds. A wonderful conversationalist Kerrie is full of gems of wisdom.

Dr Mary Jean is a clear standout amongst all the educational leaders we host in Canberra.  The list of firsts for her are awe inspiring - in her homestate of Ontario, Canada, and globally. She has been working as a critical friend with ACT Education to support systems for school improvement. She is gifted at weaving the overall vision and theoretical evidence base with practical and grounded implementation structures. Always mindful of connecting this to our purpose and the ‘Why’ of educational leadership, Mary Jean always comes back to equity, excellence and wellbeing. Mary Jean conveys a deep wisdom and confidence, in her focus on what really matters,  that is so needed in our public debate in Australia. I could listen to her all day long!

Anna McKenzie is an educational pioneer. Through her leadership at the Teacher Quality Institute (TQI), the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers have become an embedded anchor that informs the core of our work in Canberra. In this episode you will see Anna’s passion for transformative social justice and her belief in the power of community. This has seen her work tirelessly to ensure that the values and goals preserved in the Australian Professional Standards for Teachers are being extended to every student in every classroom in Canberra, through an expert teaching profession. Anna is an advocate for a ‘contributive’ model of leadership that sees a role for all stakeholders in a school from the Principal, teachers and students to influence our world.

Heather Paterson has dedicated her life to building leadership in others. She is one of those rare people who is genuinely happy to see others succeed, and she continues to inspire me. In this episode, Heather challenges us to be aware of our inbuilt “immunity to change”, and that if we undertake a process of deliberate self-reflection, we can better inform our decision making.  Heather is the only Australian Principal to have hosted a visit by American President Barack Obama, and she reminds us to seek out different perspectives from our wider international context, to unlock our own potential and that of others, and to have the courage to grow as professionals.