Game Changers

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 220 (Part 1) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Sanele Majola . Sanele Majola is a visionary educator and leader dedicated to fostering educational excellence and child well-being. Born in KwaMashu township in Durban, his formative years were shaped by the challenges of township and rural schooling during the turbulent mid-1980s. A devout Catholic upbringing and his schooling at St Mary’s Seminary instilled in him discipline and faith, before he pursued his teaching qualifications at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. His career began in 1999 at North-Crest Primary School, and over the years he has served in key leadership roles — Head of Department at Sharonlea Primary School, Deputy Head at Crawford Prep Sandton, Headmaster at St Mark’s School Northriding, and Executive Head of Vuleka Schools. Since 2022, Sanele has been Headmaster of St…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 219 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Michaela Epstein. Michaela is a highly experienced mathematics educator, who has worked closely with teachers throughout Australia. Michaela has taught at secondary schools in rural Victoria and in Melbourne. She has coached teachers in the design and implementation of specialised mathematics programs to support and extend students. Currently, Michaela runs professional development with primary and secondary teachers with a focus on problem solving, mathematical reasoning and using data to inform practice. In 2019, Michaela brought Maths Teacher Circles, a global model of communities of practice, to Australia for the first time. Since 2016, Michaela has served on the Board of the Mathematical Association of Victoria, including as President during 2017 to 2019 and as the Victorian…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 219 (Part 2) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Michaela Epstein. Michaela is a highly experienced mathematics educator, who has worked closely with teachers throughout Australia. Michaela has taught at secondary schools in rural Victoria and in Melbourne. She has coached teachers in the design and implementation of specialised mathematics programs to support and extend students. Currently, Michaela runs professional development with primary and secondary teachers with a focus on problem solving, mathematical reasoning and using data to inform practice. In 2019, Michaela brought Maths Teacher Circles, a global model of communities of practice, to Australia for the first time. Since 2016, Michaela has served on the Board of the Mathematical Association of Victoria, including as President during 2017 to 2019 and as the Victorian…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 219 (Part 1) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Michaela Epstein. Michaela is a highly experienced mathematics educator, who has worked closely with teachers throughout Australia. Michaela has taught at secondary schools in rural Victoria and in Melbourne. She has coached teachers in the design and implementation of specialised mathematics programs to support and extend students. Currently, Michaela runs professional development with primary and secondary teachers with a focus on problem solving, mathematical reasoning and using data to inform practice. In 2019, Michaela brought Maths Teacher Circles, a global model of communities of practice, to Australia for the first time. Since 2016, Michaela has served on the Board of the Mathematical Association of Victoria, including as President during 2017 to 2019 and as the Victorian…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 218 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with David Atkinson & Mark Sturgeon. David has been Headteacher of Dr Challoner’s Grammar School in Amersham since 2016, and has worked there all his teaching career. He still teaches Geography, and has developed a significant interest in character development through his previous role as Director of Sixth Form and now as Headteacher. He firmly believes that today’s young people have great capacity to positively influence our world through their sense of purpose and desire to make a difference, and that education has a key role to play in fostering that. Mark has been the Headmaster of the School since September 2014 having previously held roles as Geography teacher at Burnham Upper School (1996-1998), Head of Geography at AGS (1998-2005) and Head of Year 13 at AGS (2000-2005). He then went on to…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 218 (Part 2) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with David Atkinson & Mark Sturgeon. David has been Headteacher of Dr Challoner’s Grammar School in Amersham since 2016, and has worked there all his teaching career. He still teaches Geography, and has developed a significant interest in character development through his previous role as Director of Sixth Form and now as Headteacher. He firmly believes that today’s young people have great capacity to positively influence our world through their sense of purpose and desire to make a difference, and that education has a key role to play in fostering that. Mark has been the Headmaster of the School since September 2014 having previously held roles as Geography teacher at Burnham Upper School (1996-1998), Head of Geography at AGS (1998-2005) and Head of Year 13 at AGS (2000-2005). He then went on to…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 218 (Part 1) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with David Atkinson & Mark Sturgeon. David has been Headteacher of Dr Challoner’s Grammar School in Amersham since 2016, and has worked there all his teaching career. He still teaches Geography, and has developed a significant interest in character development through his previous role as Director of Sixth Form and now as Headteacher. He firmly believes that today’s young people have great capacity to positively influence our world through their sense of purpose and desire to make a difference, and that education has a key role to play in fostering that. Mark has been the Headmaster of the School since September 2014 having previously held roles as Geography teacher at Burnham Upper School (1996-1998), Head of Geography at AGS (1998-2005) and Head of Year 13 at AGS (2000-2005). He then went on to…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 217 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Gerard Martin. Gerard Martin is about to embark on his first year as Lead Assistant Coach for the Valley Suns – the Phoenix Suns' NBA G-League team. He spent the last two years as an Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development with the Perth Wildcats in the Australian NBL. Prior to that, Gerard spent three years coaching college basketball at California Baptist University from 2020 to 2023. Before beginning his coaching career, Gerard played Division I college basketball at Grand Canyon University from 2014 to 2019. He attended the Australian Institute of Sport from 2013 to 2014, represented Australia on two junior national teams, and is a proud graduate of The Scots College. Gerard was born and raised in Manly as the youngest of four siblings. The Game Changers podcast is produced by…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 217 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Gerard Martin. Gerard Martin is about to embark on his first year as Lead Assistant Coach for the Valley Suns – the Phoenix Suns' NBA G-League team. He spent the last two years as an Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development with the Perth Wildcats in the Australian NBL. Prior to that, Gerard spent three years coaching college basketball at California Baptist University from 2020 to 2023. Before beginning his coaching career, Gerard played Division I college basketball at Grand Canyon University from 2014 to 2019. He attended the Australian Institute of Sport from 2013 to 2014, represented Australia on two junior national teams, and is a proud graduate of The Scots College. Gerard was born and raised in Manly as the youngest of four siblings. The Game Changers podcast is produced by…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 217 (Part 1) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Gerard Martin. Gerard Martin is about to embark on his first year as Lead Assistant Coach for the Valley Suns – the Phoenix Suns' NBA G-League team. He spent the last two years as an Assistant Coach and Director of Player Development with the Perth Wildcats in the Australian NBL. Prior to that, Gerard spent three years coaching college basketball at California Baptist University from 2020 to 2023. Before beginning his coaching career, Gerard played Division I college basketball at Grand Canyon University from 2014 to 2019. He attended the Australian Institute of Sport from 2013 to 2014, represented Australia on two junior national teams, and is a proud graduate of The Scots College. Gerard was born and raised in Manly as the youngest of four siblings. The Game Changers podcast is produced by…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 216 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Emily FitzSimons Emily is an experienced educational leader and is currently the Principal at Overnewton Anglican Community College, an independent, coeducational school with approximately 2,100 students from Prep – Year 12, situated on two campuses in​ Melbourne’s Northwest. Emily leads Overnewton’s commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive, and courageous school culture, where each child is known and cherished for their uniqueness but, importantly, is also called to be a thoughtful and​ compassionate citizen of the world. Prior to her current role, Emily held the positions of Director of Teaching and Learning, and Director​ of the Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation at The Geelong College, and Director of​ Learning and Teaching Excellence at St Peter’s College in Adelaide.…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 216 (Part 2) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Emily FitzSimons Emily is an experienced educational leader and is currently the Principal at Overnewton Anglican Community College, an independent, coeducational school with approximately 2,100 students from Prep – Year 12, situated on two campuses in​ Melbourne’s Northwest. Emily leads Overnewton’s commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive, and courageous school culture, where each child is known and cherished for their uniqueness but, importantly, is also called to be a thoughtful and​ compassionate citizen of the world. Prior to her current role, Emily held the positions of Director of Teaching and Learning, and Director​ of the Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation at The Geelong College, and Director of​ Learning and Teaching Excellence at St Peter’s College in Adelaide.…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 216 (Part 1) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Emily FitzSimons Emily is an experienced educational leader and is currently the Principal at Overnewton Anglican Community College, an independent, coeducational school with approximately 2,100 students from Prep – Year 12, situated on two campuses in​ Melbourne’s Northwest. Emily leads Overnewton’s commitment to fostering a positive, inclusive, and courageous school culture, where each child is known and cherished for their uniqueness but, importantly, is also called to be a thoughtful and​ compassionate citizen of the world. Prior to her current role, Emily held the positions of Director of Teaching and Learning, and Director​ of the Centre for Learning, Research and Innovation at The Geelong College, and Director of​ Learning and Teaching Excellence at St Peter’s College in Adelaide.…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 215 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Amanda J. Pooley. Amanda Pooley is a child and adolescent psychologist, educator, and respected leader in educational innovation. With over 20 years’ experience across clinical, academic, and leadership roles, she brings rare insight into how students learn - and how educators can be empowered to help them thrive. Her career includes founding Australia’s first educational research institute within a private school and building a Board of global leaders from Cambridge, Oxford, and NYU. Amanda has led globally recognised research and evidence-based initiatives that have improved both academic performance and wellbeing. She holds degrees in Psychology, Education Leadership, and an MBA from AGSM UNSW, along with credentials from Cambridge and Wharton. Amanda founded Excelar to address a clear gap:…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 215 (Part 2) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Amanda J. Pooley. Amanda Pooley is a child and adolescent psychologist, educator, and respected leader in educational innovation. With over 20 years’ experience across clinical, academic, and leadership roles, she brings rare insight into how students learn - and how educators can be empowered to help them thrive. Her career includes founding Australia’s first educational research institute within a private school and building a Board of global leaders from Cambridge, Oxford, and NYU. Amanda has led globally recognised research and evidence-based initiatives that have improved both academic performance and wellbeing. She holds degrees in Psychology, Education Leadership, and an MBA from AGSM UNSW, along with credentials from Cambridge and Wharton. Amanda founded Excelar to address a clear gap:…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 215 (Part 1) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Amanda J. Pooley. Amanda Pooley is a child and adolescent psychologist, educator, and respected leader in educational innovation. With over 20 years’ experience across clinical, academic, and leadership roles, she brings rare insight into how students learn - and how educators can be empowered to help them thrive. Her career includes founding Australia’s first educational research institute within a private school and building a Board of global leaders from Cambridge, Oxford, and NYU. Amanda has led globally recognised research and evidence-based initiatives that have improved both academic performance and wellbeing. She holds degrees in Psychology, Education Leadership, and an MBA from AGSM UNSW, along with credentials from Cambridge and Wharton. Amanda founded Excelar to address a clear gap:…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 214 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Associate Professor Tom Brunzell . Associate Professor Tom Brunzell (PhD) is an internationally recognised leader in trauma-informed education and wellbeing sciences at the University of Melbourne, Faculty of Education. He examines the impacts of trauma-informed pedagogies through the interdisciplinary integration of the sciences of learning, engagement, and wellbeing, with a particular emphasis on trauma-informed school and education leadership to support both student and staff outcomes. Tom was the creator of the Berry Street Education Model (BSEM) and is now an Honorary Fellow at Berry Street Yooralla, in addition to being an Honorary Fellow at Deakin University School of Education. The Game Changers podcast is produced by Evan Phillips supported by a School for tomorrow…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 214 (Part 2) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Associate Professor Tom Brunzell . Associate Professor Tom Brunzell (PhD) is an internationally recognised leader in trauma-informed education and wellbeing sciences at the University of Melbourne, Faculty of Education. He examines the impacts of trauma-informed pedagogies through the interdisciplinary integration of the sciences of learning, engagement, and wellbeing, with a particular emphasis on trauma-informed school and education leadership to support both student and staff outcomes. Tom was the creator of the Berry Street Education Model (BSEM) and is now an Honorary Fellow at Berry Street Yooralla, in addition to being an Honorary Fellow at Deakin University School of Education. The Game Changers podcast is produced by Evan Phillips supported by a School for tomorrow…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 214 (Part 1) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Associate Professor Tom Brunzell . Associate Professor Tom Brunzell (PhD) is an internationally recognised leader in trauma-informed education and wellbeing sciences at the University of Melbourne, Faculty of Education. He examines the impacts of trauma-informed pedagogies through the interdisciplinary integration of the sciences of learning, engagement, and wellbeing, with a particular emphasis on trauma-informed school and education leadership to support both student and staff outcomes. Tom was the creator of the Berry Street Education Model (BSEM) and is now an Honorary Fellow at Berry Street Yooralla, in addition to being an Honorary Fellow at Deakin University School of Education. The Game Changers podcast is produced by Evan Phillips supported by a School for tomorrow…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 213 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr Fiona Longmuir. Fiona Longmuir (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer in Educational Leadership and Co-leader of the Education Workforce for the Future Impact Lab, School of Education, Culture and Society, Faculty of Education at Monash University. Fiona’s recent research focuses on educators’ working conditions and the role of school and system leadership in supporting student engagement and agency. Her doctoral work at the University of Melbourne (2017) and subsequent projects have explored alternative education settings for disengaged youth. She also brings expertise in crisis leadership, social cohesion, and social justice in education. Her publications address leadership in complex contexts, teacher working conditions and retention, accountability, policy enactment, and student agency in school…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 213 (Part 2) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr Fiona Longmuir. Fiona Longmuir (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer in Educational Leadership and Co-leader of the Education Workforce for the Future Impact Lab, School of Education, Culture and Society, Faculty of Education at Monash University. Fiona’s recent research focuses on educators’ working conditions and the role of school and system leadership in supporting student engagement and agency. Her doctoral work at the University of Melbourne (2017) and subsequent projects have explored alternative education settings for disengaged youth. She also brings expertise in crisis leadership, social cohesion, and social justice in education. Her publications address leadership in complex contexts, teacher working conditions and retention, accountability, policy enactment, and student agency in school…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 213 (Part 1) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr Fiona Longmuir. Fiona Longmuir (PhD) is a Senior Lecturer in Educational Leadership and Co-leader of the Education Workforce for the Future Impact Lab, School of Education, Culture and Society, Faculty of Education at Monash University. Fiona’s recent research focuses on educators’ working conditions and the role of school and system leadership in supporting student engagement and agency. Her doctoral work at the University of Melbourne (2017) and subsequent projects have explored alternative education settings for disengaged youth. She also brings expertise in crisis leadership, social cohesion, and social justice in education. Her publications address leadership in complex contexts, teacher working conditions and retention, accountability, policy enactment, and student agency in school…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 212 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr Paul Kidson. Dr Paul Kidson is an Associate Professor in Educational Leadership at the Australian Catholic University. His diverse educational career includes teaching English and Drama both in low socio-economic multicultural schools in Sydney’s western suburbs and socio-educationally advantaged inner metropolitan schools, curriculum leadership in regional NSW and Victorian schools, 11 years’ as a school principal, and as an Educational Leadership academic since 2017. His Master of Education (Honours) degree in philosophy of education, for which he was awarded a university medal, was completed at the University of New England, and his doctoral research in principal leadership, school culture, and leading in complex social environments was completed at the University of Sydney in 2018. His…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 212 (Part 2) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr Paul Kidson. Dr Paul Kidson is an Associate Professor in Educational Leadership at the Australian Catholic University. His diverse educational career includes teaching English and Drama both in low socio-economic multicultural schools in Sydney’s western suburbs and socio-educationally advantaged inner metropolitan schools, curriculum leadership in regional NSW and Victorian schools, 11 years’ as a school principal, and as an Educational Leadership academic since 2017. His Master of Education (Honours) degree in philosophy of education, for which he was awarded a university medal, was completed at the University of New England, and his doctoral research in principal leadership, school culture, and leading in complex social environments was completed at the University of Sydney in 2018. His…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 212 (Part 1) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr Paul Kidson. Dr Paul Kidson is an Associate Professor in Educational Leadership at the Australian Catholic University. His diverse educational career includes teaching English and Drama both in low socio-economic multicultural schools in Sydney’s western suburbs and socio-educationally advantaged inner metropolitan schools, curriculum leadership in regional NSW and Victorian schools, 11 years’ as a school principal, and as an Educational Leadership academic since 2017. His Master of Education (Honours) degree in philosophy of education, for which he was awarded a university medal, was completed at the University of New England, and his doctoral research in principal leadership, school culture, and leading in complex social environments was completed at the University of Sydney in 2018. His…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 211 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr. Selena Fisk! Dr. Selena Fisk is a data storyteller dedicated to helping educators transform numbers into meaningful narratives that create positive change. With 16 years of teaching experience in Australia and the UK, Selena empowers educators, school leaders, schools and systems to build data-informed cultures. She has authored four books, an online data storytelling course, and is the creator of the ‘Make Data Talk’ podcast. Selena supports system leaders, school leaders, middle leaders, and teachers worldwide to use data strategically, ultimately enhancing outcomes for young people. The Game Changers podcast is produced by Evan Phillips supported by a School for tomorrow (aschoolfortomorrow.com), and powered by CIRCLE. The podcast is hosted on SoundCloud and distributed through Spotify,…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 211 (Part 2) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr. Selena Fisk! Dr. Selena Fisk is a data storyteller dedicated to helping educators transform numbers into meaningful narratives that create positive change. With 16 years of teaching experience in Australia and the UK, Selena empowers educators, school leaders, schools and systems to build data-informed cultures. She has authored four books, an online data storytelling course, and is the creator of the ‘Make Data Talk’ podcast. Selena supports system leaders, school leaders, middle leaders, and teachers worldwide to use data strategically, ultimately enhancing outcomes for young people. The Game Changers podcast is produced by Evan Phillips supported by a School for tomorrow (aschoolfortomorrow.com), and powered by CIRCLE. The podcast is hosted on SoundCloud and distributed through Spotify,…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 211 (Part 1) of Game Changers, Professor Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr. Selena Fisk! Dr. Selena Fisk is a data storyteller dedicated to helping educators transform numbers into meaningful narratives that create positive change. With 16 years of teaching experience in Australia and the UK, Selena empowers educators, school leaders, schools and systems to build data-informed cultures. She has authored four books, an online data storytelling course, and is the creator of the ‘Make Data Talk’ podcast. Selena supports system leaders, school leaders, middle leaders, and teachers worldwide to use data strategically, ultimately enhancing outcomes for young people. The Game Changers podcast is produced by Evan Phillips supported by a School for tomorrow (aschoolfortomorrow.com), and powered by CIRCLE. The podcast is hosted on SoundCloud and distributed through Spotify,…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 210 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Ross Featherston & Dr Ray Swann! Ross Featherston, BA, Dip Ed, M Ed, was appointed eighth Headmaster of Brighton Grammar in January 2014. Victorian born, Ross was educated in regional Victoria and is a graduate of the University of Melbourne. He joined Brighton Grammar in 2012 as Head of Senior School. From 2006 - 2011 Ross held a wide range of leadership roles in teaching and learning and pastoral care at Geelong Grammar School, including Director of the International Baccalaureate Program, Head of Humanities and Head of History, as well as senior rowing coach and assistant coach of the First XVIII. Prior to this, he held teaching roles at Carey Baptist School and Melbourne Grammar School. Since taking up the position of Headmaster at BGS in 2014, Ross has overseen a new strategic vision for the…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 210 (Part 2) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Ross Featherston & Dr Ray Swann! Ross Featherston, BA, Dip Ed, M Ed, was appointed eighth Headmaster of Brighton Grammar in January 2014. Victorian born, Ross was educated in regional Victoria and is a graduate of the University of Melbourne. He joined Brighton Grammar in 2012 as Head of Senior School. From 2006 - 2011 Ross held a wide range of leadership roles in teaching and learning and pastoral care at Geelong Grammar School, including Director of the International Baccalaureate Program, Head of Humanities and Head of History, as well as senior rowing coach and assistant coach of the First XVIII. Prior to this, he held teaching roles at Carey Baptist School and Melbourne Grammar School. Since taking up the position of Headmaster at BGS in 2014, Ross has overseen a new strategic vision for the…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 210 (Part 1) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Ross Featherston & Ray Swann! Ross Featherston, BA, Dip Ed, M Ed, was appointed eighth Headmaster of Brighton Grammar in January 2014. Victorian born, Ross was educated in regional Victoria and is a graduate of the University of Melbourne. He joined Brighton Grammar in 2012 as Head of Senior School. From 2006 - 2011 Ross held a wide range of leadership roles in teaching and learning and pastoral care at Geelong Grammar School, including Director of the International Baccalaureate Program, Head of Humanities and Head of History, as well as senior rowing coach and assistant coach of the First XVIII. Prior to this, he held teaching roles at Carey Baptist School and Melbourne Grammar School. Since taking up the position of Headmaster at BGS in 2014, Ross has overseen a new strategic vision for the School.…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 209 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Melissa Kennedy! Melissa is the Head of English at Edmund Rice College in Wollongong, NSW. Melissa has previously led teams as English Head Teacher at Albion Park High School and at The Australian International School, Singapore. She has worked in curriculum development for the NSW Department of Education and for the then NSW Board of Studies developing NSW's first online syllabus. As a sessional lecturer at the University of Canberra, Melissa lectures on the value of strong educational management and administration skills for school leaders. Teaching for over twenty years, in NSW, Singapore and London, Melissa has been messing about with words for as long as she can remember, publishing non-fiction, anthologies, teacher guides and textbooks. She is passionate about teacher education focussing on…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 209 (Part 2) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Melissa Kennedy! Melissa is the Head of English at Edmund Rice College in Wollongong, NSW. Melissa has previously led teams as English Head Teacher at Albion Park High School and at The Australian International School, Singapore. She has worked in curriculum development for the NSW Department of Education and for the then NSW Board of Studies developing NSW's first online syllabus. As a sessional lecturer at the University of Canberra, Melissa lectures on the value of strong educational management and administration skills for school leaders. Teaching for over twenty years, in NSW, Singapore and London, Melissa has been messing about with words for as long as she can remember, publishing non-fiction, anthologies, teacher guides and textbooks. She is passionate about teacher education focussing on…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 209 (Part 1) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Melissa Kennedy! Melissa is the Head of English at Edmund Rice College in Wollongong, NSW. Melissa has previously led teams as English Head Teacher at Albion Park High School and at The Australian International School, Singapore. She has worked in curriculum development for the NSW Department of Education and for the then NSW Board of Studies developing NSW's first online syllabus. As a sessional lecturer at the University of Canberra, Melissa lectures on the value of strong educational management and administration skills for school leaders. Teaching for over twenty years, in NSW, Singapore and London, Melissa has been messing about with words for as long as she can remember, publishing non-fiction, anthologies, teacher guides and textbooks. She is passionate about teacher education focussing on…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 208 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Marek Kowalkiewicz! Marek Kowalkiewicz is Professor and Chair in Digital Economy at QUT Business School, and one of Thinkers360’s Top 100 Global AI Thought Leaders. He is the author of The Economy of Algorithms: AI and the Rise of the Digital Minions, winner of the 2024 Australian Business Book Award (Technology). Marek has led global innovation teams in Silicon Valley, founded SAP’s Machine Learning Lab in Singapore, and held research roles at Microsoft Research Asia. His work focuses on helping leaders understand and navigate the business implications of AI and algorithmic systems. The Game Changers podcast is produced by Evan Phillips supported by a School for tomorrow (aschoolfortomorrow.com), and powered by CIRCLE Education. The podcast is hosted on SoundCloud and distributed through Spotify,…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 208 (Part 2) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Marek Kowalkiewicz! Marek Kowalkiewicz is Professor and Chair in Digital Economy at QUT Business School, and one of Thinkers360’s Top 100 Global AI Thought Leaders. He is the author of The Economy of Algorithms: AI and the Rise of the Digital Minions, winner of the 2024 Australian Business Book Award (Technology). Marek has led global innovation teams in Silicon Valley, founded SAP’s Machine Learning Lab in Singapore, and held research roles at Microsoft Research Asia. His work focuses on helping leaders understand and navigate the business implications of AI and algorithmic systems. The Game Changers podcast is produced by Evan Phillips supported by a School for tomorrow (aschoolfortomorrow.com), and powered by CIRCLE Education. The podcast is hosted on SoundCloud and distributed through Spotify,…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 208 (Part 1) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Marek Kowalkiewicz! Marek Kowalkiewicz is Professor and Chair in Digital Economy at QUT Business School, and one of Thinkers360’s Top 100 Global AI Thought Leaders. He is the author of The Economy of Algorithms: AI and the Rise of the Digital Minions, winner of the 2024 Australian Business Book Award (Technology). Marek has led global innovation teams in Silicon Valley, founded SAP’s Machine Learning Lab in Singapore, and held research roles at Microsoft Research Asia. His work focuses on helping leaders understand and navigate the business implications of AI and algorithmic systems. The Game Changers podcast is produced by Evan Phillips supported by a School for tomorrow (aschoolfortomorrow.com), and powered by CIRCLE Education. The podcast is hosted on SoundCloud and distributed through Spotify,…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 207 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Thea Stinear! As CEO of CoolPlus and former CEO of Cool.org, Thea Stinear brings together strategic vision, classroom experience, and an unshakable commitment to educational equity, reimagining how we support the educators shaping the next generation and the future of our planet. Bold and joyfully rebellious in her mission, Thea believes great education is a catalyst for social and environmental change. At the helm of Cool.org, she led the growth of one of Australia’s leading education not-for-profits, co-creating demand-led resources and tools designed by teachers, for teachers. Together with Cool.org's founder, she helped scale the organisation to a thriving network of more than 220,000 educators. Thea’s leadership is grounded in her early years as a secondary teacher, where two students sparked her…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 207 (Part 2) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Thea Stinear! As CEO of CoolPlus and former CEO of Cool.org, Thea Stinear brings together strategic vision, classroom experience, and an unshakable commitment to educational equity, reimagining how we support the educators shaping the next generation and the future of our planet. Bold and joyfully rebellious in her mission, Thea believes great education is a catalyst for social and environmental change. At the helm of Cool.org, she led the growth of one of Australia’s leading education not-for-profits, co-creating demand-led resources and tools designed by teachers, for teachers. Together with Cool.org's founder, she helped scale the organisation to a thriving network of more than 220,000 educators. Thea’s leadership is grounded in her early years as a secondary teacher, where two students sparked her…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 207 (Part 1) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Thea Stinear! As CEO of CoolPlus and former CEO of Cool.org, Thea Stinear brings together strategic vision, classroom experience, and an unshakable commitment to educational equity, reimagining how we support the educators shaping the next generation and the future of our planet. Bold and joyfully rebellious in her mission, Thea believes great education is a catalyst for social and environmental change. At the helm of Cool.org, she led the growth of one of Australia’s leading education not-for-profits, co-creating demand-led resources and tools designed by teachers, for teachers. Together with Cool.org's founder, she helped scale the organisation to a thriving network of more than 220,000 educators. Thea’s leadership is grounded in her early years as a secondary teacher, where two students sparked her…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 206 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr Michael Stepniak for a holiday special! Dr Michael Stepniak is an Australian scholar, musician, and academic leader who returned home in 2025 after four decades abroad. He now serves as the ninth Master and Head of College at Queen’s College, The University of Melbourne. His career has been shaped by intellectual rigour, artistic excellence, and institutional vision, spanning conservatoria, universities, and senior leadership roles in the United States and now Australia. He also holds the title of Honorary Principal Fellow at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Educated at Harvard University as a Spencer Fellow, he holds both a Doctor of Education and a Master of Education, as well as two Master of Music degrees: in viola performance from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, and in…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 206 (Part 2) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr Michael Stepniak! Dr Michael Stepniak is an Australian scholar, musician, and academic leader who returned home in 2025 after four decades abroad. He now serves as the ninth Master and Head of College at Queen’s College, The University of Melbourne. His career has been shaped by intellectual rigour, artistic excellence, and institutional vision, spanning conservatoria, universities, and senior leadership roles in the United States and now Australia. He also holds the title of Honorary Principal Fellow at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Educated at Harvard University as a Spencer Fellow, he holds both a Doctor of Education and a Master of Education, as well as two Master of Music degrees: in viola performance from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, and in musicology from…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 206 (Part 1) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr Michael Stepniak! Dr Michael Stepniak is an Australian scholar, musician, and academic leader who returned home in 2025 after four decades abroad. He now serves as the ninth Master and Head of College at Queen’s College, The University of Melbourne. His career has been shaped by intellectual rigour, artistic excellence, and institutional vision, spanning conservatoria, universities, and senior leadership roles in the United States and now Australia. He also holds the title of Honorary Principal Fellow at the Melbourne Conservatorium of Music. Educated at Harvard University as a Spencer Fellow, he holds both a Doctor of Education and a Master of Education, as well as two Master of Music degrees: in viola performance from the Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins University, and in musicology from…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 205 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr Donnie Adams! Dr Donnie Adams is based at the Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne, Australia. He obtained his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from University of Malaya under the Bright Sparks scholarship and was awarded the University of Malaya’s Excellence Award 2016: PhD Completion in Less than 3 Years. His significant contributions to the field have been recognised with several awards, including the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (VIC) Fellowship Award 2025 and the Emerald Young Researcher Award 2021 from Emerald Publishing. Additionally, he was featured by Britishpedia as one of the 'Successful People in Malaysia' in Education. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of Educational Research and Evaluation and is an editorial board member of several top-tier journals. With a strong…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 205 (Part 2) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr Donnie Adams! Dr Donnie Adams is based at the Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne, Australia. He obtained his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from University of Malaya under the Bright Sparks scholarship and was awarded the University of Malaya’s Excellence Award 2016: PhD Completion in Less than 3 Years. His significant contributions to the field have been recognised with several awards, including the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (VIC) Fellowship Award 2025 and the Emerald Young Researcher Award 2021 from Emerald Publishing. Additionally, he was featured by Britishpedia as one of the 'Successful People in Malaysia' in Education. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of Educational Research and Evaluation and is an editorial board member of several top-tier journals. With a strong…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 205 (Part 1) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr Donnie Adams! Dr Donnie Adams is based at the Faculty of Education, University of Melbourne, Australia. He obtained his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership from University of Malaya under the Bright Sparks scholarship and was awarded the University of Malaya’s Excellence Award 2016: PhD Completion in Less than 3 Years. His significant contributions to the field have been recognised with several awards, including the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (VIC) Fellowship Award 2025 and the Emerald Young Researcher Award 2021 from Emerald Publishing. Additionally, he was featured by Britishpedia as one of the 'Successful People in Malaysia' in Education. He serves as Editor-in-Chief of Educational Research and Evaluation and is an editorial board member of several top-tier journals. With a strong…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 204 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr Ellen Heyting! Ellen is a passionate and experienced educator, researcher, and facilitator who works at Melbourne Metrics within the Faculty of Education at The University of Melbourne. She has over a decade of teaching and leadership experience in K-12 IB World Schools in Melbourne, Beijing, Singapore and Helsinki. She holds a PhD in Education from Monash University, a Master's degree in Education and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Psychology and Media & Communication from the University of Melbourne, and a Graduate Certificate of Higher Education from Deakin University. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Council of Educational Leaders and the Higher Education Academy (HEA), both credentials that recognises her commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. Ellen's research interests include…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 204 (Part 2) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr Ellen Heyting! Ellen is a passionate and experienced educator, researcher, and facilitator who works at Melbourne Metrics within the Faculty of Education at The University of Melbourne. She has over a decade of teaching and leadership experience in K-12 IB World Schools in Melbourne, Beijing, Singapore and Helsinki. She holds a PhD in Education from Monash University, a Master's degree in Education and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Psychology and Media & Communication from the University of Melbourne, and a Graduate Certificate of Higher Education from Deakin University. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Council of Educational Leaders and the Higher Education Academy (HEA), both credentials that recognises her commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. Ellen's research interests include…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 204 (Part 1) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr Ellen Heyting! Ellen is a passionate and experienced educator, researcher, and facilitator who works at Melbourne Metrics within the Faculty of Education at The University of Melbourne. She has over a decade of teaching and leadership experience in K-12 IB World Schools in Melbourne, Beijing, Singapore and Helsinki. She holds a PhD in Education from Monash University, a Master's degree in Education and a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) in Psychology and Media & Communication from the University of Melbourne, and a Graduate Certificate of Higher Education from Deakin University. She is also a Fellow of the Australian Council of Educational Leaders and the Higher Education Academy (HEA), both credentials that recognises her commitment to excellence in teaching and learning. Ellen's research interests include…

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In episode 203 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr Adam Fraser! Dr Adam Fraser has a PhD in Biomedical Science and is the author of the bestselling books, “The Third Space” and “Strive”. He is the director of the e-lab, a research company that partners with different universities around the world to solve challenges. In the last 10 years he has delivered more than 1500 presentations to over half a million people Globally. Dr Adam has shared the stage with the Dalai Lama, Steve Wozniak (co-founder of Apple), and Sir Ken Robinson (the most watched Ted Talk in history). But what makes Adam such a valuable voice in education is his work in The Flourish Movement. A program he co-founded that helps school leaders build sustainable leadership practices. Designed by school leaders, for school leaders, this program was first delivered in 2017 and since then…