In this episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr sits down with Megan Pozzi, Director (Student Life) at the University of Southern Queensland, to unpack leadership at scale across teams of 120+ staff touching every student in the university.

From launching “The Long Night Against Procrastination” to serving as Captain Starlight in children’s hospitals, Megan blends strategy, evidence, imagination and governance into a deeply human approach to student success. This conversation moves from innovation and wicked problems to policy reform and why fun might be the most underrated leadership value in higher education.

Three reasons to listen today:

1. Understand how to balance strategy and operations by “zooming in” to the frontline and “zooming out” to systems-level leadership
2. Learn why simplicity, evidence and normalising common student struggles can drive innovation more effectively than chasing buzzwords
3. Hear why mastering policy and governance is the real superpower for student leaders who want to create lasting, structural change

In this episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr is joined by Yolanda Saiz, CEO of the St Vincent de Paul Society NSW, an organisation with more than 12,500 members and volunteers, 226 retail shops, close to 100 programs and services, and over $15 million delivered annually in financial and material aid. In New South Wales alone, the Society supported around 225,000 people last year, including communities facing homelessness, domestic violence, and cost-of-living pressures, in a country where 1 in 7 children live in poverty. Yolanda shares what it takes to lead at that scale while staying mission-aligned, financially sustainable, and deeply human in how support is delivered.

In this episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr is joined by SENCON Best Newcomer Award Nominees Kim White, Jamie Chambers, and Victoria Turner to unpack what truly drives student belonging and success inside modern universities. Drawing on their leadership across policy, program design, and student engagement, they challenge outdated assumptions and explore how clarity, communication, and intentional system design shape whether students thrive or struggle.

Three reasons to listen

• Understand why belonging is structural, not just social
• Learn how clarity and communication inside subjects directly influence retention
• Hear how staff leaders can redesign systems rather than relying on one-off initiatives

In this sharp and outcomes-focused episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr is joined by Gabriel Boyd, 2025 President of the Auckland University Students’ Association, to unpack how student leadership can drive real policy change at scale.

“I spent a lot of time walking around campus holding a sign above my head, saying, 'What would you like to see at the university? What would improve your university experience?' See the gap, see where things can be improved.”

Gabriel shares the inside story of how coordinated advocacy, data, and negotiation helped save students more than $5 million annually in fees, challenging the idea that student voice is symbolic rather than structural. The conversation reframes student unions as serious power brokers when they are strategic, disciplined, and willing to play the long game.

Three reasons to listen

• Understand how student leaders can influence policy and funding decisions at a system level
• Learn what it actually takes to negotiate with institutions and governments successfully
• See a real example of student leadership delivering measurable, life-changing outcomes

In this episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr is joined by Kelly Linden, Sub-Dean of Student Retention at Charles Sturt University and 2025 ACSES Equity Fellow, to unpack what actually works when it comes to student success and retention.

“If we just have our subjects clear, accessible, and easy to navigate, it has the most impact on student success.”

Drawing on large-scale data, lived teaching experience, and sector-wide research, Kelly explains why studying part-time is the single biggest risk factor for student success, how outdated policies quietly disadvantage today’s students, and why improving the quality and clarity of subjects has a far bigger impact than any bolt-on intervention.

Three reasons to listen

• Understand what the data really says about retention, part-time study, and student success
• Learn why better subject design beats reactive support when it comes to moving the dial at scale
• Hear practical, proven ideas universities and student leaders can apply immediately in 2026

In this inspiring episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr is joined by Oliver Oh, an Economics and Finance undergraduate at James Cook University, whose story shows what happens when students stop waiting for permission and start taking initiative.

" The one way you actually build the skills is just by doing it. Just doing more of the actual thing you want to get better at."

From participating in a Study Queensland Innovation Challenge in Townsville to flying across the country to Sydney to pursue an internship that initially rejected him, Oliver shares how listening deeply, creating value, and seeing problems from the employer’s perspective helped him turn a long shot into a real opportunity. It’s a practical lesson in courage, persistence, and building career momentum before graduation.

Three reasons to listen

• See how initiative and follow-up can matter more than formal experience
• Learn how to respond to rejection without burning bridges or losing confidence
• Understand why creating value first is the fastest way to open career doors

On this episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr is joined by Ann Sherry AO (Chancellor of QUT) to reflect on leadership across banking, government, universities, and some of Australia’s most complex institutions. Drawing on her experience as Chancellor of QUT and board leadership spanning superannuation, airports, and global organisations, Ann unpacks why modern leadership is no longer about authority or certainty, but about curiosity, flexibility, and giving people context so they can make good decisions.

“Leadership now, I think, is about challenging, speaking up when you see bias, and being deliberate about inclusion.”

Three reasons to listen today:

• Understand why great leadership today is less about being right and more about staying curious and adaptable
• Learn how low expectations and bias quietly shut down talent and opportunity
• Hear what universities and student leaders must do to create genuinely inclusive, high-performing environments

Learn more about Ann, and follow her on LinkedIn here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/annsherry/

In this energising episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr is joined by Thisath Senevirathne, President of the La Trobe Engineering Society, to explore how small decisions can completely change a student’s trajectory. Arriving in Australia as an international student, Thisath shares how saying yes to volunteering, committing to Toastmasters, and leaning into networking unlocked leadership roles, internships, and national recognition well before graduation.

One turning point says it all: “I actually missed the first event you had in Melbourne. I’ll book the train to Geelong! And that was the best decision I ever made that year.” The conversation is a powerful reminder that momentum is built through action, communication, and backing yourself before you feel ready.

Three reasons to listen

• Learn how volunteering and networking compound into real leadership and career outcomes
• See why communication skills are often the fastest accelerator for confidence and opportunity
• Hear a real student story that proves your next decision might matter more than your next subject

In this episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr is joined by Amelia Hands, Head of Senior School at Varsity College and author of Pathways in Queensland: SET Plan Success, to unpack what she sees working with over 500 Gen Z students every year.

“They feel like if they get it wrong before they leave school, it’s all over.”

Amelia brings a rare pre-university lens, sharing what students really believe about success, pathways, ATARs, and “getting it right” before they ever arrive on campus. The conversation explores the myths students and parents carry, the pressure to decide too early, and what universities and student leaders need to understand about where young people are coming from, emotionally, cognitively, and socially.

Three reasons to listen

• Gain real insight into the mindset, pressure, and assumptions Gen Z students bring with them into university
• Understand why pathway decisions are often driven by fear, myths, and social pressure rather than clarity
• Learn how universities and student leaders can better support students by meeting them where they actually are

“You don’t have to have it all figured out to get where you need to go.”

In this practical and straight-talking episode of Better Student Leaders, Josh Farr is joined by James Schlunke, Head of Early Careers at Capgemini AUNZ, to unpack what actually drives employability in 2026.

“I would challenge every student to have at least one customer-facing job, because that’s where real employability is built.”

Drawing on a decade building one of Australia’s top-ranked graduate programs, James shares why careers are no longer ladders but lattices, why emotional intelligence beats perfect CVs, and how what students do outside the classroom often matters more than what they do inside it.

Three reasons to listen

• Learn what graduate employers really look for when candidates have similar degrees and grades
• Understand why customer-facing work, communication, and adaptability matter more than ever
• Get clear, practical guidance on how students can spend their time to stand out in a competitive market

“Someone who can carry a conversation and is passionate about something will always stand out.”