In this rich and expansive conversation, Professor Martin Westwell, Chief Executive of the South Australian Department for Education, joins Louka Parry to explore the deep shifts required in education to truly prepare young people for the complexity of today’s world. From the role of dispositions and student agency to the transformational potential of generative AI in classrooms, the dialogue challenges dichotomous thinking and calls for a purpose-driven, flexible, and learning-focused education system. Together, they unpack what it means to shift from achiever to explorer and build a system where students thrive—not just perform.