In this episode with Steven Trotter, we dive into how school leaders can move from overwhelm to clarity, create momentum for change, and lead with both purpose and wellbeing in mind:

More About Steven

Steven Trotter is an award-winning educational system and executive leader and author of ‘The Art of Skimming Stones: Leading Sustained Improvement in Schools’ With over a decade of experience as a school principal and system leader across diverse educational settings from large suburban schools to small rural communities and residential programs.

Apart from leading his own successful and high performing schools, Steven is renowned for supporting leaders to move from overwhelm and reactivity to strategic clarity and confident decision-making. His work focuses on helping leaders navigate complexity, reduce cognitive load, and drive sustainable improvement.

With a Master’s in Education and a background in designing impactful adult learning architecture, Steven co-designed a leadership framework that accelerates growth through coherence, accountability, and purposeful reflection. He regularly presents at national conferences, contributes to leadership publications, has been honoured as ACEL New Voice in Educational Leadership scholarship (2024), and an Awardee in the National Education Awards in the category of Principal of the Year – Primary, Government.

Steven’s unique approach blends research, storytelling, and practical tools. Whether through his writing, coaching, or speaking, he empowers leaders to find a better way of leading, one that lifts others while staying grounded in meaning and self-awareness.

Linkedin: Steven Trotter
Website: Steven Trotter

World’s Biggest Gratitude Lesson Event
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In this episode with Sagar Bahadur, we dive into the future of international education, student mobility, and how institutions can better support learners across cultures, especially in India and South Asia.

Here are seven key takeaways from the conversation:

More About Sagar

Sagar Bahadur is a recognised leader in global education strategy, with a 15-year track record of shaping and scaling international higher education initiatives. As the Executive Director for India, South Asia, and South East Asia at Acumen, he leads the region’s growth and expansion strategy for Sannam S4/Acumen, a premier global partner for strategic and sustainable international education. His work focuses on building bridges between institutions, governments, and students across borders, with a strong emphasis on long-term partnerships and high-impact outcomes.

Acumen is widely regarded as a sector-leading firm, supporting over 100 global institutions across key education markets.
Sagar’s visionary leadership led to the successful launch of Gradstar Global Education in 2022, securing over 40 global university collaborations and delivering rapid growth. His prior experience includes an 8-year tenure with Amity Education Group, where he played a key role in establishing multiple international campuses. At The University of Queensland, he redefined their India strategy, setting a benchmark for higher education market engagement across Asia. He also worked closely with MDIS Singapore, supporting their market development and institutional outreach across the region.
Educated in Singapore, and further trained at UCLA and ISB India, Sagar brings a global outlook combined with deep regional insight.

In the context of Japan, he has played a leading role in efforts to elevate Japan’s visibility and competitiveness as a global study destination, especially across South Asia. His work focuses on building institutional capacity, enabling two-way student mobility, and advancing awareness of Japan’s academic excellence through strategic campaigns, policy engagement, and ecosystem development. He is committed to positioning Japan as a key force in the next era of global education.

He is a recipient of BW Businessworld’s 40under40 and the Philip Kotler Award, recognising his contributions to education leadership and innovation.

Linkedin: Sagar Bahadur
Website: Acumen Education

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In this episode with Isabella Portolesi, we dive into what it truly means to action Positive Education in the classroom, through both daily routines and intentional teaching. Isabella shares her journey from psychology to education, offering practical insights that every educator can relate to and apply.

6 Key Takeaways

More About Isabella 

Isabella holds a Master of Applied Positive Psychology, complemented by qualifications in Psychological Science and Education. In collaboration with PeopleQ, her Master’s research explored the intersection of organisational psychology and wellbeing science, with a focus on how trust and team dynamics contribute to thriving workplace cultures.

Driven by a genuine belief that everyone deserves a meaningful and purpose-filled life, Isabella brings warmth, curiosity, and evidence-based practice to her work. She is particularly passionate about helping individuals uncover their strengths and reach their full potential, whether in the classroom, in professional settings, or through collaborative research.

As an educator, Isabella values the opportunity to create safe and supportive environments where individuals are encouraged to grow, connect, and flourish.

Since 2020, Isabella has been an active member of the PESA SA Chapter, committed to championing system-wide wellbeing initiatives and expanding access to wellbeing science across all schools.

Linkedin Isabella Portolesi

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In this episode with Matt Pitman, we dive into the transformative power of connection in schools, what it really means, how it can be intentionally built, and why it’s essential for students, staff, and families. Matt shares practical strategies and leadership insights drawn from his experience as a head of school and author of The Connection Curriculum.

6 Key Takeaways

More About Matt Pitman

Matt Pitman is the Head of Senior School at Catholic Regional College Caroline Springs, a Catholic secondary school in the western suburbs of Melbourne, Victoria, and the author of The Connection Curriculum published by Amba Press. An experienced educational leader and a doctoral candidate researching connections across school communities, Matt’s experience is varied, from the leadership of curriculum teams and programs to student wellbeing, student improvement and community engagement portfolios. He has led Positive Education and student support programs and has a passion for working with students, parents, and staff to develop new understandings of the needs of young people in the 21st century.

Website:: mattpitman.com.au
Linkedin Matt Pitman
Book:The Connection Curriculum

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In this episode with Jacqui Clarke, we dive into how money impacts teacher wellbeing, the importance of building healthy financial habits, and how we can teach students the value of financial literacy, no matter their age.

Key Takeaways:

More About Jacqui Clarke

Jacqui Clarke FCA, FTI, GAICD, JP, International award-winning author of Stop Worrying About Money (Wiley), is a trusted advisor, board member, executor and veteran business executive. As a personal wealth and money management expert and over three decades of experience, 25 years at Deloitte and PWC helping high-net-worth families, individuals and business owners to build, manage and preserve their wealth. Her message is simple: with careful planning and effort, you can manage your money, so it doesn’t manage you.

Website:: jacquiclarke.me/
Linkedin Jacqui Clarke
Book:Stop Worrying about Money

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In this episode with Tansel Ali, we dive into how teachers can sharpen their memory, boost mental clarity, and use practical memory techniques to connect more deeply with students and teach more effectively. Tansel shares actionable tools that can be applied immediately in the classroom, for both educators and students.

Key Takeaways:

More About Tansel Ali

Tansel Ali is recognised as one of the world’s leading memory experts — helping individuals enhance their mental performance and sharpen their minds to succeed. He is a 4-time Australian Memory Sports Champion and the international bestselling author of The Yellow Elephant and How To Learn Almost Anything in 48 Hours.

Tansel is best known for his incredible feat of memorising two entire Yellow Pages phone books in just 24 days.

With over 20 years of experience training individuals and organisations, Tansel is a trusted advisor for those seeking a cognitive edge. His memory systems and practical strategies are used around the world and have been featured in bestselling books including Deep Work by Cal Newport, Tony Buzan’s Official Biography, and Like, Comment, Share, Buy by Jonathan Creek — as well as across television, documentaries, podcasts, and global media.

As a keynote speaker, Tansel delivers powerful and engaging talks worldwide, teaching people how to think faster, remember more, and learn better. He has led transformational initiatives such as the Australian Memory Championships, School Mind

Games, The FutureMinds Project, and TEDxDocklands, and has proudly served as a Celebrity Ambassador for Crohn’s & Colitis Australia and the AFL — inspiring people to live happier, healthier lives.

Tansel holds dual Master’s degrees in Information Systems Management (MISM) and Business Administration (MBA). He combines deep expertise in memory science and performance coaching to help people from all walks of life master memory, accelerate learning, and perform at their peak.

Website:: https://tanselali.com/
Linkedin Tansel Ali
Tansel Ali Tedx Talk:Click to Watch

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In this episode with Melo Calarco, we dive into the practical tools and powerful mindset shifts teachers can use to protect their wellbeing, prevent burnout, and perform at their best. Drawing on decades of experience, including cycling 30,000km across five continents, Melo shares transformational strategies tailored for educators working in high-pressure environments.

6 Key Takeaways

More About Melo Calarco

As a TEDx Speaker and multi award-winning author, Melo loves sharing his passion with the world speaking about wellbeing, high-performance, resilience, mindfulness, mental health and so much more.

His workshops and keynotes have been described as ‘truly transformational’ drawing from his unique life lessons while cycling over 30,000km across five continents, where Melo learned to manage stress, build mental endurance, and overcome many challenges, including near-death experiences.

He now shares this profound experience with global companies and high performers to help them operate at their best, without the risk of burning out.

Beating Burnout Finding Balance Book

Website and Free Sample Chapter: https://www.melocalarco.com/the-book
Linkedin Melo Calarco
Melo Calarco Tedx Talk:Click to Watch

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In this episode with Dr. Huu Kim Le, we dive into the hidden dangers of gaming addiction, how screens are rewiring young brains, and what parents and teachers can do to set healthy, realistic boundaries.

Here are 6 key takeaways you won’t want to miss:

More About Dr Huu Kim Le

Dr Huu Kim Le is an Australian child and adolescent psychiatrist specialising in internet gaming disorder and ADHD. Based in Adelaide, he founded CGI Clinic, Australia’s first telepsychiatry service dedicated to gaming-related mental health. Dr Le is a board member of the Australian Gaming and Screens Alliance and is a prominent advocate for responsible gaming. He has consulted internationally and frequently speaks at conferences on the psychological impacts of digital technology on young people.

Lets Go Whaling: Must watch
TEDX Talk: Dr Huu Kim Le
Linkedin: Dr Huu Kim Le 

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