Principal

Woodleigh School

Australia : Melbourne | Australia

I have been a teacher and Principal for over 30 years, beginning my career teaching Physics and General Science at Wesley College. My leadership journey started as Head of Year 7 at The Peninsula School, followed by roles as Head of Middle School and Head of Senior School. My first senior leadership position was as Deputy Principal at Mentone Grammar, and I later served as Principal at Gippsland Grammar for seven years. I am passionate about holistic coeducation that places students at the center of everything we do. At each of my schools, I have been heavily involved in co-curricular programs, including skiing, hiking, football, rowing, tennis, surfing, and leading overseas trips. These experiences have enabled me to connect better with students, creating learning environments based on respect, deep learning, and a lot of fun. As a leader, I am dedicated to teaching and learning and the development of the whole child through a comprehensive program of purposeful experiences. This commitment is what attracted me to Woodleigh and continues to be what I love most about our school.

As educators, we must reassess our roles and the purpose of schools. Our students are inheriting a world vastly different from my youth, requiring strong positive action by the next generation. I am frustrated by quick-fix, short-term solutions and aim to help students understand how to collaborate to solve deep-seated problems. This necessitates a regenerative and compassionate mindset, along with the skills to communicate, collaborate, engage with agency, think critically, and regulate behavior and emotions.

An adventurous mind is curious and unafraid to tackle big issues. It loves learning, echoing Leonardo da Vinci’s belief that study without desire spoils the memory.

Success for our students means being good people with strong values, standing up for what is right. It also means achieving authenticity in our efforts and uniting people to accomplish great things, something I witness daily at Woodleigh.

At Woodleigh, students are encouraged to be themselves. They develop complex capabilities necessary for an ever-changing world. Unlike my own one-dimensional education focused solely on outcomes, Woodleigh emphasizes the process, ensuring that results naturally follow.