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 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 Northwestern University. He completed his undergraduate studies with distinction, and trained as a violinist at the New England Conservatory. As a chamber musician, he has performed as violist and violinist in major concert halls across North America and Europe, collaborating with artists as varied as Ann Schein, Arlo Guthrie, and John Patitucci. His performances have been broadcast on National Public Radio and praised by The Washington Post and others for their expressiveness and refinement. He is also the author of several books on leadership, education, and creativity in the arts. These include Don’ts for Deans and Academic Leaders (2023), Leading Change That Matters (2022), and Beyond the Conservatory Model (2019). He has spoken widely on cultural leadership, institutional change, and the future of education, and has held key governance and advisory roles, including serving on the Board of Directors of the International Council of Fine Arts Deans. Before returning, Dr Stepniak served as Executive Dean for Creativity and the Arts and Professor of Music at Shenandoah University in the United States, where he led strategic planning, launched new academic programs, and played a central role in philanthropic development. As Dean of Shenandoah Conservatory for 14 years, he helped elevate its international profile and built lasting partnerships with donors, international artists, and communities. Born in Springvale and raised in the Yarra Valley, he left Australia and his family as a teenager to pursue advanced music studies as a concert violinist in North America. He now returns with his wife, Dr Anne Schempp, and their daughter, Tilda. He is delighted to lead Queen’s College into its next chapter; one that honours its remarkable heritage while preparing students to meet the challenges of a changing world with intelligence, imagination, and integrity. 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, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at gamechangers@circle.education, on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil via LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Let’s go!

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 commitment to education reform, his work has shaped inclusive school leadership practices across the Asia-Pacific, driving meaningful and systemic change by empowering teachers and future leaders. He has engaged in professional consultation and research partnerships with leading institutions worldwide, including the Ministries of Education in Malaysia and the Maldives, the Department of Education in the Philippines, the British Council in Nepal, ETH Zürich in Switzerland, The HEAD Foundation in Singapore, UNICEF, Teach For Malaysia, and the Asian Universities Alliance. 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, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at gamechangers@circle.education, on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil via LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Let’s go!

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 commitment to education reform, his work has shaped inclusive school leadership practices across the Asia-Pacific, driving meaningful and systemic change by empowering teachers and future leaders. He has engaged in professional consultation and research partnerships with leading institutions worldwide, including the Ministries of Education in Malaysia and the Maldives, the Department of Education in the Philippines, the British Council in Nepal, ETH Zürich in Switzerland, The HEAD Foundation in Singapore, UNICEF, Teach For Malaysia, and the Asian Universities Alliance. 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, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at gamechangers@circle.education, on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil via LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Let’s go!

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 commitment to education reform, his work has shaped inclusive school leadership practices across the Asia-Pacific, driving meaningful and systemic change by empowering teachers and future leaders. He has engaged in professional consultation and research partnerships with leading institutions worldwide, including the Ministries of Education in Malaysia and the Maldives, the Department of Education in the Philippines, the British Council in Nepal, ETH Zürich in Switzerland, The HEAD Foundation in Singapore, UNICEF, Teach For Malaysia, and the Asian Universities Alliance. 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, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at gamechangers@circle.education, on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil via LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Let’s go!

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 international school teacher identity, the assessment of complex competencies, the International Baccalaureate, and the power of agency in learning. She has led various projects, including the New Metrics International Schools Program, run in partnership between Melbourne Metrics and CIS as well as projects that support agency in learning, rethinking assessment and professional learning communities. Ellen believes that education can be a force to unite people for peace, justice, and a sustainable future, and strives to empower teachers, leaders and learners to develop the competencies they need to thrive at school and beyond. 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, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at gamechangers@circle.education, on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil via LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Let’s go!

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 international school teacher identity, the assessment of complex competencies, the International Baccalaureate, and the power of agency in learning. She has led various projects, including the New Metrics International Schools Program, run in partnership between Melbourne Metrics and CIS as well as projects that support agency in learning, rethinking assessment and professional learning communities. Ellen believes that education can be a force to unite people for peace, justice, and a sustainable future, and strives to empower teachers, leaders and learners to develop the competencies they need to thrive at school and beyond. 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, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at gamechangers@circle.education, on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil via LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Let’s go!

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 international school teacher identity, the assessment of complex competencies, the International Baccalaureate, and the power of agency in learning. She has led various projects, including the New Metrics International Schools Program, run in partnership between Melbourne Metrics and CIS as well as projects that support agency in learning, rethinking assessment and professional learning communities. Ellen believes that education can be a force to unite people for peace, justice, and a sustainable future, and strives to empower teachers, leaders and learners to develop the competencies they need to thrive at school and beyond. 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, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at gamechangers@circle.education, on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil via LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Let’s go!

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 over 1,100 school leaders have completed the program. Flourish has earned international recognition including an award from the Academy of Management for Best Action Research Paper in 2020. In 2023, Flourish was also a finalist for the prestigious Carolyn B. Dexter Award for the Best International Paper in Organisational Development and Change. More recently, Adam has completed one of the largest research projects in the world into Secondary Traumatic Stress in Educators in Australia in partnership with Deakin University. Personally, Adam is married and is the father to 2 daughters – a tween and a teen, both of whom he tries not to embarrass but seems to fail miserably! 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, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at gamechangers@circle.education, on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil via LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Let’s go!

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 2) 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 over 1,100 school leaders have completed the program. Flourish has earned international recognition including an award from the Academy of Management for Best Action Research Paper in 2020. In 2023, Flourish was also a finalist for the prestigious Carolyn B. Dexter Award for the Best International Paper in Organisational Development and Change. More recently, Adam has completed one of the largest research projects in the world into Secondary Traumatic Stress in Educators in Australia in partnership with Deakin University. Personally, Adam is married and is the father to 2 daughters – a tween and a teen, both of whom he tries not to embarrass but seems to fail miserably! 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, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at gamechangers@circle.education, on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil via LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Let’s go!

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 1) 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 over 1,100 school leaders have completed the program. Flourish has earned international recognition including an award from the Academy of Management for Best Action Research Paper in 2020. In 2023, Flourish was also a finalist for the prestigious Carolyn B. Dexter Award for the Best International Paper in Organisational Development and Change. More recently, Adam has completed one of the largest research projects in the world into Secondary Traumatic Stress in Educators in Australia in partnership with Deakin University. Personally, Adam is married and is the father to 2 daughters – a tween and a teen, both of whom he tries not to embarrass but seems to fail miserably! 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, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at gamechangers@circle.education, on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil via LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Let’s go!

The Game Changers podcast celebrates true pioneers who inspire us to take the big step forward and up in education and beyond. In this, the Prologue of Series Eighteen, your host Professor Phil Cummins, sets up the provocation for the theme of the new season: The Character of Success. Phil identifies the questions that intrigue him about what it means to live a good life, one that's both worthwhile and well-lived, and digs deep into the preparation that school can give for this life. He examines in particular five powerful knowledges with which learners can be equipped: to know what, to know how, to know where, to know why and (most of all) to know who one is and is becoming as school equips students to become young people with the character to thrive in their world. Phil tests this understanding in conversation with two key people in his life: Dr Ian Lambert, Principal of the Scots College, Sydney (with whom Phil's had a deep professional connection for nearly two decades now) and also his mother, Dr Rohma Newman Cummins (wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, pathologist, orchestra manager, business owner and the Founding Chair of CIRCLE Education). 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, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at gamechangers@circle.education, on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil via LinkedIn, Twitter and Instagram. Let’s go!

The Game Changers podcast celebrates those true pioneers in education who are building schools for tomorrow. In this teaser of Series Eighteen of the Game Changers podcast, your host, Professor Phil Cummins, gives a sneak peek at what’s coming up in the new season. 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, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at gamechangers@circle.education, on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil via LinkedIn and Twitter. Let’s go!

In October 2024, Dr Phil Cummins was awarded a National Fellowship by the Australian Council for Educational Leaders at their Annual Conference. As part of this, Phil recorded a conversation as a guest of Michael Murphy which focused significantly on the work of character education. In this first episode of a two-part collaboration with the very talented and creative Michael, Phil talks about his work with a School for tomorrow. CIRCLE - The Centre for Innovation, Research, Creativity and Leadership in Education and the Game Changers Podcast.

The first part of our collaboration with the brilliant Australian educator and broadcaster, Michael Murphy (recorded in July-August 2025) is the first episode of Michael’s inspiring new podcast series “Dear Stardust”. Professor Phil Cummins was invited to write and read a letter to “Stardust”, sharing his hopes, dreams and concerns for the future. Phil then chats with Michael about the poem he wrote and the ideas, stories and personal history that sit behind it.

The Game Changers podcast celebrates those true pioneers in education who are building schools for tomorrow. In this final episode of the seventeen series of the Game Changers podcast, your host, Professor Philip Cummins, explores the series theme, the nature and consequences of enterprise - both as an entity and as a way of being, becoming and leading and wraps up the series that's been. 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, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at gamechangers@circle.education, on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil via LinkedIn and Twitter. Let’s go!

The Game Changers podcast celebrates those true pioneers in education who are building schools for tomorrow. In episode 200 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Andrew Donnelly & Neil Wolstenholme! Andrew Donnelly has worked in the education sector since 2008 and is driven by a deep passion for transforming how we prepare young people for life beyond the classroom. Convinced that the global education system often fails to serve the true needs of students, he co-founded Kloodle in 2014 to help shift the focus from grades alone to a more holistic view of individual potential. Inspired by Sir Ken Robinson’s renowned TED Talk on creativity in education, Andrew and his co-founders recognised that academic achievement is just one piece of the puzzle. Schools, he believes, have become production lines, churning out students who often lack the self-awareness, creativity, and adaptability required for a fulfilling life and career. Kloodle was created to highlight and value the meaningful experiences young people gain through enrichment, peer interaction, and real-world skill development - what Andrew calls the "transferable skills currency." These are the traits that employers truly value and that enable students to thrive in an unpredictable and fast-changing world. A decade into the journey, Andrew and his team stand on the brink of significant change, backed by a growing community of like-minded educators, employers, and institutions who share the vision of a reimagined education system - one that equips young people not just for exams, but for purpose, happiness, and lifelong success. Neil Wolstenholme has had a long and varied journey across education, business and life. What he’s learned along the way is that it’s not exam results that define a person—it’s their skills, character and how they respond to the challenges they face. For Neil, qualifications are just hoops to jump through; nobody ever asks what A-levels you got when deciding whether you’re kind, dependable or capable. An exceptionally talented sportsman who played football at a very high level in his younger days, Neil sees clear parallels between the grit, resilience and teamwork forged on the pitch and the attributes which underpin success and contentment in life. It’s these lived experiences, and the people he’s met along the way, which have shaped his belief in the lifelong value of character. 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, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at gamechangers@circle.education, on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil and Adriano via LinkedIn and Twitter. Let’s go!

The Game Changers podcast celebrates those true pioneers in education who are building schools for tomorrow. In episode 200 (Part 2) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Andrew Donnelly & Neil Wolstenholme! Andrew Donnelly has worked in the education sector since 2008 and is driven by a deep passion for transforming how we prepare young people for life beyond the classroom. Convinced that the global education system often fails to serve the true needs of students, he co-founded Kloodle in 2014 to help shift the focus from grades alone to a more holistic view of individual potential. Inspired by Sir Ken Robinson’s renowned TED Talk on creativity in education, Andrew and his co-founders recognised that academic achievement is just one piece of the puzzle. Schools, he believes, have become production lines, churning out students who often lack the self-awareness, creativity, and adaptability required for a fulfilling life and career. Kloodle was created to highlight and value the meaningful experiences young people gain through enrichment, peer interaction, and real-world skill development - what Andrew calls the "transferable skills currency." These are the traits that employers truly value and that enable students to thrive in an unpredictable and fast-changing world. A decade into the journey, Andrew and his team stand on the brink of significant change, backed by a growing community of like-minded educators, employers, and institutions who share the vision of a reimagined education system - one that equips young people not just for exams, but for purpose, happiness, and lifelong success. Neil Wolstenholme has had a long and varied journey across education, business and life. What he’s learned along the way is that it’s not exam results that define a person—it’s their skills, character and how they respond to the challenges they face. For Neil, qualifications are just hoops to jump through; nobody ever asks what A-levels you got when deciding whether you’re kind, dependable or capable. An exceptionally talented sportsman who played football at a very high level in his younger days, Neil sees clear parallels between the grit, resilience and teamwork forged on the pitch and the attributes which underpin success and contentment in life. It’s these lived experiences, and the people he’s met along the way, which have shaped his belief in the lifelong value of character. 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, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at gamechangers@circle.education, on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil and Adriano via LinkedIn and Twitter. Let’s go!

The Game Changers podcast celebrates those true pioneers in education who are building schools for tomorrow. In episode 200 (Part 1) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Andrew Donnelly & Neil Wolstenholme! Andrew Donnelly has worked in the education sector since 2008 and is driven by a deep passion for transforming how we prepare young people for life beyond the classroom. Convinced that the global education system often fails to serve the true needs of students, he co-founded Kloodle in 2014 to help shift the focus from grades alone to a more holistic view of individual potential. Inspired by Sir Ken Robinson’s renowned TED Talk on creativity in education, Andrew and his co-founders recognised that academic achievement is just one piece of the puzzle. Schools, he believes, have become production lines, churning out students who often lack the self-awareness, creativity, and adaptability required for a fulfilling life and career. Kloodle was created to highlight and value the meaningful experiences young people gain through enrichment, peer interaction, and real-world skill development - what Andrew calls the "transferable skills currency." These are the traits that employers truly value and that enable students to thrive in an unpredictable and fast-changing world. A decade into the journey, Andrew and his team stand on the brink of significant change, backed by a growing community of like-minded educators, employers, and institutions who share the vision of a reimagined education system - one that equips young people not just for exams, but for purpose, happiness, and lifelong success. Neil Wolstenholme has had a long and varied journey across education, business and life. What he’s learned along the way is that it’s not exam results that define a person—it’s their skills, character and how they respond to the challenges they face. For Neil, qualifications are just hoops to jump through; nobody ever asks what A-levels you got when deciding whether you’re kind, dependable or capable. An exceptionally talented sportsman who played football at a very high level in his younger days, Neil sees clear parallels between the grit, resilience and teamwork forged on the pitch and the attributes which underpin success and contentment in life. It’s these lived experiences, and the people he’s met along the way, which have shaped his belief in the lifelong value of character. 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, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at gamechangers@circle.education, on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil and Adriano via LinkedIn and Twitter. Let’s go!

The Game Changers podcast celebrates those true pioneers in education who are building schools for tomorrow. In episode 199 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Martin Westwell! Martin was appointed Chief Executive of the Department for Education in April 2022, following a successful 4 years as Chief Executive of the SACE Board. Martin has worked extensively with education systems and other organisations in using evidence to inform policy, practice, innovation and impact in education. He was a Chief Investigator in the national Australian Research Council (ARC) Science of Learning Research Centre, and has worked with UNESCO using evidence to inform strategic planning of education in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2018, Martin received the prestigious Australian Council for Educational Leaders’ (ACEL) Gold Medal, awarded for the most outstanding contribution to the study and practice of educational administration and leadership. In 2007 Martin and his family moved to South Australia where he took the position of inaugural Director of the Flinders Centre for Science Education in the 21st Century and then Strategic Professor in the Science of Learning at Flinders University. Martin completed his degree and PhD at Cambridge University and was a Research Fellow at Lincoln College, Oxford University in biological chemistry. 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, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at gamechangers@circle.education, on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil and Adriano via LinkedIn and Twitter. Let’s go!

The Game Changers podcast celebrates those true pioneers in education who are building schools for tomorrow. In episode 199 (Part 2) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Martin Westwell! Martin was appointed Chief Executive of the Department for Education in April 2022, following a successful 4 years as Chief Executive of the SACE Board. Martin has worked extensively with education systems and other organisations in using evidence to inform policy, practice, innovation and impact in education. He was a Chief Investigator in the national Australian Research Council (ARC) Science of Learning Research Centre, and has worked with UNESCO using evidence to inform strategic planning of education in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2018, Martin received the prestigious Australian Council for Educational Leaders’ (ACEL) Gold Medal, awarded for the most outstanding contribution to the study and practice of educational administration and leadership. In 2007 Martin and his family moved to South Australia where he took the position of inaugural Director of the Flinders Centre for Science Education in the 21st Century and then Strategic Professor in the Science of Learning at Flinders University. Martin completed his degree and PhD at Cambridge University and was a Research Fellow at Lincoln College, Oxford University in biological chemistry. 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, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at gamechangers@circle.education, on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil and Adriano via LinkedIn and Twitter. Let’s go!