I believe that learning is a fundamental human right and that the creation and sharing of knowledge is the foundation of global sustainability.

I know that as one individual I cannot change the world, yet Nelson Mandela’s words “Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world” (1990) remind me that as an educator, every day I CAN and DO contribute positively to the world. My aim is, therefore, to light a fire for evidence-based and lifelong learning that will contribute to a sustainable future.

Through my learning journey, I have come to understand that information and knowledge are not the same, and when learning is appropriately contextualised it can be transformative. Constructivist, transformative, and reflective pedagogical theories, up to date research and collaboration with my health and education networks guide me as I design curriculum that is clearly structured and provides opportunities for individual creativity. I am intentional in nurturing and challenging my students and peers to discover their potential through learning, placing them on the pathway to building the health and wellbeing of individuals and communities. I connect students directly with my professional networks to build their sense of belonging and coach them to be active and consciously involved in their learning, encouraging them to link learning with their values and passions and to translate their learning into their context.

As a leader in my School, I model excellence in learning and teaching, with humility and vulnerability, to support my colleagues in their role as educators. My colleagues are experts in their discipline knowledge, and it is my privilege to walk beside and guide them as they enhance their teaching practices.  Higher education is complex environment, and mistakes, while uncomfortable, provide a profound opportunity for lifelong learning. In my new role as Chair of the Student Academic Appeals Committee at USC, I am guided by my learning and teaching philosophy, and by university policy, to seek natural justice for all students and ensure bona fide graduates. Maya Angelou’s statement; “people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel” motivates me to spend hours planning and designing curriculum that will light a fire of passion for lifelong learning within my students. It prompts me to share my enthusiasm for teaching with my colleagues, and it inspires me in my everyday interactions with students.