Describe yourself in three words or phrases.
Organised, calm and approachable.
I’ve always believed that good leadership starts with being consistent and available for people, whether that’s students, families or colleagues.
What do you like most about your job?
It’s the opportunity to make a real difference to families’ lives.
I love seeing students thrive, especially those who may not have flourished in a traditional school setting. I also enjoy working alongside talented, forward-thinking educators who are helping to shape what education can look like in the future. Every day feels a little different, and there is always something new to learn.
Describe a project or initiative you’re currently working on that excites you.
One initiative I’m particularly excited about is our mentored pathway program.
While many students thrive with the flexibility and independence that online learning offers, some benefit from additional structure and guidance. Through the program, students are paired with a dedicated mentor who supports them with organisation, motivation and accountability throughout their learning journey.
What excites me most is that it allows us to provide an even more personalised experience for families while helping students develop the skills and confidence they need to succeed.
What’s a piece of work you’re proud of – and what did it teach you?
I’m particularly proud of the work we’ve done over the last few years to expand our social activities programme, both online and in person.
One of the biggest misconceptions about online education is that students miss out on social experiences. We’ve worked hard to create a wide range of opportunities for students to connect, build friendships and develop a sense of belonging.
What this taught me is that there is no such thing as a one-size-fits-all approach. Every child and every family is different, so offering choice and flexibility is often the key to creating meaningful experiences.
What’s a small daily habit that helps you in your work?
I try to keep the first part of every morning free from meetings.
That time allows me to prepare for the day, check in with my team, respond to anything urgent and think about where my attention is needed most. It helps me start the day proactively rather than reactively.
What’s one change you’d like to see in your sector over the next few years?
I’d like to see greater awareness and understanding of high-quality online education.
Even now, many families don’t realise that a fully online school can provide a rich, engaging and academically rigorous education. Greater awareness would help more families find the option that best suits their child’s needs, circumstances and ambitions.
What idea, book, podcast or conversation has stayed with you recently?
Many of the conversations I’ve been having recently have centred on artificial intelligence and education.
What’s stayed with me isn’t the technology itself, but the question of how we use it wisely. AI has enormous potential to support learning and reduce administrative workload, but the real challenge is making sure we don’t lose the human relationships that sit at the heart of great teaching. I suspect that balance will be one of the defining conversations in education over the next decade.
What’s one piece of advice you’d give to someone starting out in this field?
Keep learning.
I’ve always liked the saying that you can have 40 years of experience, or one year of experience repeated 40 times. The best educators and leaders stay curious, keep developing and never assume they’ve got everything figured out.
And always remember why you’re doing it. If you keep students at the centre of your decisions, you’ll rarely go far wrong.
