109 | The Ever Evolving Role of a Principal with Chris Duncan, CEO - Australian Heads of Independent Schools Association

In this episode of the Ed Leaders podcast, Luke Callier and Mathew Irving are joined by Chris Duncan, CEO of the Association of Heads of Independent Schools of Australia (AHISA). Chris shares his extensive experience in education leadership, including his pivotal role in transitioning Pulteney Grammar to co-education and serving as principal at Lindisfarne Anglican Grammar School for a decade.  

They discuss the evolving challenges of school leadership, including managing governance, risk, and community expectations. Chris emphasizes the importance of values-based education, effective change management, and building strong board relationships. He also highlights the growing need for ethical leadership, neuroscience-informed teaching practices, and fostering civility within school communities.  

Listen now for actionable insights into effective school leadership, and visit AHISA’s website or connect with the Ed Leaders team on LinkedIn for updates and resources.

Highlights:

• Chris Duncan’s career journey, including his leadership roles and contributions to governance training.  

• AHISA’s role in strengthening professional networks and advocating for values-based education.  

• Strategies for effective change management and evidence-based decision-making in schools.  

• Key insights on principal-board relationships and the importance of risk management.  

• Challenges facing school leaders, including increased accountability and the impact of social media on school communities.  

• The role of neuroscience and ethical leadership in shaping the future of education.  

You can also connect with us personally at LinkedIn:

Luke Callier - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/ljcallier/⁠

Mathew Irving - ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/mathew-irving-b6b91430/

Guest Links:

Website: https://www.ahisa.edu.au/

Special thanks to our partners:

People Bench - https://peoplebench.com.au/

Paperly - https://paperly.education/

Head on over to edleaders.com.au to hear more about our journey. If you'd like to know more about being a guest or would like to sponsor our show - check out https://www.edleaders.com.au/collabs

As always if you have questions, feedback, or a suggestion from a leader you'd like to hear from - send us a message! Please remember if you have a spare minute, please leave us a review on iTunes or your favorite podcast player which will help more like-minded school leaders discover us.

Go Well.