Gavin McCormack - Educating with love
Gavin McCormack is a co-founder of Upschool, a platform that empowers students to learn real entrepreneurship skills that have real impact.
Hello! I am Gavin McCormack, a co-founder of Upschool.co, a platform that empowers students to learn real entrepreneurship skills that have real impact. With over 20 years of experience as a Montessori-trained teacher, I have taught in multiple countries and developed a passion for innovative educational practices that foster essential skills in students from an early age.
I am also the Montessori Australia Ambassador and a TEDx speaker on how education can change the world. I have built nine schools and several libraries and run three teacher training centres in Nepal. I am a best-selling author of children's books and a book on Montessori education for parents. I have been recognized as one of the top ten most influential global educators in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022 and a nominee for Australian of the Year in 2018. You can learn more about my personal pedagogy and educational philosophy at www.gavinmccormack.com.au.
I am always open to collaborating with schools and educators worldwide to share my expertise on programming, classroom management, and pedagogy. Feel free to connect with me to learn more about how we can work together to bring about positive change in the education sector.
'In the ideal classroom, love is the silent lesson always being taught. It is not spoken of as much as it is shown, felt, and understood. It is the light that guides children on their path to finding their voice, and once found, to using it with the surety that comes from knowing they are loved, without conditions, without pause.'
Socials
Website: upschool.co
Website: www.gavinmccormack.com.au
LinkedIn: Gavin McCormack
FB: Education by Gavin McCormack
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Cherie Smirl - Empowering through One Love Tanzania
Cherie Smirl is the founder of the NFP One Love Tanzania, empowering personal development goals and better education.
Since Cherie Smirl’s first volunteering experience in Tanzania in 2013, the failure of the Government’s education system to deliver has been a driving factor in her work to break the cycle of inter-generational poverty in the country. One Love Tanzania is dedicated to encouraging personal development goals, fostering self belief and promoting better classroom practice, all integral to bringing hope through Education…..better Education.
Today, One Love Tanzania is financially responsible for the educational welfare of 8 individual children in a range of Government and Non Government schools and Technical vocations, Cherie’s long term students for 11 years now. Supporting a young Muslim boy from a desperately poor background to fulfil his dream to become a doctor, is a proud and immensely fulfilling current undertaking.
Teaming with in country NGO’s opens doors to creative opportunities to impact young lives through a raft of vocational and recreational workshops…ranging from health and wellbeing to expressing themselves through art mediums.
Through mentoring qualified young, but yet to be employed, local teachers and financially supporting them to volunteer in poorly staffed schools creates opportunities to improve classroom practices in an education system hamstrung by over sized classes, poor resources and outdated curriculum. Positive changes are seen daily in both teacher and student attitudes.
One Love Tanzania is a huge advocate for self-growth through entrepreneurialism and especially liaises with skilled women artisans in the country to develop jewellery, small homewares and artworks to appeal on the Australian market. Providing both an ethical fund base for the NFP, and encouraging a sustainable income for women incredibly skilled at their craft, but with little knowledge of converting that craft to a worthwhile livelihood.
One Love Tanzania has been collaborating with the children from Tumaini for Africa Children’s Centre for 11 years to improve living conditions at the centre through the sale of their handicrafts. Guided by the Mamas at the centre and influenced by their tribal background, the children create sophisticated beaded jewellery pieces in the knowledge they are actively enhancing their own futures.
Socials
Website: www.OneLoveTanzania.com
Insta: One Love Tanzania @one_love_tanzania_
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Nicky Miklos-Woodley and Vanessa Medling - Inspiring healthy hustle
Nicky Miklos-Woodley and Vanessa Medling joined forces to create ‘Business Together’, supporting businesses to move from chaos to clarity. They are also the authors of ‘Healthy Hustle’.
Nicky and Ness are seasoned business leaders and coaches, dedicated to transforming the way business owners approach growth and success. With over fifty years of combined experience in leadership, sales, and coaching, they bring a wealth of knowledge and a unique perspective to the table. Both have successfully run coaching businesses since 2015, and together they co-founded Business Together, a business that helps business owners break free from the relentless cycle of busy and build businesses by design.
In 2024, Nicky and Ness co-authored Healthy Hustle: The New Blueprint to Thrive in Business and Life, a game-changing guide for business owners looking to achieve success without sacrificing their well-being. The book challenges the outdated notion that success requires relentless hustle, offering practical strategies for smart business growth, peak performance, and creating time freedom. With real-life stories and actionable tools, Healthy Hustle helps business leaders step away from the chaotic grind and embrace a more sustainable, balanced approach to thriving in both business and life .
Together, Nicky and Ness offer their clients the unique advantage of tapping into not just one, but two seasoned business minds. They specialise in helping established, service-based businesses move from chaos to clarity, giving business owners and leaders the time freedom they crave. Their approach is grounded in practical wisdom and real-world experience, ensuring that their clients not only succeed but thrive.
Nicky and Ness are also the hosts of the podcast ‘Smart Business Growth’
If you’re into the formal stuff, you might like to know that both Nicky and Ness are accredited in eDISC Behavioral Profiling, are Meta Dynamics Level 3 Practitioners of Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP), and are qualified Professional Coaches and Facilitators.
Socials
Website (consulting business): https://businesstogether.com.au/
Website (Book): https://healthyhustle.com.au
Podcast Smart Business Growth
LinkedIn: Nicky Miklos-Woodley
LinkedIn: Vanessa Medling
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Rosalind Cardinal - Shaping change for leaders
Rosalind Cardinal is the creator of the Women’s Leadership Archetype’s model, and is the author of The Resilient Employee.
When she was growing up, Ros wanted to be a vet or a scientist, but her fascination with human behaviour and neuroscience led her to a career in organisational development, specialising in improving business outcomes by developing individuals, teams, and organisations.
After more than 20 years in corporate human resources and organisational development roles, a successful battle with cancer gave Ros the nudge to take her passion for transforming leaders and improving how individuals and organisations cope with change in a new direction.
Leaving her senior corporate role in 2012, Ros established her consulting business, Shaping Change, to achieve her goals.
Ros is a solution and results-oriented facilitator, with expertise spanning strategic planning, leadership development, organisational culture, change management, emotional intelligence and employee engagement.
She is also a talented and multi-award-winning executive and leadership coach, with coaching clients at executive and senior levels in Government agencies, private enterprise, and the community sector.
In 2016, Ros felt compelled to look deeply at the differences in the leadership styles of men and women. The result was the Women’s Leadership Archetypes model, now being used worldwide by women to discover how they can better leverage their natural strengths to lead with purpose, authenticity, and integrity. In 2022 Ros was recognised with a World of Difference Award by the International Alliance for Women (TIAW) for this work. Ros now licences other women coaches, facilitators, mentors, and trainers to use the WLA in their work, creating a ripple effect across the globe.
Ros is a blogger and the author of The Resilient Employee. In addition, she contributes regular articles to Leaders in Heels, The Huffington Post, and People Development magazine.
Socials
Website (consulting business): https://www.shapingchange.com.au/
Website (Women’s Leader Archetypes): https://www.womensleaderarchetypes.com.au/
LinkedIn: Rosalind Cardinal
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Lauren Murphy - Capturing the gold in emotive moments
Lauren Murphy deeply values human connection and adores capturing emotive moments through photography.
Let’s just start this with a confession. I’m deeply in love with photography. And this love affair started young, as a kid growing up in a small regional town in Victoria. I used to pour over the pictures in the National Geographic—those photos were my window to the wider world. They showed me the power of a single image to connect people across cultures, continents and time.
My fascination with images grew after my grandparents lost everything, photo albums included, in the Ash Wednesday bushfire. It was such a huge loss, and growing up without access to those family stories made me realise how important photography is to engage us with our history. Since then, I’ve felt a deep responsibility to document our stories so nothing is forgotten.
This eventually led me to found Lauren Murphy Photography in 2013 while also working as the staff photographer at the Warragul and Drouin Gazette. Eight years later, it’s a busy photography studio specialising in compelling, authentic portrait and documentary-style imagery for people and brands across Melbourne, the Gippsland and Warragul region, and beyond.
While I’ve had a camera attached to my hip in some form or another since high school, I also credit my time as a social worker supporting the refugee community for five years (along with my full-time role as a mother) for informing the way I approach my photography clients every day—with compassion, empathy and a desire for honest connection.
It matters to me that people feel truly themselves in their photos—empowered, confident and ready to tell their story. This pushes me to understand the real person, find the beauty in them and share it with the world. And what a gift that is!
The first day I launched my business it was vital for me to have my values ingrained in what I do. I will always welcome people of any age, gender, sexual identity, and cultural background. Our world is made beautiful by diversity, the more we can embrace it the better.
I also wish to acknowledge the current Elders in my local community and thank them for being able to follow my dreams on the tribal lands of the Bratowoloong people. I pay my respects to their Elders both past and present and look forward to potential collaborations with the Kurnai community. My studio is not just for me, it’s grown into much bigger things with the MAST.
Socials
Website: https://www.laurenmurphyphotography.com.au/
LinkedIn: Lauren Murphy
Insta: Lauren Murphy Photography @laurenmurphyphotography
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Audra Agen - Bringing women to the arena
Audra Agen is the Founder, Host and Chief Inspiration Officer of the ‘Women in the Arena’ Podcast, celebrating women who contribute significant value.
Audra Agen is the Founder, Host and Chief Inspiration Officer of the ‘Women in the Arena’ Podcast.
As a corporate veteran, Audra has 25 years’ experience of being one of the few women in the room, and in many cases, the only one. While the women may have been outnumbered, they were all uniquely exceptional. She became fascinated learning more about them and their experiences. It became increasingly clear that these women were contributing significant value to their organizations, families and careers. Their contributions were either being taken for granted or overlooked, sometimes even by themselves. Audra aspired to change that; from that, Women in the Arena was created. It’s a platform unlike any other- it’s a celebration.
Socials:
Website: https://womeninthearena.net/
LinkedIn: Audra Agen
LinkedIn: Women In The Arena Podcast
Insta: womeninthearenapodcast @womeninthearenapodcast
Youtube: Women In The Arena Podcast
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Kerryn Vaughan - Switching guilt for rest
Guilt has the worst energy, and even though we know that, we still fall victim to the narrative around letting people down.
It’s amazing how often we feel guilty about something and we let it consume us. It’s even worse when you’ve created a narrative in your own mind about letting people down and not living up to the expectations of others. Yes, I teach this stuff, but yet I am human. Sometimes it’s absolutely OK to put your own needs first and fill up YOUR cup in order to serve more people. If only we could remember that more often!
Tiffanee Cook - Piffing the small talk
Tiffanee Cook is a dynamic force in the worlds of boxing, coaching, podcasting, and speaking, driven by a passion to understand why some people thrive after life’s challenges.
Tiffanee Cook is a dynamic force in the worlds of boxing, coaching, podcasting, and speaking, driven by a passion to understand why some people thrive after life’s challenges.
As a boxer and coach, her experiences shape her insightful approach to personal development.
Her podcast is a rich tapestry of narratives, where she explores a range of topics - from mindset and adversity to neuroscience and resilience. She blends personal stories with scientific research, offering listeners diverse perspectives on human potential and growth.
As a certified coach and personal trainer, Tiffanee is dedicated to guiding her clients towards holistic well-being, addressing mental, physical, and emotional health. She helps them unravel the stories and behaviours that limit their potential, advocating for a balanced and fulfilling life.
Tiffanee sees life as a grand boxing ring, embracing a philosophy of resilience and adaptability. Her message is clear:
'Let's embrace life's challenges and roll with the punches!’
Socials
Website: https://www.rollwiththepunches.com.au/
LinkedIn: Tiffanee Cook
Insta: Roll With The Punches Podcast @rollwiththepunches_podcast
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Kerryn Vaughan - Drawing the line
There’s a misconception that we have to be perfect, and that if we behave in an undesirable way then we’re not leaders. The truth is, we all fall below the line. What matters is how long we stay there.
It seems we’re always quick to judge or blame others, and just as quick to sit in denial or to justify our position. Often, even when we know we are in the wrong! But how often are we accountable for our words and actions? And do we take responsibility for things that need to sit with us? What about owning up when we make a mistake. The latter are all things that sit above the metaphorical line, and being above the line helps us to perform better and build stronger relationships. But is it OK to go below the line?
Kerryn Vaughan - Finding happiness in a box
Are we living our lives compromising or contributing to our wellbeing? And how is it that we could find happiness in a box?
Happiness is that elusive thing we all chase, but what does it actually mean? What if we replaced that never-ending search with celebration and seeking moments of joy. Those things that bring us energy, put a smile on our dial, and fill our cups. What then, are we doing that is compromising our happiness and our opportunity to find those moments of joy, and can we do more of the things that are contributing to our wellbeing?
Mention:
Kerryn Vaughan - Identity and authenticity
Most of us walk around all day with a mask on, pretending to be something we’re not. What would we do that and who is under the mask?
What if we could live our lives for ourselves, and not living to please the expectations of others? Do we even know what that would look like? The number one regret of the dying, according to author Bronnie Ware, is “I wish I’d had the courage to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me”. When we know what we stand for and what values drive us, we have more confidence to stand in our space and assert and manage our own lives the way we want it to be. Ultimately we want to go to bed at night and sleep with ourselves and like who we are. This level of peace can only be found through authenticity and the courage to truly be ourselves.
Kerryn Vaughan - Exploring emotions
What if we could identify what’s beneath the surface in relation to emotions that make us feel crappy? But are we prepared to do the hard work that really hurts in order to get to that place of peace?
We all have emotions and they are actually a great thing. Emotions are often labelled positive and negative because of the way they make us feel, but all emotions serve a wonderful purpose - to motivate us to take action to avoid or gain. All emotions come with a physical sensation, thoughts, and a behaviour. When we get an emotional charge, we can choose to suppress, react or respond. The good news is, we always have the choice.
Kerryn Vaughan - Challenging the fear of failure
What if we could overcome the fear of failure? What if we did push through the self doubt and negative narrative and we did that thing, and we succeeded?
Fear of failure is a very real thing and impacts almost all of us. But what if we pushed past that fear and took a risk to do something important to us? That’s where growth lives, and satisfaction, and confidence. We allow our beliefs and past experiences to determine what we try into the future and so many incredible dreams are never brought to life because of that fear. We miss grand opportunities and can end up chronically sick simply because we allow fear to paralyse us. But what if we put one foot in front of the other and tip toed in to see if we might actually succeed?
Kerryn Vaughan - Zen outside of the comfort zone
What happens when we step outside of our comfort zone? Usually magic! But why is it we are so reluctant to actually take a chance? Zen found outside the walls of safety has a definite sweet spot.
This week my partner and I went to Metung Hot Springs. We booked it couple of months ago thinking it would be great to go in winter as the outside temperature would be freezing but it would be lovely and warm in the hot pools. However, we didn’t take into account that it might bucket down rain, because it is winter, and that we might actually decide to sit in the car at Metung, chomping on a pie while watching the pelicans rather than immerse ourselves in the geo-thermal pools. What we needed was a big attitude change and a different story to tell ourselves.
Kerryn Vaughan - Just behave yourself
We all want peace in our lives and we all want that one challenging person to behave. But in order to have that, we need to change first.
Challenging behaviour is something we all face, not only due to another person’s behaviour, but also our own. None of us are perfect and we all produce triggers that set off other people’s hot buttons. But what’s under the behaviour? Before we go judging and criticising others, and pointing our fingers at them believing we are in the right and they are dysfunctional, maybe we need to understand what drives behaviour and how our own interpretations and perspectives assist us, rightly or wrongly, in determining if a behaviour os good or bad. Some great tips in this one as well as an empathy activity at the end.
Justin ‘Jonesy’ Jones - Daring to live the dream
Justin Jones, otherwise affectionately known as Jonesy, is one of Australia’s pre-eminent explorers, keynote speakers, adventure thinkers and storytellers
Justin Jones, otherwise affectionately known as Jonesy, is one of Australia’s pre-eminent explorers, keynote speakers, adventure thinkers and storytellers.
Over the past 19 years he has made a career of undertaking huge, epic, record setting expeditions around the world and sharing these on the stage and on screen. To date he’s spoken to over 350,000 people in 20 countries around the world and millions have watched his award winning documentaries.
He’s kayaked across the Tasman Sea from Australia to New Zealand, become the first to ski to the South Pole and back and walked across the Australian Outback with his one year old daughter. He currently holds two Guinness World Records and holds a place as one of Australia’s 50 Greatest Explorers of all time, all achieved before his thirties!
A gloriously ordinary bloke… he is the perfect example of how determination, detailed planning and foresight can enable the most ‘normal’ of us to undertake the most extraordinary feats.
Socials
Website: https://justinjonesy.com/
Website: https://adventurethinking.com/
LinkedIn: Justin Jones
Insta: Jonesy @justonrjonesy
Youtube: Adventure Thinking
Vimeo: Justin Jonesy
Crossing the Outback: Expedition Parenthood - Documentary Trailer
Lessons from the edge - Day 7 Antarctica
The Justin Jonesy Presentation Experience
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Kellie Eddy - Finding purpose in weddings and funerals
Kellie Eddy is a Civil Celebrant who knows how to bring meaning and purpose to the role, and is especially keen to make funerals a very special occasion.
Kellie Eddy is a Civil Celebrant of 6 and a half years, based in Gippsland. She specialises in weddings, funerals and MC’ing events. Kellie has developed a fresh approach to sharing stories celebrating both life and love.
A mother to two little ones and a Step Mum to a teen. After a decade and a half of trying pursuing different career paths; from Education, Employment to a singing Pizza Van owner she has now settled into a full time career within the Celebrant industry.
Socials:
Website: https://www.kellieeddy.com/
FB: Kellie Eddy Civil Marriage Celebrant
Insta - Weddings: Gippsland Marriage Celebrant @kellie.eddycc
Insta - Funerals: Kellie Eddy Funeral Celebrant @kellie.eddyfunerals
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Kerryn Vaughan - Setting boundaries around self-love
Self love requires many things, but acceptance and setting boundaries are a great place to start.
Self-love is really hard for so many. But where do we start, and how can we start with something that is achievable and believable? Because if deep down we don’t believe we deserve it, we struggle to attain it. And what about affirmations? Do they work? Starting with setting boundaries is something most people can do and it can work.
Mitch Nivalis - Equalling the Contest for gender diversity
Mitch Nivalis is a filmmaker and photographer with a commitment to social change, particularly around inclusion and visibility for diverse communities. Mitch is also the creator of the film ‘Equal The Contest’.
Mitch Nivalis (they/them) is a filmmaker and photographer with a commitment to social change, particularly around inclusion and visibility for diverse communities. Their recently completed Master of Arts Photography was the impetus for the ground breaking feature documentary film Equal the Contest, the story of the Mt Alexander Falcon's fight for inclusion in community AFL. Mitch is part of the 2024 Change our Game women in sports media program. In their spare time they are a volunteer firefighter and play footy for the Mt Alexander Falcons on Djaara Country.
Socials:
Website: https://equalthecontest.au/
Insta: equalthecontest
Website: https://mdpphotovideo.com.au/
Insta: Mitch Nivalis @mdpphotovideo
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Karina Murray - The art of backing yourself
Karina Murray is the Founder & CEO Aunua Global/ Enterprise. After 9 years away from work and raising children, she decided to back herself and follow her passion.
Karina Murray is the Founder & CEO Aunua Global/ Enterprise, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist. Humanitarian and Youth Advocate.
She’s an Ambassador, an Advocate, and an Innovator and these are the roles that she plays with great success. Her inspiration to bring Aunua to life was inspired by her own fears for her children’s future and the uncertainty that lies ahead for all children. Karina, has been working relentlessly to develop an entire ecosystem to help support young people on their personal development journey by offering them a roadmap to help navigate better as she believes they are the catalysts for change. Aunua are growing their community and with their innovative youth ambassadors and global tribe and together they thrive towards addressing many of our world challenges.
Karina’s, culmination of a lifetime’s worth of experience kicked into place when she discovered her new sense of purpose in her mid-forties after a long 9-year career break whilst raising her two wonderful children, in her quest to discover a new path forward, she gave birth to her new baby AUNUA “meaning A New You in Irish” highlights of which include: - presenter and media personality on her own weekly Aunua show on Together FM. -Qualified and accredited NLP practitioner. -Scholarship winner and attendee at The Entrepreneurs’ Institute in Bali. -Founding member of the Genius School, affiliated with Roger James Hamilton’s movement aiming to ‘Ignite The Genius In Every Child’. - Ambassador with Belouga, a social learning platform that has been featured in Forbes and the BBC. - Executive director for the Impactoverse – Metaverse of Impact. - Board of experts for CELD- Centre for Economic & Leadership Development, empowering girls and women. - Board of experts for The Green Pillar – Climate change education.
Karina, is now on a crusade to expand and invigorate the Aunua Global community, and she welcomes new conversations with anyone interested in becoming part of her story.
Socials:
Website: https://aunuaglobal.org/
Website: https://aunuaenterprise.eu/
LinkedIn: Karina Murray
Youtube: Aunua Global
FB: Aunua Global
Insta: Aunua Global @aunuaglobal
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