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Kylie Speer (00:00:00) Hello and welcome to The Educator TV. I’m Kylie Speer, and joining me today is Dr. Adrian Camm, Principal and Managing Director at Westbourne Grammar School. Adrian has been named one of the winners of The Educator’s Most Influential Educators for 2025. Congratulations, Adrian. It’s lovely to see you again, and thank you so much for joining us. 

Dr. Adrian Camm (00:00:29) Hi Kylie, great to see you again, and thanks very much for the opportunity. 

Kylie Speer (00:00:34) You’ve been recognized as one of Australia’s most influential educators. What does influence mean to you, how do you use it, and what responsibilities does it come with? 

Dr. Adrian Camm (00:00:49) For me, influence is about shaping conversations, setting direction, shifting systems, and empowering others by opening doors. I see influence as a responsibility—one that involves challenging the status quo, advocating for our profession, and reimagining what’s possible for today’s learners. 

For too long, teachers and schools have been blamed for what’s wrong in society. I want to shift that narrative by championing teachers and schools, and by telling positive stories about the great work happening every day. 

At Westbourne Grammar, I’m proud of how our students, staff, and parents have come together in our mission to make an already great school even better. Influence, for me, is about sending out a clear signal that cuts through the noise. 

Kylie Speer (00:01:50) What experiences in principalship or life have contributed most to your growth and development as a leader? 

Dr. Adrian Camm (00:01:59) I think growth often comes less from successes and more from challenges or moments of discomfort—whether that’s leading through a crisis, navigating community trauma, receiving critical feedback, or, in our case right now, managing rapid growth and expansion. 

Sometimes it’s also the quieter moments that shape you—a conversation with a student that shifts your perspective, a board decision that sets a new direction, or empowering a teacher to try something new and seeing them redefine learning in their classroom. 

Over time, I’ve learned that leadership isn’t about having all the answers. It’s about asking better questions and listening deeply to what comes next. 

Kylie Speer (00:03:06) Your leadership has been described as transformative. How do you define transformative leadership, and what initiatives at Westbourne reflect that? 

Dr. Adrian Camm (00:03:21) Transformative leadership, to me, is the courage to lead from possibility rather than preservation. At Westbourne, transformation has meant reimagining everything from strategic planning to staff development to the student learning experience. 

Some initiatives include best-in-class AI programs, the launch of our Echoes and Dialogs program—which redefines values and character education—and embedding future-focused thinking into learning design and environments. 

Transformation isn’t a one-off; it’s a mindset. It means listening deeply to your community, clarifying what will and won’t change, and being transparent about the why, how, and when. For me as principal, it starts with modeling curiosity, compassion, conviction, and dedication every day. 

Kylie Speer (00:04:48) One of the big changes you’ve introduced is replacing traditional chapel with Echoes and Dialogs. What inspired that shift, and what impact do you think it will have? 

Dr. Adrian Camm (00:05:04) This was inspired by a faith and spirituality review we conducted in 2023, reflecting the diversity of our community—over 70 nationalities and 35 religious backgrounds. We realized it no longer made sense to focus on a single faith tradition. 

Echoes and Dialogs, now in its second year, is underpinned by ethics and philosophy. Students engage in Socratic questioning, Platonic dialogues, rigorous debate, and collaborative knowledge-building around current and emerging issues. 

It reflects who we are today: a global, inclusive community. The aim is to foster moral imagination, philosophical inquiry, and ethical reasoning. We want to shape students who are not only academically strong, but also culturally aware, ethically grounded, and ready to lead in a diverse world. 

Kylie Speer (00:07:25) Your work often balances bold innovation with a focus on humanity. How do you ensure that technological advancements remain grounded in the human experience? 

Dr. Adrian Camm (00:07:40) It’s critical that we maintain agency over technology, rather than becoming passive consumers. At Westbourne, we embrace AI, data, and machine learning, because these will be central to our students’ futures. Those who can understand and create technology will be better equipped than those who cannot. 

But while we drive productivity and innovation, we also remain deeply human-centered. For us, the future of education isn’t just digital—it’s profoundly human. 

Kylie Speer (00:08:59) Westbourne Grammar has become a national exemplar under your leadership. What are the key elements of creating a school culture that drives excellence? 

Dr. Adrian Camm (00:09:13) It starts with people. Our greatest asset is our staff, so we invest in them. At Westbourne, we’ve built a culture where high expectations meet high trust. Innovation is encouraged from the top down and the bottom up. 

But alongside innovation, we emphasize kindness, empathy, and care—because we never know what someone may be going through. Our strategies are compelling, our storytelling aligns people, and our culture grows through distributed leadership where staff feel seen, heard, and valued. 

The real “secret” is simple: hire the best people, trust them, invest in them, and give them a seat at the table. 

Kylie Speer (00:10:24) You’ve redefined staff wellbeing and professional growth at Westbourne. Why is investing in educators so critical, and how do your programs differ from others? 

Dr. Adrian Camm (00:10:38) Because people are our greatest asset, staff growth has to be a strategic priority. From leadership development programs to wellbeing initiatives, we take a personalized, human-centered, and systemic approach. 

Over 150 staff have completed a bespoke six-month leadership program, which is already shaping practice across the school. We also reduced face-to-face teaching hours to just 16.7 per week—some of the lowest in the sector—and reviewed our policies to create the best conditions possible. 

On top of that, we’ve introduced on-site health services, a personal trainer, gym access, and even practical supports like dry-cleaning. These initiatives reduce workload, improve work-life balance, and ensure staff feel valued. 

Kylie Speer (00:13:51) Finally, how do you stay ahead of the curve in an environment that changes so rapidly? 

Dr. Adrian Camm (00:13:59) I stay curious. I read widely, ask questions, and listen to people smarter than me. I don’t pretend to have all the answers—no one does. 

To lead for the future, we also need to be students of the past, so we can prepare for a range of scenarios. I keep learning, remain open, and let a bias toward action guide me. The day I think I’ve figured it all out is probably the day I should retire. 

Kylie Speer (00:14:53) We hope that doesn’t happen anytime soon! 

Dr. Adrian Camm (00:15:00) Me too! 

Kylie Speer (00:15:02) Thank you so much for your time today, Adrian. Congratulations again—it’s always inspiring to speak with you. 

Dr. Adrian Camm (00:15:11) Thanks, Kylie. I really enjoyed the conversation. 

Kylie Speer (00:15:16) And thank you to our viewers for watching this episode of The Educator TV. We look forward to seeing you again soon.