Drawing from his own journey as an international PhD student who came to Australia through a Commonwealth scholarship, Professor Skrbiš reflects on the transformative power of education and why universities must continue fighting for their social purpose in an increasingly skeptical world.

The conversation explores ACU’s Vision 2033 strategy, the growing devaluation of higher education in public discourse, the importance of mission-led institutions, and why universities must help shape not simply react to the future of AI and knowledge creation.

At the heart of the episode is a powerful belief that education remains one of society’s most important forces for trust, progress, and human flourishing and that universities must continue defending that role with clarity, courage, and purpose.

Drawing on his background in federal politics and public service, Bill shares the personal experiences that shaped his belief in education as a powerful vehicle for social mobility.

Together, Joel and Bill discuss the barriers that still exist in higher education from over-reliance on ATAR scores to limited pathways for adult learners and why universities must evolve to become more flexible, inclusive, and focused on real student outcomes.

They also dive into the role universities play in strengthening national innovation, the need for more agile learning pathways, and why supporting equity students ultimately benefits society as a whole.

At its core, this conversation asks an important question: how can universities better serve the communities they exist to support?

With more than five years at the helm of one of Australia’s largest regional universities, Professor Klomp has led CQUniversity with a clear and consistent mission: to unlock the potential of regional Australia through equitable access to world-class education and training. His leadership reflects a deep belief that universities are not just places of learning, but critical infrastructure for social mobility, workforce development, and long-term community prosperity.

Together, Joel, Lyndin, and Professor Klomp explore how regional universities like CQUniversity play a transformative role far beyond the classroom supplying skilled workforces for critical industries, driving applied and community-focused research, fueling local economies, and acting as anchor institutions in regions often overlooked by traditional education models.

This episode is a powerful reminder that fixing education doesn’t always start in capital cities—and that regional universities may be some of the most important engines of change in the future of learning.

Renee brings an extraordinary perspective to higher education leadership. A first-in-family university graduate, she has built a distinguished career across senior roles in Commonwealth and state government, including CEO of the Departments of Human Services and Employment. A Menzies Foundation Law Scholar with degrees from ANU and Cambridge, and a recipient of the Public Service Medal, Renee’s journey is a living example of the transformative power of education.

From the outset, Renee reframes the role of a regional university as something far bigger than student enrolments or rankings. Under her leadership, Charles Sturt University positions itself as an anchor institution for regional Australia—educating the nurses, teachers, vets, health professionals, and agricultural leaders who sustain regional communities and largely stay to serve them.

Joel and Renee explore how CSU’s mission extends beyond individual students to the economic, social, and health outcomes of entire regions. From agriculture and climate resilience to regional health equity, Renee explains how CSU deliberately focuses its research on problems that matter—locally grounded, yet nationally and globally relevant.

Rufus brings a rare blend of academic depth, ethical clarity, and real-world leadership. A Rhodes Scholar with degrees spanning law, politics, economics, ethics, and theology, his career has bridged elite academia, public policy, and global consulting, including time as a partner at McKinsey & Company. Yet throughout the conversation, one theme is unmistakable: education is not about institutions, it’s about moral imagination, service, and freedom.

The episode closes with one of the most provocative moments of the series. When asked what he would say to a world leader in education, Rufus calls for global philanthropic capital—on the scale of the world’s largest fortunes to fund radically new educational models, free from slow-moving bureaucratic constraints. It’s a response that reflects the core message of the episode: real change won’t come from protecting institutions, but from being brave enough to disrupt them.

Prior to joining the University of Leeds, Professor Grabill was at Michigan State University (MSU) in the United States for nearly 20 years as the Associate Provost for Teaching, Learning, and Technology.  As Director of the Hub for Innovation in Learning and Technology, he was responsible for facilitating innovation in learning and educator professional development. As a professor of rhetoric and professional writing, his research focuses on how digital writing is associated with citizenship and learning. He is also a co-founder of Drawbridge Incorporated, an educational technology company.

Pascale is one of Australia’s most distinctive higher education leaders. A globally recognised scholar in consumer behaviour and marketing, a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean at the University of Adelaide, and a recipient of France’s National Order of Merit (twice), she brings an uncommon mix of academic credibility, commercial thinking, and fearless clarity to university leadership.

From the outset, Pascale challenges the idea of universities as “vanilla” institutions trying to be everything to everyone. She explains how Swinburne deliberately reclaimed its identity as a university of technology, built around a unifying vision: where people and technology work together for a better world. What followed was not incremental change, but strategic focus—four bold “moonshots,” the courage to say no, and a refusal to invest in work that doesn’t align with Swinburne’s purpose.

Joel and Alex explore his journey from academic breakthroughs to national leadership, and how his vision is shaping the University of Newcastle as a catalyst for social, economic, and community transformation. Driven by a passion for solving big challenges and developing talent, Alex shares how universities can connect research, industry, and community to make a real difference in people’s lives.