Leadership Series: Knox Total Fitness

Matthew Robertson (Deputy Headmaster 7-12 Academics, Senior School) concluded:

“We’ve heard a wonderful reflection that has addressed all elements of the Knox Total Fitness framework. That framework applies across schools and educational sectors worldwide.

Themes like humility, collaboration, self-awareness, the importance of interests that we’ve known and loved, climate, generosity of spirit, reinforcing positives, building growth, shared purpose, vulnerability, resilience, safe environments, listening, supportive leaders, trust, sacrifice, good habits, and sustaining ourselves.

These themes are a wonderful reminder to us all about our role and our purpose as leaders and that we’re all part of something bigger, and that shared enterprise that we engage in.”

Special thanks to our incredible panel members who brought the Knox Total Fitness themes to life:

Dr Adam Hendry – for his insights into cognitive development and educational leadership. Dr Hendry is an academic currently serving as Assistant Principal (Learning) at Parramatta Marist High. He has more than 26 years of experience in education. His work is focused on educational leadership and conceptual knowledge assessment, including contributions to techniques like the Concept Retrieval Technique (CRT).

Ms Melinda Phillips – for her compassionate perspective on social-emotional wellbeing. Melinda is a psychologist, researcher and teacher with over 20 years’ experience supporting schools. She established Compassionate Schools which offers education to enable school leaders to foster safe and effective workplaces. Melinda is currently undertaking a PhD exploring the psychosocial workplace conditions that enhance or buffer school-life’s impacts on staff wellbeing and engagement. Melinda has taught K-12 and held roles at headspace schools/Be You; the Association of Independent Schools of NSW; Good Grief Ltd, now MacKillop Seasons, and worked in Catholic Education with the Diocese of Parramatta.

Reverend Dr Rosalie Clarke MacLarty – for her grounding reflections on spirituality and support. Rev Rose is the Senior Chaplain of the Knox Chaplaincy Team. She commenced at Knox in January 2023 and helps navigate the relationship between the Uniting Church and the School, as well as lead the chaplaincy team. As an ordained Uniting Church minister, she provides spiritual and social/emotional support to staff and students in times of crisis. Rev Rose has oversight of the faith and spirituality at Knox in the traditions and ethos of the Uniting Church in Australia.

Mr William Yang (OKG16) – for his powerful story of physical resilience and perseverance. William is an Olympic swimmer, entrepreneur and speaker. He has represented Australia at the Olympic Games, World Championships, and the Commonwealth Games. He won silver at Paris 2024 and gold at every other major international competition. His journey has been marked by significant adversity, making his comeback to the world stage a testament to perseverance and mental toughness. After graduating from Knox, William studied Design and Architecture before founding NEWPB (New Personal Best), a lifestyle brand supplying premium sports apparel to athletes, schools and clubs.

Mr Nick McArdle – for masterfully moderating the discussion with warmth and wisdom. Nick’s career spans more than three decades in Australian media across radio and television. He has hosted and reported on numerous Olympics and Paralympics, Rugby and Cricket World Cups, Ashes tours, Grand Slam tennis tournaments and World Alpine Ski Championships. Most often you’ll see him fronting Nine and Stan Sport Rugby, however when he’s not on TV, Nick’s passions include his charity work as an Ambassador for the Humpty Dumpty Foundation, the Hornsby Ku-ring-gai Women’s Shelter, Brothers IV Brothers Cancer Charity and the Fight Duchenne Foundation.