Credible friend, credible threat: Leadership in a politicised world with Graham Catt, CEO, Independent Schools Australia (Ep. 186)

In this episode of The Independent School Podcast, Juliet Corbett is joined by Graham Catt, Chief Executive Officer of Independent Schools Australia (ISA) - the national peak body representing over 1,200 independent schools across Australia.

In this conversation, they explore what it means for school leaders to operate inside a national policy and advocacy environment, and how leaders can influence decisions when education becomes increasingly politicised.

Together they explore:

• The difference between representation and advocacy

• The idea of being both a credible friend and a credible threat

• Why evidence alone is rarely enough to shift political decisions

• What it takes to lead effectively when you don’t have formal authority

• Why building relational capital - a “bucket of capital” - is essential before you try to spend it

This episode is for you if you’re a senior leader navigating forces beyond your school gates, seeking to understand how influence works at sector level, and reflecting on how to lead when authority alone isn’t enough.

Episode links

Positivity, complexity and leadership with Julie Robinson (Ep. 178)

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