Dr Kristy Goodwin is on a mission to help school leaders reclaim their cognitive agency in an increasingly complex digital landscape. As primary principals strive to fulfill the conference’s core vision of Impact and Agency, Kristy provides the essential neurobiological blueprint to ensure that leading a school doesn’t require “paying an entrance fee” of burnout and chronic stress.
A former educator with experience across NSW Department of Education schools and independent schools in both Australia and Asia, and a researcher with a PhD on the impact of digital technologies, Kristy understands the unique, high-pressure environment of Australian primary schools. She translates sophisticated neuroscience into practical, “brain-based” solutions that allow senior executives and school leaders to leverage Artificial Intelligence and digital tools as accelerators for productivity, rather than sources of digital exhaustion.
The recipient of a post-doctoral award for her research on technologies and neuroscience, Kristy spent 14 years in the classroom before transitioning into her career as an academic, neuro-performance scientist, and professional speaker, bringing rare, frontline credibility to her evidence-based work. She arms APPA delegates with strategies to decode the neuroscience of peak-performance, empowering principals to strengthen their professional Voice by mastering their “high-res” self: optimising efficiency, communication and collaboration. By working with rather than against their neurobiology, leaders can drive both school-wide excellence and personal wellbeing.
An award-winning author of Dear Digital, We Need to Talk and Raising Your Child in a Digital World, and a regular media commentator, Kristy’s work ensures that our nation’s primary leaders are not just “switched on,” but truly “powered up” to lead their communities with sustainable energy and clear vision.