Rex J Lipman Fellows Program

Across two days, Dame Jacinda shared her reflections with our community through a public lecture, a Junior School presentation, a donor event and a Senior School presentation, where she was interviewed by our School Captains.

Throughout her visit, Dame Jacinda reflected on the stereotypes and biases that have often shaped public expectations of leaders and on her own experience challenging convention through a style of leadership that was deeply human, values-based and caring.

Her reflections also connected with Strong and Lovely, drawn from our School Prayer. Dame Jacinda spoke warmly about this ideal and the strength found in holding courage and compassion together. For our students, her visit was a reminder that true leadership requires courage, care and a clear sense of values.

Dame Jacinda’s generosity and candour left a lasting impression on our community, encouraging our students to consider the kind of leaders they wish to become and the society they wish to help shape.

Australia’s first professionally trained astronaut, Katherine Bennell-Pegg spent the day sharing her knowledge and experience with our community. She spoke at Senior School Muster and Junior School Assembly, spent time with senior Physics students discussing space, rocketry and human spaceflight and concluded her day with a free Public Lecture.

What was striking was not simply the depth of Katherine’s expertise, but her generosity in sharing it. She spoke with enthusiasm for space, science and discovery and encouraged others to keep asking questions and exploring new possibilities.

Katherine’s story is a remarkable example of where curiosity, determination and hard work can lead. Her aspiration to become an astronaut began while she was still at school and ultimately led to her becoming the first person qualified as an astronaut under the Australian flag and she inspired our students to think boldly about what they might contribute to the future.

Stephen McGown is South African who was captured by Al-Qaeda in Timbuktu and held hostage for five years and eight months.

Over two days, Stephen shared his extraordinary story with students in Years 5 to 12 and members of the wider community through five events: Senior School Muster, a lunch with guests of the Foundation, a public lecture, a presentation to Years 5 and 6, and a morning tea for Senior School students.

From his time as a hostage to his eventual release, Stephen’s journey of survival, resilience and renewal was both humbling and inspiring. His message centred on the importance of self-awareness, self-ownership and human connection, and served as a reminder that while life is unpredictable, our attitude and values shape how we respond to it. The hour-long queue of students eager to speak with him after his public lecture was testament to how deeply his visit resonated.

In 2022, Nedd Brockmann captured the nation’s attention by running 6,100 km across Australia in just 46 days, averaging more than 80 km per day, to raise over $2.5 million for Mobilise, a charity supporting people experiencing homelessness.

He has since continued to challenge himself and inspire others, including his “Uncomfortable Challenge” of running 1,000 miles in 10 days around Sydney Olympic Park, and to date has raised more than $7 million to support homelessness initiatives.

Nedd shared his extraordinary story with students from Years 3 to 12 and members of the wider community through four events: a presentation to Years 3 and 6, a lunch with students, Senior School Muster and a public lecture in the evening.

Through these engagements he encouraged reflection on the importance of resilience, growth mindset and stepping outside your comfort zone, inspiring us all to question our motives, embrace challenges and find strength in a positive mindset.

Award-winning journalist, author, and Indigenous rights advocate, Stan Grant captivated audiences at Muster and Junior School Assembly and engaged in intimate sessions with groups including students of our Reconciliation Action Program.

During Assembly Stan emphasised the importance of storytelling, encouraging our students to “learn and tell the story of each other… to tell a story that makes us a stronger country.”

Many compelling messages were shared with our Senior School students underscoring both our collective and individual responsibility to shape the world we live in by being a better self, a better community and a better nation.

Environmentalist, adventurer, and climate advocate, Tim Jarvis inspired Years 3 to 11 students across a number of presentations in which he recalled his remarkable experiences, including recreating Sir Ernest Shackleton’s incredible Antarctic survival journey in 2013.

This adventurous spirit extends to his work with the Forktree Project, which aims to restore 54 hectares of degraded farmland on the Fleurieu Peninsula. His message of adventure and collaboration reminds us that by thinking big, pushing ourselves, and leading with kindness, we can achieve significant rewards for both ourselves and our planet.

Tim inspired our students to think big while taking meaningful steps towards a better future.

A runner, a painter, a lover of the outdoors, a Tasmanian, a survivor of sexual assault, and above all, a fighter. Grace Tame is a profound example to our nation of light dispelling darkness. Students, staff and parents were in awe of her strength, bravery and humility.

Grace explained that we can all be advocates – it only takes a signature or a conversation to lead to powerful and fundamental change as a nation.

Renowned anaesthetist and cave diver, Dr Richard Harris played a pivotal role in the 2018 Thai cave rescue, saving the lives of twelve boys and their coach. He is internationally recognised for his expertise in underwater cave rescue and emergency medicine.

During his visit, Junior and Senior School students along with hundreds of guests who attended the public lecture, were inspired by Dr Harris’ ‘Decision Making in the Dark’ presentation.