The School of Transformation – Te Kura Huringa, set in the breath-taking surroundings of Fiji. This will be an unparalleled leadership, coaching and wellness experience.
Join the Growth Culture team, along with highly-regarded international leadership coaches and wellness experts, including renowned Australasian Educational Leadership Consultant, Dr David Mulford – former Principal of Newington College in Sydney, and certified Mental Health Facilitator and NZ Educator of the Year 2023, Julia Grace.
Be inspired and rejuvenated through interactive workshops – and unparalleled networking opportunities, in the beautiful location of Nadi, Fiji.
Attendees: Principals and Senior School Leaders
Date: Monday 17th June – Friday 21st June, 2024
Location: Denarau Island, Fiji
Leave with a renewed sense of mental clarity, wellness, and purpose. I look forward to connecting with you at this transformative experience.
Engage in professional coaching, and learn the latest coaching trends, methodologies and best-practice skills to build a culture of coaching to drive positive change within your team. Explore strategies for leading change, fostering innovation and developing growth and transformation mindsets.
Enhance your knowledge in the areas of physical and mental health, stress management, work-life balance, mindfulness and high performance school leadership. Noteworthy, conference workshops take place each morning, leaving afternoons free for self-care, networking and additional wellbeing activities.
Give back to the local community. Guaranteed to be a lasting memory, on Day 3 we will roll up our sleeves, express our aroha and serve the communities of Ratu Navula School and Nadi College. This school transformation project will include a variety of impact initiatives, such as painting, gardening, general maintenance, providing quality teaching resources and leading staff professional development workshops.
Monday 17 June
2:00pm Arrive
Check-in to Accommodation
Resort Orientation
Recreation Time
6:00pm Drinks and Korero [optional]
Tuesday 18 June
Optional: Sunrise and beach walk / Gym Workout / Sleep in
Breakfast [Buffet]
9:00am Conference Opening
Session 1: Leadership
Session 2: Your Wellbeing
11:00 Morning tea
11:30am Session 3: Leadership Coaching
1:00pm Networking time + ability to access coaching
6:00pm Sunset and drinks
7:00pm Dinner [Buffet]
Wednesday 19 June
Optional: Sunrise and beach walk / Gym Workout / Sleep in
Breakfast [Buffet]
9:00am School of Transformation Projects
Nadi College [TBC]
Ratu Navula School [TBC]
3:00pm Networking time + ability to access coaching
6:00pm Sunset and drinks
7:00pm Dinner [Buffet]
Thursday 20 June
Optional: Sunrise and beach walk / Gym Workout / Sleep in
Breakfast [Buffet]
9:00am Conference Opening
Session 1: Leadership
Session 2: Your Wellbeing
11:00am Morning tea
11:30am Session 3: Transformational Leadership
1:00pm Networking time + ability to access coaching
6:00pm Sunset and drinks
7:00pm Dinner [Buffet]
Friday 21 June
Optional: Sunrise and beach walk / Gym Workout / Sleep in
Breakfast [Buffet]
9:00am Conference Closure
9:30am Denearua Golf [optional recreation activity]
Former Principal - Newington College, Sydney
Dr David Mulford was a School Principal of three large schools from 1992 to 2018. His last appointment was as Headmaster of Newington College from 2009–2018.
His qualifications include a Bachelor of Economics, Masters of Education and a Doctorate of Education. In addition, he is a graduate of the AICD and a Fellow of ACE.
Dr Mulford has served on many boards including Bishop in Council for the Anglican Church in Canberra; a number of national education boards; sporting and visual arts boards; and since 2018 has served on the Tupou College board in Tonga.
Dr Mulford has an educational leadership consulting business and volunteers with a number of charities.
Mental Health Facilitator
Julia has an incredible ability to educate about Mental Health without you even realising that you’re learning. Her honesty is inspiring, the humour is side-splitting, and her voice is breathtaking.
A truly gifted communicator, with qualifications in Mental Health and education plus entertainment awards, Julia Grace continues to dazzle audiences all over the world as she teaches
Be Kind to Your Mind.
School of Transformation / GCLA Director
Marshall has a background as a principal, community leader and keynote speaker, Marshall’s role as Director at the Growth Culture Leadership Academy perfectly combines his incredible ability to inspire educators, with his strengths in leadership, coaching and mentoring.
Marshall and his wife are also deeply committed to global impact. Currently, they are pioneering community transformation projects in Australia, Uganda, Fiji and New Zealand in partnership with several charitable organisations including the Strengths Foundation and World Vision.
$4997 + GST
Includes
+ Conference Registration
+ 4 nights Accommodation
+ Airport Transfers from Nadi Airport to resort [Monday only]
+ Daily Breakfast (Buffet), Morning tea and Dinner (Buffet) excl Monday
+ Conference Booklet and Material.
NB – Flights are additional.
NB – This is all for senior leaders (Deputy Principals/ Assistant Principals). In most cases funding can be accessed through the Principals Wellbeing and PGC Fund.
✅ Can partners attend? [additional NZ$997 for partners to stay which includes buffet breakfast]
✅ Can partners join us at buffet dinner package? [Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday NZ$449]
✅ Can more than one person from my school attend? YES [you can bring your SLT]
✅ Can I extend my stay or arrive earlier? YES [this can be arranged via your booking]
❌ Are airfares included?
❌ Is alcohol included in the course costs?
1. Why host the School of Transformation in Fiji instead of somewhere local?
Choosing Fiji aligns with our commitment to Pasifika partnerships and psychologists’ view that travel serves as a circuit-breaker. Fiji is three and a half hours from Auckland, and we believe late June in Fiji reflects a culture and way of being conducive to principal hauora and wellbeing.
2. How many principals are attending the School of Transformation?
The uptake reflects the positive reputation and quality of Growth Culture within the sector.
3. What does the $4,997 [excl GST] include?
The conference fee covers conference registration, accommodation, buffet breakfasts, late morning teas, and buffet dinners. Alcohol and airfares are not covered by Growth Culture.
4. How does the School Transformation Projects help Principal Wellbeing?
This aligns with research emphasising the positive impact of looking beyond ourselves, and engaging in service to others. It is crucial to Growth Culture’s kaupapa that we not only provide best practices for well-being but also facilitate an experience of refreshment through service to others.
5. How long has Growth Culture been accredited by the Ministry of Education?
Since 2018, Growth Culture has been accredited as a Ministry of Education PLD provider and works towards empowering leaders throughout the sector.
6. Why is the conference being held during term time?
Part of the purpose of the Principal Wellbeing Fund is to ensure that schools are meeting health and safety standards for principals, and the School of Transformation PLD conference, being part of regular working hours, reflects this.
7. What is the idea behind a coaching and wellness conference in Fiji?
We see fresh air, sand between your toes, and a healthy dose of Vitamin D as the perfect environment for well-being keynotes, rather than noisy auditoriums with artificial lighting and crowds. There will be networking and relaxation time worked into each day, hence the invitation to bring togs and recreational attire.
8. With a similar group of principals going to ULead [Canada] and another to Finland, why would a principal attend The School of Transformation?
The School of Transformation is about half of the cost and is designed as a personalised and intimate experience, reflecting our commitment to fostering enhanced well-being through whanaungatanga.
Fiji avoids the unwanted stresses and headaches of 19-hour long-haul flights, overcrowded transit lounges, and dateline crossing, whirlwind, world trips.
Our conviction lies in the belief that the real future of education in Aotearoa is found in constructive korero and getting the cultural and connection pieces right; around loungers, sodas, and tables, rather than from international figureheads, sharing from stages.
