We often speak about the importance of everyone continuing to learn. After all, learning, in its essence, is about being alive. While some may approach learning with curiosity and be open to the possibilities it may provide for us, others may find it overwhelming to be able to decide in the direction to go. David Coltman, Chief Executive of TAFE SA, joins us to discuss this and much more in our latest podcast episode on change resilience.

David shares his perspectives on the role of leaders going forward in helping people find pathways through what can feel like a dense forest at times. With an extensive career in education, David has witnessed the shift in education delivery, becoming more demand-driven, just-in-time, or just-enough training in focus, and how that is shaping education now and in the future.

He’s also no stranger to leading in challenging times, having come into TAFE SA at a time when the organisation needed to transform and be led in a new direction. David reflects on that time, having moved from Victoria to Adelaide for the role, and how he used that journey in becoming South Australian to humanise himself with his new workforce rather than it just being about becoming the new Chief Executive of TAFE SA.

He also talks about the importance of alleviating fear in the workforce through authentic communication that cuts through the jargon, giving people the opportunity to be heard, and how being physically present, where people can see him, provides an anchor for his workforce. David also shares how important it is to lead with kindness, but that, like good parenting, being human doesn’t mean just being Mr Nice Guy all the time; it’s also providing boundaries for people to work with and being consistent with them.

This episode isn’t just a masterclass in leading change, it’s also a great example of how to lead authentically and with kindness.

Listen to episode twelve:

Also available through Apple Podcasts and Spotify:

Find out more about this Trailblazer:

**David Coltman**

Chief Executive

TAFE SA

David Coltman is the Chief Executive of TAFE SA. Prior to joining TAFE SA in April 2019, David was Deputy Vice Chancellor at Swinburne University of Technology and Chair of the National Institute of Circus Arts (NICA).

David is a New Zealander who made Australia his home in 2014.

David holds postgraduate qualifications in Adult Education and Public Administration. His early career work focused on the delivery of programs that sought to increase participation in higher education of underrepresented communities.

More recently David’s work has focused on the use of digital technologies to improve access and participation in post-compulsory education.

Tune in next week as we speak to a new trailblazer in another episode in our series on Thriving in Uncertainty.

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