EPISODE · Jan 28, 2026 · 53 MIN
How I went from young delinquent to running a university
from Conversations · host Australian Broadcasting Corporation
Professor George Williams was uninterested in school, instead spending his time melting down lead to sell to a nearby scrap yard. Then a special primary school teacher gave him permanent detention, which changed his life.Growing up in Sydney, he was the rebellious child of a single mum who worked in a fruit shop to support the family.George was so disruptive at primary school that no teacher wanted him in class.At first he was flabbergasted at the unfairness of this punishment, but with this teacher’s undivided attention, George began to enjoy learning and found that he was smart.His grades improved, and George became interested in studying Law.He has had a long career in Constitutional Law and working in university leadership.This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison.It explores tertiary education, international students, online learning, lectures, tutorials, the casual workforce, academics, higher learning, lifelong learning, sandstone universities, student debt, HECS, affordable learning and poverty.To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.
What this episode covers
Professor George Williams was uninterested in school, instead spending his time melting down lead to sell to a nearby scrap yard. Then a special primary school teacher gave him permanent detention, which changed his life. Growing up in Sydney, he was the rebellious child of a single mum who worked in a fruit shop to support the family. George was so disruptive at primary school that no teacher wanted him in class. At first he was flabbergasted at the unfairness of this punishment, but with this teacher’s undivided attention, George began to enjoy learning and found that he was smart. His grades improved, and George became interested in studying Law. He has had a long career in Constitutional Law and working in university leadership. This episode was produced by Alice Moldovan. The Executive Producer is Nicola Harrison. It explores tertiary education, international students, online learning, lectures, tutorials, the casual workforce, academics, higher learning, lifelong learning, sandstone universities, student debt, HECS, affordable learning and poverty. To binge even more great episodes of the Conversations podcast with Richard Fidler and Sarah Kanowski go the ABC listen app (Australia) or wherever you get your podcasts. There you’ll find hundreds of the best thought-provoking interviews with authors, writers, artists, politicians, psychologists, musicians, and celebrities.
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How I went from young delinquent to running a university
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