John Wood on Bob Hawke, Navitas and the Story of Australian International Education

John Wood has had a front-row seat to some of the biggest moments in Australian higher education.In this episode of Global Horizons, Rob Malicki sits down with John to trace a remarkable career that moves from working-class Western Australia to Oxford, the Hawke government, ECU, Notre Dame, Navitas and the Centre for Stories.John was in Canberra in the mid-1980s when the decision was made to allow Australian universities to charge full fees for international students. At the time, no one could have known just how significant that decision would become for Australia’s economy, society and global engagement.From there, the conversation moves through John’s early life, his time at Oxford, the origins and growth of Navitas, and the people and ideas that shaped Australian international education.But this is also a conversation about stories.John reflects on the importance of giving people a voice, why higher education has struggled to tell its own story, and why universities need to reconnect with their public purpose and social licence.In this episode, we cover:✅ John’s working-class upbringing and path to Oxford✅ His time working near Bob Hawke in Canberra✅ The decision to allow full-fee international students✅ The rise of Navitas and the pathway college model✅ The creation and purpose of the Centre for Stories✅ Why Australian higher education needs to tell its story betterThis is a wide-ranging conversation with one of Australian higher education’s great storytellers.It is about policy, opportunity, entrepreneurship, social purpose and the human stories that sit underneath it all.Global Horizons is a production of The Global Society, Australia’s Learning Abroad support company. Our editor is Len Zamora and our distribution specialist is Gelo Ablao. Rob Malicki is the executive editor and host. The podcast wouldn’t be possible without The Koala News, Australia’s international education news website. This episode is supported by Choosing Your Uni, Australia's unique, AI-powered platform that helps domestic and international students to find the right institution for them, and that helps Australian institutions to access new markets. For guest suggestions and feedback, email [email protected] Horizons is the official podcast of the AIEC conference. Get your registration now! https://aiec.idp.com