Philosophy
Originally named the G20 Schools, the G30 was founded in 2006 by Sir Anthony Seldon, the Head of Wellington College, UK and David Wylde, the Head of St Andrew’s College, South Africa. There are up to 30 G30 schools with the significant majority being able to meet annually.
The G30 brings Heads from leading schools together on an annual basis. All participants are encouraged to share their best practice, thoughts, ideas and challenges within a strictly confidential environment. Heads and their spouses appreciate the unique nature of the role of Head and benefit from the sharing amongst the G30 group. Uniquely, the G30 group includes partners of Heads as full conference participants.
Administration costs are kept low and the G30 group does not have a formal constitution, executive structures or offices.
Outside of the annual G30 conferences, G30 Heads are encouraged to exchange ideas and arrange visits for them and their staff to other G30 schools.
The conference program is organised by the current Head of the G30 school. Guest speakers are invited, not just in the field of education but from a broad range of backgrounds and sectors. G30 Heads and partners gain just as much from the cultural immersion in the country and the informal conversations as they do from the formal conference program.
In 2013 a conference for G30 Deputy Heads was hosted by Wellington College, UK and in 2016 at Buckingham Browne & Nichols, USA and Appleby College, Canada.
Any membership can be directed to the Chair of the G30 Schools Membership Sub Committee,
Nicholas Sampson NSampson@cranbrook.nsw.edu.au
2024 CONFERENCE
APRIL 21 - 28, 2004
CO-HOSTED BY
SHREWSBURY SCHOOL, STOWE SCHOOL, WELLINGTON SCHOOL, WINCHESTER SCHOOL (UK)
G30 HEADS CONFERENCE 2023
Sigtunaskolan Humanistiska Läroverket (SSHL) had the great honour to host the G30 Schools Conference 2023 in Sweden. It was wonderful to finally be able to meet again after a three year hiatus due to the pandemic and the conference theme was focused on leadership in a digital world and in education. For the first part of our week together, we travelled from Stockholm to the county of Dalarna, where we explored its culture, art and industrial history. We visited the Falu copper mine, had a guided tour of the Mackmyra distillery, visited the museum of the famous painter Carl Larsson in Sundborn as well as the factory in Nusnäs to see how the Dala horses are produced. We enjoyed the breathtaking views in this beautiful part of the world with wonderful food and learned how the Swedes enjoy their “fika”.
For our final couple of days we travelled to Sigtuna, visiting our school, to learn more about the challenges about the rapid development of the digital world and how it will impact education and the world we live in.
Peng Wu, is the Programme Director of Research at Stellar Capacity, focusing on the impact of technology growth and digital transformation on society, economy, and politics. Merging his knowledge and perspectives from his background in China, the US, and in Europe, Peng leads Stellar Capacity's research programmes with a focus on digital leadership in the realm of future society, emerging technologies, new work and industry models. Peng gave several very interesting lectures which focused on “Leadership in a digital world” and “The Digital and Future School” giving us insights into key technological advancements and their impact on society, business, academia and individuals and how you as a leader become more successful in leading long-term digital change.
We were also inspired by the lecture “Networked leadership in an increasingly uncertain world” with Robin Tiegland, professor (PhD) of Strategy, Management of Digitalization in the Entrepreneurship and Strategy Division at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden. Her lecturing and research interests reside at the intersection of strategy, technology (especially AI), innovation, and entrepreneurship. Her lecture explored how and why our ability to use networks to reach our goals more efficiently becomes increasingly relevant in a connected world.
It was a great pleasure and privilege for us to host colleagues from all around the world. We would like to thank every participant for your openness to learn and your great friendship where we continue to build on the experience and the great community of the G30 Schools Conference.
Carina Nilsson.
Past Conferences
G30 Heads Conference 2019
Appleby College and Upper Canada College were honoured to host the 2019 G30 Schools conference in Toronto, Canada. The conference program continued the Melbourne theme of wellbeing, explored the concepts of global disruption and the fourth industrial revolution, and introduced the theme of pluralism, reflecting the regional culture, the core values of Canada, and the wonderful complexity of a globally-minded education.
Conference presenters included Dr Janice Gross Stein, Founding Director of the University of Toronto's Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Policy, Dominic Barton, Managing Partner Emeritus at McKinsey and Co., and as of late 2019, Canada's Ambassador to China, Professor Keith Banting, Professor Emeritus, Political Studies at Queen's University, Dr Nicole Fournier-Sylvester, Education Manager at Canada's Global Centre for Pluralism, Dr Greg Wells, psychologist and author, Dr Rob Thompson, psychologist and author, and Dr Michael Evans, psychologist and author.
In addition to visits at UCC, Branksome Hall and Appleby, delegates dangled from the CN Tower, a Toronto landmark, enjoyed a Toronto Blue Jays baseball game, toured the Aga Khan Museum, visited local art galleries, enjoyed the hit Broadway musical, Come From Away, toured above and behind Niagara Falls and enjoyed the sumptuous cuisine and wine of the Niagara region.
It was a pleasure to learn, grow, and try new activities together with our G30 Schools colleagues.
Innes van Nostrand, Alison Holt, Sam McKinney and Rosey McKinney, 2019 G30 Schools Conference Hosts
G30 Heads Conference 2018
In March 2018 it was a pleasure to welcome our G30 School Colleagues to Carey Grammar in Melbourne, Australia. The Future of Young Australians challenged us with the workshop titled ‘The Workforce of Tomorrow Demands a New Mindset’. Maree Crabb informed us about the dangers of ready access to online pornography by young people. Professor Michael Carr-Gregg gave us a crash course on the use of smartphones, web-based programs and biometric devices to improve the wellbeing of students. Former CEO of World Vision Australia, Tim Costello, ran an excellent workshop on the obligations of leading schools to engage with and serve the wider community. Some G30 Head spouses ran a workshop on ‘Being a Spouse of G30 School Head The Highs and Lows’ which was entertaining, but also raw, empathic and supportive. We enjoyed all that Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula district offers, - glorious food and wine, sunshine and an early morning beach walk and swim. Throughout the conference we learnt much from each other as we shared our best practices and the rewards and challenges of leading a leading school. It was a pleasure to share our city and Carey with our G30 Schools colleagues.
Philip Grutzner and Dr Yasmine Layher, 2018 G30 Schools Conference Hosts
G20 Heads Conference 2017
The G20 Heads gathered under African skies in March 2017, when Brookhouse School in Nairobi, Kenya hosted the conference. Guest of Honour H.E. Margaret Kenyatta, the First Lady of Kenya welcomed the G20 delegates and encouraged them to explore the challenges and opportunities facing 21st Century Kenya. A profoundly moving visit to Seed Academy in the centre of Kibera gave the group firsthand experience of life in Africa's largest urban slum, and led to the G20 spouses spearheading ongoing support of the Seed Academy primary school. Panel sessions with African leaders in the fields of conservation and education examined topics around servant leadership and environmental stewardship. Our safari experience to Lake Nakuru National Park provided a kind of watershed moment in the evolution of our discussions, as the full collegiality of the G20 found its voice. And then there were the animals - orphaned baby elephants, feeding giraffes, a picnic in the middle of Nairobi National Park and game drives around Lake Nakuru. After the splendour of the Rift Valley, we ended our Kenya adventure with a feast at The Carnivore Restaurant, having savoured the rhythms of Africa. It was a pleasure for Brookhouse staff and students to welcome their G20 friends from around the world.
John O'Connor.
Past Conferences
2023Sigtunaskolan Humanistiska Läroverket, Sigtuna, Sweden
2019Upper Canada College and Appleby College, Toronto, Canada
2018Carey Baptist Grammar School, Melbourne Australia
2017Brookhouse School, Kenya
2016RDFZ, The High School Affiliated to Renmin University of China and Chinese International School, Hong Kong
2015Wellington College, Stowe School, Eton College and Marlborough College, UK
2014Markham College, Peru
2013Daly College, India
2012Phillips Exeter Academy and Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, USA
2011International School of Geneva, Switzerland
2010The King’s School, Australia
2009Harvard-Westlake School, USA
2008King’s Academy, Jordan
2007St Andrew’s College and Bishops Diocesan College, South Africa
2006Wellington College and Eton College, UK
Members
Charles Skipper (Emeritus)
Field School of Charlottesville – USA
