Shaping Better Futures Through Education

This weeks PBA Change maker is Life Ed Australia CEO, Karen Robertson.  Karen leads one of the country's most recognised and trusted children's education organisations. With a career spanning classroom teaching, school leadership, education strategy, policy, program design and executive leadership, she has dedicated her professional life to improving outcomes for children and young people.

Driven by a belief that education is a powerful catalyst for social change, Karen has worked across local, national and international contexts, contributing to research, advocacy, innovation and systems change. Her work is focused on creating opportunities for all children to thrive, particularly those facing disadvantage, and championing the role of prevention, health literacy and wellbeing in shaping lifelong outcomes.

As CEO, she is committed to ensuring Life Ed continues to equip children with the knowledge, skills and confidence to navigate an increasingly complex world. She is passionate about collaboration, equity and empowering communities to support healthier futures for Australia's young people. Read on for our interview with Karen!

Describe your career trajectory and how you got to your current position.

My career has always been grounded in a belief that education can be one of the most powerful levers for social change.

I began as a classroom teacher, which gave me a deep appreciation for the realities educators, children and families navigate every day. From there, my path evolved through school leadership, program design, education strategy, policy engagement and executive leadership roles across the education and not-for-profit sectors.

What has connected each chapter is a focus on creating meaningful opportunities for children and young people to thrive—particularly those facing disadvantage. Along the way, I've had the privilege of working across local, national and international contexts, contributing to research, advocacy, program innovation and system change.

Today, as CEO of Life Ed Australia, I lead an organisation that has been part of Australia's educational fabric for generations. It's a role that brings together so much of what I care about: education, prevention, wellbeing, equity, innovation, and ensuring children have the knowledge, skills and confidence to navigate an increasingly complex world.

What drives you to do the work that you do?

Children and young people. And our responsibility to ensure every child thrives, regardless of their postcode, background or circumstances.

I'm deeply motivated by the idea that prevention matters; that if we invest early in health literacy, wellbeing, social and emotional capability, and strong support systems around children, we can change life trajectories in profound ways.

I'm also driven by the power of collective action. Real change happens when educators, families, communities, researchers, governments and organisations work together with shared purpose. Being able to bring people together around that vision is incredibly energising.

It is essential that we continue to raise funds to help our local teams of skilled educators reach more children in remote, regional and underserved communities, and so it has been truly humbling to see people come together for our cause. More than that, they come to the realisation that Healthy Harold is more than just an iconic giraffe. He sparks nostalgia for millions of adults because this learning has stayed with them for life. This is how we build health and digital literacy. This is the key to health prevention.

If you could go back in time, what piece of advice would you give yourself as you first embarked on your career?

Back yourself earlier.

Early in my career, I probably spent too much time waiting until I felt completely ready before stepping into bigger opportunities. Experience has taught me that leadership is far less about having every answer and far more about being willing to listen deeply, stay curious, make thoughtful decisions, and keep learning.

I'd also remind myself that change takes time. Some of the most meaningful work, particularly systems change, is incremental, complex and occasionally messy. Progress doesn't always look linear, but that doesn't mean it isn't happening.

Any words you live by every day?

I am deeply grounded by purpose, so there are two phrases I return to often:

"Lead with purpose, and bring others with you."

Leadership is never a solo pursuit. The most sustainable impact comes from building trust, creating shared ownership, and ensuring people feel seen, heard and connected to something bigger than themselves.

"Stay anchored in purpose, even when the path is uncertain."

Much of the work I do sits within complex systems, where change is rarely linear and ambiguity is often part of the landscape. In those moments, clarity of purpose matters most—it guides decisions, maintains perspective, and keeps the focus firmly on what truly matters.

What do you like to do to wind down after work?

Time with family is what grounds me most. Leadership roles can be fast-paced and all-consuming, so reconnecting with the people who matter most helps bring perspective.

I also love horse riding, particularly when I need space to think or reset. There's something about movement and fresh air that creates clarity. And, like many people, I value the occasional quiet moment with a good book or simply switching off from the pace of the day.

What are you currently watching, reading or listening to?

I tend to gravitate towards content that helps me think differently, whether that's leadership, education, social change or human behaviour.

I'm often reading across education, wellbeing and policy, but I also try to balance that with something lighter. My most recent read was A Different Kind of Power by Jacinda Ardern, which I found both thoughtful and deeply human in its reflections on leadership, courage and leading with empathy. It resonated strongly with my own belief that leadership can be both purposeful and compassionate.

Music is also a big reset for me. My playlists can be a bit eclectic depending on the day—anything from uplifting classics and acoustic favourites to music that simply helps me decompress after a busy week. There's something powerful about music's ability to shift energy, create perspective, or just provide a moment to breathe.

You can help Healthy Harold reach kids when it counts at lifeed.org.au.