Dr Stephen Harris

Stephen is the Co-Founder and Director of Learning at Learnlife, Barcelona. He currently lives across two cities - Barcelona and Sydney, crossing the globe frequently! Learnlife started as the Our Dream School Project. Learnlife Barcelona is a lighthouse hub - the pioneer space for lifelong learning in downtown Barcelona. A state-of-the-art learning community, it is the first in a worldwide network of learning hubs meant to accelerate change in existing education models through personal self-directed, autonomous learning. It features a series of creative studios designed to inspire learners through evidence-founded best practices from innovative schools around the world. Learnlife now has three Hubs operating out of the Barcelona project. The Learnlife Urban Hub is in the centre of Barcelona and has full and part time programmes for teenagers. The Learnlife Eco Hub for younger learners is located at Castelldefels, Barcelona - in a location immediately linked to the beach and the neighbouring forest. The Learnlife Home Hub caters for learners interested in learning from anywhere and anytime. The Finnish-based HundrED organisation selected Learnlife: ‘Elements of Learning Innovation’ for the top 100 global innovations collection 2023 (https://hic.hundred.org/en/innovations/learnlife-the-elements-of-learning-innovation).

Stephen was the Principal of Northern Beaches Christian School (NBCS) from 1999 - 2017. Under his leadership the school gained international recognition as an organisation that was noted for leading pedagogic change in schooling. His design briefs for buildings have seen the creation of some of the most forward-focused learning environments in the world, enjoyed by the students and staff, and appreciated by thousands across the world (vimeo.com/242000597). The new buildings at NBCS, co-created with the architecture team from WMK, won the NSW Award for Educational Architecture (2016), the National Award for Sustainability (2016), the NSW Award for Sustainable Architecture (2026) and the Good Design Award (2016) https://wmkarchitecture.com/projects/community/education/northern-beaches-christian-school/>. In 2005, Stephen founded the Sydney Centre for Innovation in Learning. His vision was to embed innovation into everyday school practice. Stephen received recognition at the inaugural 2011 Australian Awards for Outstanding Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL), as the Australian Secondary Principal of the Year (NSW). Stephen was also recognised in 2017 as a recipient of the prestigious John Laing Award by Principals Australia Institute (PAI) presented to exceptional school leaders. Stephen is a lifetime Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts (UK). In February 2024 Stephen will be acknowledged in Dubai for Outstanding Leadership in recognition for his contributions for education and learning.

“Schools must embrace a new paradigm and move away from what was once thought of as “school”.

Dr Stephen Harris has been in education for more than 45 years, with teaching experience across almost every grade from Kindergarten to Year 12. He has been in school and education leadership, and an educational thought leader, for over 35 years. Stephen studied to be a secondary English teacher, trained in primary teaching method, and has completed a Master of Letters in Australian Literature. Stephen followed a personal interest also completing an Advanced Certificate in Urban Horticulture, providing a taste of the TAFE system in Australia. Stephen completed his PhD thesis in 2019 through the University of Technology, Sydney, looking at Vision as a Catalyst for School Change. His firm belief is that every person should love learning, and that it is the responsibility of schools or other learning institutions to relentlessly seek to engage students in their learning. No child should be excluded.

This new paradigm is one where learning is personal and collaborative, technology is adaptive, spaces are radically different to the traditional mindset, and a community built on positive relationships is at the core. Teaching and learning culture must be informed by global trends towards change in routines, expectations, perceptions, technology and organisation structures in the 21st century.

Since 2008, Stephen has found a second home, working extensively on a number of projects in Rwanda. This has seen him visiting the region over 30 times. Some of the projects have focused on developing the capacity for educational innovation in the villages and towns of the Northern Province, adjacent to the Volcanoes NP. More recently, Stephen has been capturing the stories of people he has met on his visits in a children’s book series, The Rwanda Village Tales. The fourth in this series is currently under production, in collaboration with Dolph Banza (Rwandan digital artist), Habumugisha (Barack) Jean (translator) and Michael Harris (book design).