Broken Education

Zlatko Skrbis | Australian Catholic University

In this episode of the Broken Education Podcast, Joel Di Trapani sits down with Professor Zlatko Skrbiš, Vice-Chancellor and President of Australian Catholic University (ACU), for a thoughtful conversation about the role of universities in shaping ethical futures, flourishing lives, and thriving communities. Drawing from his own journey as an international PhD student who came to Australia through a Commonwealth scholarship, Professor Skrbiš reflects on the transformative power of education and why universities must continue fighting for their social purpose in an increasingly skeptical world. The conversation explores ACU’s Vision 2033 strategy, the growing devaluation of higher education in public discourse, the importance of mission-led institutions, and why universities must help shape not simply react to the future of AI and knowledge creation. At the heart of the episode is a powerful belief that education remains one of society’s most important forces for trust, progress, and human flourishing and that universities must continue defending that role with clarity, courage, and purpose.

Professor The Hon. Bill Shorten | University of Canberra

In this episode of the Broken Education Podcast, host Joel Di Trapani, Co-Founder & Co-CEO of Vygo, sits down with The Hon. Bill Shorten, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Canberra, to explore the future of higher education and how universities can better unlock opportunity for all students. Drawing on his background in federal politics and public service, Bill shares the personal experiences that shaped his belief in education as a powerful vehicle for social mobility. Together, Joel and Bill discuss the barriers that still exist in higher education from over-reliance on ATAR scores to limited pathways for adult learners and why universities must evolve to become more flexible, inclusive, and focused on real student outcomes. They also dive into the role universities play in strengthening national innovation, the need for more agile learning pathways, and why supporting equity students ultimately benefits society as a whole. At its core, this conversation asks an important question: how can universities better serve the communities they exist to support?

Professor Nick Klomp | CQUniversity

In this episode of the Broken Education Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Joel Di Trapani and Vygo’s Director of Sales Lyndin Smith-Francis sit down with Professor Nick Klomp, Vice-Chancellor and President of CQUniversity, for a candid conversation about the realities, responsibilities, and untapped potential of regional higher education. With more than five years at the helm of one of Australia’s largest regional universities, Professor Klomp has led CQUniversity with a clear and consistent mission: to unlock the potential of regional Australia through equitable access to world-class education and training. His leadership reflects a deep belief that universities are not just places of learning, but critical infrastructure for social mobility, workforce development, and long-term community prosperity. Together, Joel, Lyndin, and Professor Klomp explore how regional universities like CQUniversity play a transformative role far beyond the classroom supplying skilled workforces for critical industries, driving applied and community-focused research, fueling local economies, and acting as anchor institutions in regions often overlooked by traditional education models. This episode is a powerful reminder that fixing education doesn’t always start in capital cities—and that regional universities may be some of the most important engines of change in the future of learning.

President Renee Leon | Charles Sturt University

In this episode of the Broken Education Podcast, host Joel Di Trapani, Co-Founder of Vygo, sits down with Renee Leon, Vice-Chancellor and President of Charles Sturt University, for a candid and deeply grounded conversation about equity, regional education, and what it truly means for universities to serve the public good. Renee brings an extraordinary perspective to higher education leadership. A first-in-family university graduate, she has built a distinguished career across senior roles in Commonwealth and state government, including CEO of the Departments of Human Services and Employment. A Menzies Foundation Law Scholar with degrees from ANU and Cambridge, and a recipient of the Public Service Medal, Renee’s journey is a living example of the transformative power of education. From the outset, Renee reframes the role of a regional university as something far bigger than student enrolments or rankings. Under her leadership, Charles Sturt University positions itself as an anchor institution for regional Australia—educating the nurses, teachers, vets, health professionals, and agricultural leaders who sustain regional communities and largely stay to serve them. Joel and Renee explore how CSU’s mission extends beyond individual students to the economic, social, and health outcomes of entire regions. From agriculture and climate resilience to regional health equity, Renee explains how CSU deliberately focuses its research on problems that matter—locally grounded, yet nationally and globally relevant.

Professor Pascale Quester | Swinburne University of Technology

In this episode of the Broken Education Podcast, host Joel Di Trapani, Co-Founder of Vygo, sits down with Professor Pascale Quester, Vice-Chancellor and President of Swinburne University of Technology, for a refreshingly direct conversation about leadership, strategy, and why higher education must let go of nostalgia if it wants to remain relevant. Pascale is one of Australia’s most distinctive higher education leaders. A globally recognised scholar in consumer behaviour and marketing, a former Deputy Vice-Chancellor and Executive Dean at the University of Adelaide, and a recipient of France’s National Order of Merit (twice), she brings an uncommon mix of academic credibility, commercial thinking, and fearless clarity to university leadership. From the outset, Pascale challenges the idea of universities as “vanilla” institutions trying to be everything to everyone. She explains how Swinburne deliberately reclaimed its identity as a university of technology, built around a unifying vision: where people and technology work together for a better world. What followed was not incremental change, but strategic focus—four bold “moonshots,” the courage to say no, and a refusal to invest in work that doesn’t align with Swinburne’s purpose.