Nathan Chisholm

Nathan is an experienced educational leader with more than two decades of experience specialising in student wellbeing, belonging and whole-school culture across diverse school communities.

His work is grounded in a strong belief that wellbeing is not a separate function of schooling, but the foundation for learning and achievement.

In his senior leadership roles, including as Executive Principal of Prahran High School, Nathan led the creation of one of Melbourne’s first inner-city vertical secondary schools. He established a culture of trust, high expectations and strong results and built structures, rituals and relationships that enabled young people to feel known, safe and empowered to thrive.

As part of a major Queensland University of Technology research partnership, Nathan explored how students excel in vertical schools – a project that is helping to shape future school and learning design across Australia.

Nathan has a steadfast belief that holistic wellbeing is an essential driver of student achievement and personal growth. He is a passionate advocate for student voice, agency and belonging as core protective factors in wellbeing and as accelerators of performance.

Beyond his school leadership roles, Nathan brings significant expertise in governance, strategic planning and organisational development. He is a Director on the Boards of ASCA Ltd and the Australian Education Foundation (AEF), and was a nominee of the Minister on the Victorian Merit Protection Board.

Nathan holds a Master’s degree in education management and was named a National Fellow of the Council of Education Leaders in 2024.

At the heart of his work is a belief that wellbeing and learning are inseparable and that schools flourish when every student and every adult feel a deep sense of connection, purpose and possibility.