The conversation with Sir David Bell, Vice Chancellor and Chief Executive at the University of Sunderland, delves into the intersection of education and community development. Sir David emphasizes the importance of a strong university-city relationship and the role of universities in preparing good citizens and work-ready individuals. He also discusses the challenges faced by universities in maintaining their social license and the need for education to provide tools for informed decision-making. Takeaways University-city relationship Preparing good citizens and work-ready individuals Challenges in maintaining social license Education's role in providing tools for informed decision-making
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Recorded at the backdrop of UA Solutions Summit 2025, this special episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast features a conversation between Vygo’s APAC Director of Sales, Lyndin Francis, and Professor Geoff Hinchcliffe, Interim Pro Vice-Chancellor (Learning & Teaching) at The Australian National University (ANU).

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallet sits down with Glen Babington, Chief Operating Officer at the University of Technology Sydney. With extensive experience in mergers, transformations, and leadership across education, utilities, and defence, Glen is passionate about building resilient teams, driving process simplification, and leveraging data analytics and digital innovation to create impactful change. Now, in the education sector, he applies these principles to lead large-scale transformations, ensuring customer-centric strategies and sustainable growth. Tune in as Glen shares his insights on leadership, organisational change, and the future of technology-driven transformation.

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo’s APAC Head of Partner Engagement, Lyndin Francis sits down with Professor Guy Littlefair, the outgoing Pro Vice-Chancellor International and Executive Dean at Auckland University of Technology (AUT). With a distinguished career spanning academia, industry, and global partnerships, Guy has been instrumental in shaping innovative and inclusive education models that drive real-world impact.

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallet sits down with Jonathan Powles, Vice President of Student Success at CQUniversity. As an executive leader in higher education, Jonathan has a proven track record in driving change and innovation across universities. With expertise in curriculum transformation, learning technologies, learner analytics, and academic development, he has led institution-wide initiatives that enhance student success and pedagogical excellence. His leadership continues to shape the future of higher education through innovation and strategic transformation.

In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallet sits down with Richard Dobek , former Interim Executive Principal, Student Experience at the University of New England (AU), an executive leader with a passion for people, transformation, and operations.