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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In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo’s Director of Sales, Lyndin Francis, sits down with Michelle Collins, Program Lead of Libraries for Belonging at Monash University. A qualified librarian and passionate advocate for community-centered storytelling, Michelle blends creativity, digital strategy, and deep literary insight to transform how libraries engage their communities. With a background spanning bookshops, English literature, and digital communication, her mission is clear: to bridge the gaps between readers and writers, messages and audiences, and libraries and the communities they serve.
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In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo’s Director of Sales, Lyndin Francis, sits down with Guillermo Merelo, Associate Director of Staff Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Waipapa Taumata Rau, The University of Auckland. With a rich and global career spanning over 30 years, Guillermo brings unmatched expertise at the intersection of diversity, equity, inclusion, organisational development, and community engagement. From his early days as a senior public officer in Latin America to leadership roles across Europe and the Asia-Pacific, Guillermo’s work has consistently pushed the boundaries of people and culture strategy through an academic and justice-focused lens.
In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett sits down with Nadine Zacharias, Managing Director and Founder of Equity by Design. A national leader in student equity and engagement, Nadine brings deep expertise in driving systemic transformation at the intersection of practice, research, and policy. Her work challenges the status quo in tertiary education to build a more equitable and high-performing sector, one that empowers diverse student cohorts and elevates the role of education in the public good.
In this episode of the Broken Education Podcast, Vygo’s Co-Founder & Co-CEO, Joel Di Trapani, sits down with Mark Kopec, International General Manager at Bupa, who brings over 20 years of global leadership experience across the insurance, healthcare, and startup sectors. With a background in engineering and a mindset driven by curiosity and impact, Mark shares his philosophy on building people-first businesses that deliver lasting value. He discusses the art of leading cross-functional teams across B2B, B2C, and B2B2C ecosystems, and how customer-centricity and authentic partnerships have powered his journey.
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In this episode of the Champions Coffee Podcast, Vygo Co-Founder & Co-CEO Ben Hallett chats with Jeremiah Shinn, Interim President and former Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management at Boise State University. A first-generation college student turned seasoned higher ed leader, Jeremiah brings over two decades of experience transforming institutions through creativity, student-centered strategy, and inclusive leadership.
