Dan Dempsey

Program Director (Professional Learning), Future Anything

Meet Future Anything is our quickfire interview series where we hit up our legendary team members to learn a little more about the people in the famous Future Anything T-shirts! In this edition, we talk to the fantastic Dan Dempsey, who leads our practical and inspiring professional development programs for educators. 

1. What is a fun fact about yourself that no one would guess about you?

I secretly love putting together flatpacks. Must be something about the satisfaction of building something. Maybe I should have side job at IKEA?

2. Now, what are your top two career highlights to date?

Firstly. the privilege of being able to lead and influence a whole school community as a primary school Principal, culminating nearly 10 years in school leadership. And secondly, leading Goodna State School to the Peter Doherty STEM School of the Year Award in 2018 as culmination of several years’ work on unique and innovative initiatives, which also included receiving a hand-written letter from Sir David Attenborough congratulating the school on the wonderful work.

3. What brought you to Future Anything?

As an educator, I have always had a passion for professional learning and about building capability in others through coaching and mentoring, particularly teachers. I have always advocated for leading and creating innovative and engaging curriculum and pedagogy. Coming to Future Anything and undertaking the role of Program Director (Professional Learning), I am able to bring all of my passions together to influence the increase of enterprising education in schools now and into the future to create a brighter and exciting future for students.

4. What excites you most about Future Anything’s work?

I love being able to witness the capacity that is developed in the teachers and educators that we work with, and I am excited by the authentic and real-world learning experiences that Future Anything provides. What excites me the most about the work that Future Anything does is the focus on promoting engaging and student focused learning experiences that cultivates a young person’s passion and curiosity into innovative ideas, while also helping them build key skills to be successful in the constantly evolving world around them.

5. What is a goal that you are currently working towards?

I am currently working towards and in the process of developing an online version of our professional development program to ensure that everyone has access to it and will be able to utilise the resources, no matter where they are. Also, being new to Future Anything team I would love to develop and improve relationships with schools so that I can lead schools’ professional development better and more effectively.

6. What’s the funniest / weirdest thing that has ever happened to you in a classroom?

Trying to get through a day of engaging teaching and learning while students were dressed in a Star Wars theme for a school event. Trying to be serious while Yoda, several Darth Vadars, Chewie, Princess Leia, Luke Skywalker and a C-3PO worked together was quite the challenge.

7. Who is your biggest inspiration and why?

Without a doubt, my two kids (7 and 4). I watch the enthusiasm and curiosity they have for learning new skills and knowledge. They’re going to be growing up to a world that looks very different to now and will continue to evolve and I am driven is trying to influence the system that they will be learners in and what skills they will be taught at school so that they can contribute to society.

8. What changes/innovations/trends in education in Australia or globally are most interesting to you at the moment?

It would definitely be the influence of AI (Artificial Intelligence) and generative AI and the way it is, and will continue to, significantly transform and reshape industry, especially education. I am interested to see how AI will support teachers to further personalise learning and adapt the pace, mode and style of teaching to match students’ needs.

9. A quick fast five:

• Coffee or Tea? – Coffee
• Books or podcasts? – Podcasts
• Savoury or Sweet? – Sweet
• Summer or Winter? – Winter
• Beach or Mountains? – Beach

10. Lastly – favourite book or podcast you would recommend and why?

I enjoy listening to and would recommend the “Diary of a CEO” podcast, especially several episodes with Simon Sinek.

More about Future Anything’s Dan Dempsey

Dan Dempsey is a highly experienced educator, forging a successful 20-year career in education and school leadership in both Australia and the United Kingdom, notably through a range of Principal and Deputy Principal roles across varied primary school contexts.

At Future Anything, Dan uses his extensive experience to provide targeted and bespoke support to empower schools, as well as facilitate the suite of teacher professional development programs, with the aim of providing educators the knowledge and skills to embed future-focussed learning experiences. Dan is motivated by his desire to promote an educational system with enhanced innovation, engagement and curiosity where his own and other children can thrive.