The Principal Circle
2025

A safe & supportive coaching forum for Principals to connect, reflect & address the challenges they face.


"Nobody gets a Principal like other Principals!"

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What's Involved in the Principal Circle?

Online Coaching
& HOT SEAT sessions

Weekdays starting March 2024

7:00am – 9:00am – Breakfast Club

or

10:00am – 12:00pm – Morning Crew

or
1:00pm – 3:00pm – Arvo Crowd

Facilitated Collegial Conversations tailored around the interests & challenges of the group.

Small groups so you can hear & be heard.

on demand
focus coaching

Had something come up that you’d like to chat about quickly?

Members of The Principal Circle can access Dan or Tim to help you navigate any issues in real time.

Enrol Now in the 2025 Cohort

What our Alumni say...

Working with Dan, Tim and like minded colleague Principals has been a fantastic way to explore, challenge myself and grow in areas of leadership, mindset and personal growth. The Principal's Circle has been absolutely fantastic and some of the best professional and personal development I've engaged with.
Andrew BackhouseNSW High School Principal
The highlight of my professional learning calendar! The opportunity to meet with Dan and Tim and a group of colleagues from across Australia to explore leadership skills has been invaluable. The circle is a safe space where we are encouraged to self reflect, engage in deep conversations, share and be vulnerable. There have been tears, revelations and lots of laughter. Dan & Tim are very talented, knowledgeable facilitators and have lead the most valuable and practical professional learning.
Jo GrahamNSW PUBIC SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
Participating in the Principal Circle has given me access to professional leadership development which has been personal, diverse and practical. The sessions were thoughtful and responsive to the group's needs. Connecting with colleagues through the Principal Circle has enhanced my leadership through rich conversations and has broadened my network of contacts and support. Both Dan and Tim using a coaching approach, allowing personal capacity building in the leadership realm.
Sue RoachNSW Public School Principal
The conversations and deep analysis of research conducted by leading authors across the world, has allowed me to focus on the authentic leadership of the school without the disruption of the day to day administration work that we do. Having an opportunity to connect with other leaders from a variety of different settings have been both a wonderful opportunity to collaborate with others, and a comfort to know that we are facing the same challenges. Working with Dan and Tim is a privilege and their coaching style allows you to critically reflect on the work we do, whilst being given tools and support to 'lead humbly with clarity and purpose'.
Alison RourkeNSW Public School Prinicipal
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Meet Your Facilitators

Dan Haesler is a coach who works with elite athletes & teams as well as corporate leaders & educators.

His work centres on happier, healthier and higher performance.

Dan is an international keynote speaker and regularly presents alongside industry leaders on topics of leadership, mindset, motivation and peak performance.

He is also the author of The Act of Leadership – A playbook for leading with humility, clarity & purpose.

Before moving to Australia, he was once identified, on national TV, as the UK’s worst housemate. 

Tim Perkins is a highly engaging coach, facilitator and keynote speaker and an expert listener. His work focuses around themes of Wellbeing, Mindset, Engagement and Motivation and how this impacts leadership and change. For more than 25 years, Tim has been empowering people to flourish personally and professionally – this is both his skill and passion.

Tim is a creative thinker and problem solver who has the ability to get others around him thinking with greater clarity and critical discernment.

During the First Gulf War, in an unexpected turn of events, Tim found himself being smuggled into Iraq, posing as a French journalist.

What our Alumni say...

Being part of the Principal Circle each month has been the single best move I've made for my wellbeing as a school leader. Every month a have a diary date with Dan and Tim to focus on self improvement and leading others. I look forward to sharing both challenges and successes with the small group of trusted colleagues each month. The sessions are wonderful and always lead me to consider both work and home through a different lens.
Narelle Betts-SmithNSW Public School Principal
I joined the Principal Circle during the complexity and uncertainty of 2021 and enjoyed the 'escape' to the Principal Circle with Dan, Tim and some fantastic Principal colleagues. The beauty of this was that nobody knows the job of a Principal unless you are one - so to have a team discussing the sometimes 'craziness' of a Principal's week was absolutely soul filling. The topics covered, problem solving and sometimes difficult conversations just led me to grow further in my leadership and learn from some amazing humans. Thank you for understanding and supporting this wonderful, privileged yet complex role - I have appreciated every minute.
Wanita BowlesNSW Public School Principal
I have thoroughly enjoyed participating in the Principal Circle. It has developed my leadership by networking with principal colleagues and becoming aware of elements for growth as a principal through the sessions with Dan and Tim. This has also helped me develop not only professionally but also personally as there is a focus on wellbeing. Having the opportunity to reflect and engage in rich conversation within the group has been so powerful. Thank you for your continued guidance!
Vicki pantelisNSW PUBIC SCHOOL PRINCIPAL
During a very challenging and complex year, the participation in the Principal's Circle has allowed me to mandate time to reflect of my professional role and my personal development as a school leader. We have been guided through amazing discussions by both Dan and Tim in an environment of trust and mutual respect. I feel privileged to be part of a group of school leaders who have a strong commitment to being reflective of their experiences and willing to discuss with one another. It is a very special group of people and a time that I am very protective of. I always look forward to our monthly meetings and am excited to continue being part of the Principal Circle.
Natalie PiccininNSW Public School Principal
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Tell Me More...

There is no curriculum as such. Rather, The Principal Circle is tailored to meet the challenges that principals face. The direction of each circle is informed by the challenges you, as our members, are facing. By leveraging the collective expertise & experience within the group, you can anticipate exploring concepts such as: 

Emotional intelligence, holding people accountable, difficult conversations, leading teams and navigating change.

Twice a term, your Circle will get together for a 2hr Group Session. There is no obligation for you to attend every session. However, we ask that you aim for at least 75% attendance rate.

The Circles will take place during the weeks identified below:

Week beginning Monday 3rd March

Week beginning Monday 31st March

Week beginning Monday 26th May

Week beginning Monday 23rd June

Week beginning Monday 11th August

Week beginning Monday 8th September

Week beginning Monday 3rd November

Week beginning Monday 1st December

Based on what principals have told us they want, Circle Zoom sessions consist of only a small number of participants in order to ensure an immersive and valuable experience for all.

As well as addressing current issues, we dig deeper into the work of the world’s leading experts in the field of leadership who we’ve been fortunate enough to interview specifically to support you, and school leaders across Australia.  

You also have the opportunity to jump into the Hot Seat in which you can bring a challenge you’re dealing with specifically to gain insight from your Circle colleagues. 

Along with the occasional reading The Principal Circle is sure to stimulate and support you in your role.

All members of The Principal Circle have access to Dan or Tim whenever they would like to work through a specific challenge they’re facing in real time. 

Dan & Tim are able to act not only as an objective sounding board, but are also skilled in helping people achieve clarity about the next step required in overcoming their challenges. 

Investment

Membership to the The Principal Circle

Online Group Sessions

On Demand Focus Coaching to help you navigate challenges as they come up

A signed copy of Dan’s best-selling book, The Act of Leadership – A playbook for leading with humility, clarity & purpose.

Your own Principal Circle Learning Journal to curate your learning & insights.

Investment: 2495 +GST

Enrol for 2025

Register your details below to join our next cohort

CIRCLE MEMBERSHIP IS STRICTLY LIMITED

Don't worry if you're not 100% sure. We can change this closer to the time.

Applications are now closed.

Register your details to join the waitlist and be the first to know when the application window opens again. 

Need to Chat?

If you’d like to chat with us to learn more about the Principal Circle then please: 

Call: (02) 9331 3099 or fill in the contact form below and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.