2023 Middle Leaders Program

Meika Pfeiffer-Gough is the Leadership and Teaching Excellence Manager at AISWA, part of the Curriculum and School Improvement Directorate. With 19 years of experience as a teacher and leader across diverse PK-12 educational settings, Meika is committed to promoting excellence in teaching and leadership. She highlights the importance of emotional intelligence and relational trust in building strong, respectful connections within school communities, recognizing these as essential for creating positive learning environments and inspiring growth. Passionate about leadership development, Meika works to empower confident, reflective leaders who drive collective success.

Dr. Nancy Pavisich is a distinguished Leadership, Management and Communication Consultant. She has dedicated her career to working with leaders, teams, corporate clients, teachers, mentors, and coaches, fostering their personal and professional growth.

Dr Nancy's extensive experience in Education spans across Catholic, Government, and Independent Schools, where she has researched, designed, implemented, and evaluated programs at the system, organisational, team, and individual levels. Her academic credentials include a Ph.D. in Mentoring, a Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership, and qualifications in Business Management and Strategy, Neuroleadership, and Training and Assessment.

As a former senior leader in schools, Dr. Nancy has honed her expertise and is a certified facilitator for Lifestyles and Group Styles Inventory, DISC, EQI 2.0, Print, and Educator Impact Tools. Currently, she lectures in Leadership and Education at Edith Cowan University and serves as a Sessional Tutor at the University of Notre Dame. Additionally, Dr Nancy contributes to the Australian Institute of Management MBA program as a facilitator and workshop designer.

Dr. Nancy's commitment to leadership and education is underpinned by evidence-based research, which she has documented in various professional and non-professional journals. Her dedication to excellence has been recognised through numerous awards, including the New Voice Scholarship Award (2020), a Certificate of Excellence in Educational Leadership from ACELWA (2021), a Post Graduate Award from the Western Australian Institute for Educational Research (2022), and the ACEL Fellowship Award (2022). In 2024, she was nominated Leadership Consultant and Leadership Professional of the Year for the Institute for Learning and Performance for the Asia Pacific Region.

Dr Nancy is also the author to two 5-star reviewed books: It's All About It! Evidence-based, practical guide to workplace communications and Show Up and Lead (Unlock the power of self-awareness and be your best self at work).

Nicole Brown is the Teaching and Learning - Wellbeing Consultant. She has worked in independent schools in the PK-12 environment as an educational leader with responsibility for the pastoral care and wellbeing of Primary School students.  Nicole is passionate about ensuring that every child is supported to grow in a safe and healthy environment, with access to early intervention and prevention programs. She is looking forward to providing leadership support and high-quality advice on the design and delivery of whole-school approaches to health and wellbeing, bridging the gap between research and practice.