Former South Australian Education Minister joins MindChamps as Senior Advisor 

MindChamps has engaged former South Australian Minister for Education John Gardner as Senior Advisor, bringing extensive experience in education policy and reform to the global education group. 

Gardner served as South Australia’s Minister for Education from 2018 to 2022. Having studied many education models globally, he was impressed by what he experienced firsthand at MindChamps, including the enthusiastic engagement between children and educators across its innovative programmes and the high standards he observed. 

He was also especially taken by MindChamps’ research-backed education methodology and its distinction as the only education organisation to have attained patent status for its methodology in the US, UK, Australia and Singapore.

Underpinning the methodology is rigorous research, including the work of MindChamps’ Applied Integration Research (AIR) team and collaborations with leading universities. These include controlled EEG field testing initiated with the University of South Australia, now part of Adelaide University, as well as the Western Sydney University–MindChamps Academy, established to advance research, innovation and professional development in early childhood education. 

John Gardner said: 

“In the MindChamps centres I have visited, I have been struck by the high quality of the educators and programmes, the authentic relationships between educators and children, the confidence of the children and the joy on their faces. 

“MindChamps’ music, nutrition and literacy programmes are innovative, and it has been wonderful to see the genuine engagement between educators and their young Champs firsthand. “I love the way that MindChamps goes above and beyond to support all children in their centres to become their best selves, with a mindset that is ready for school and for life.” 

MindChamps Founder CEO and Executive Chairman David Chiem, D.Litt. said: “It has always been in the MindChamps DNA to identify gaps in education and lift standards. But doing that meaningfully requires deep research and a strong system behind it. “John’s depth of understanding and experience in education, together with his insight into the challenges that need to be addressed, will contribute significantly as we continue to pursue our vision.” 

Photo: MindChamps Founder CEO and Executive Chairman David Chiem, D.Litt. with former South Australian Minister for Education and newly appointed MindChamps Senior Advisor John Gardner, together with preschoolers and educators at MindChamps @ Toa Payoh.