Peter Ashby Smith

I’m Peter, a higher education leader specializing in front-of-house service delivery, change management, and stakeholder engagement. With a career devoted to transforming teams and services, I’ve earned a reputation for turning challenges into collaborative opportunities.

I excel in hands-on leadership, emphasizing stakeholder engagement to ensure success in enhancing learning, teaching and research services. Success in the higher education ecosystem is also collaborative effort, and I prioritize stakeholder collaboration in decision-making processes and forming partnerships to deliver broader and more sustained outcomes.

My blog shares some of my thoughts, insights and strategies for those seeking inspiration and opportunities to collaborate.

Leadership Qualities, Modern Management Traits

Top 5 leadership qualities for modern managers

As a seasoned leader with experience spanning retail management, IT, and higher education, I’ve had the privilege of observing and cultivating leadership across diverse sectors. Today, I want to share insights on the top five leadership qualities that I believe are crucial for modern managers. These qualities aren’t just theoretical concepts—they’re practical skills I’ve honed […]

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Leadership Introduction, Key Leadership Strategies

An introduction to leadership

Introduction Leaders are entrusted with the vital responsibility in organisations. In my context of higher education, they are involved in shaping the minds and futures of students. Effective leadership is essential not only for the success of organisations, but also for nurturing the next generation of leaders who will tackle society’s greatest challenges (Shapiro, 2015).

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Valentine’s Gifts for Librarians, Unique Librarian Gifts

10 Valentine’s gift ideas for the librarian in your life

As Valentine’s Day approaches, it’s the perfect time to express your love and appreciation for the special librarian or book lover in your life. If your partner, friend, or family member is a librarian or book lover, you know they have a passion for books, knowledge, and the quiet sanctuary of libraries. Finding the right

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Holistic Leadership, Leadership Growth Strategies

Navigating leadership: a holistic approach to growth

Leadership is a complex and dynamic endeavour, and as such it demands a multifaceted approach to growth. However, “complexity” doesn’t always mean “complicated”. Children can grasp leadership, which means we can too. When pondering this, I thought it would be helpful to pare back some of this complexity and delve into some of the more

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Midwit Challenges in Education

The midwit challenges in higher education

In the ever-evolving landscape of higher education, the quality of leadership within academic institutions plays a pivotal role in shaping the experiences of both staff and students. Noah Carl’s thought-provoking article, “Are we ruled by midwits?” delves into the intellectual capacities of elected representatives, raising concerns about the competence of those entrusted with making crucial decisions. While the focus is primarily on political figures in the United Kingdom, the implications resonate beyond politics, prompting a reflection on the state of leadership in Australian higher education.

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