Game Changers

The Game Changers podcast celebrates those true pioneers in education who are building schools for tomorrow. In episode 194 (Part 2) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Jess & Krys Wootten founders of Wootten. Jess took over Custom Fit Australia when he was 23 years old. He was bright-eyed and full of ideas with his Dad's old shoemaking tools to make use of. Fast forward 17 years and he is still bright-eyed and full of ideas, but has also gained a broad variety of experience in the leather craft and varying facets of the footwear industry. Jess is the founder and leader of the team at Wootten. In the workshop he lasts all the footwear by hand and stitches every sole together. He is also our main sewer for our bags and accessories. He has a fondness for old shoemaking tools, lovingly displaying them on a wall in the workshop. In his spare time, Jess likes to potter in the garden and make stuff. Before starting with Wootten in 2015, Krys was heavily involved in the wine industry. She worked eight vintages at wineries around Australia and Italy, before becoming Wine Manager for Enoteca Sileno and finally Kind & Godfree in Carlton. Krys was thrown in the deep end when she began at Wootten, initially looking after the retail side. Today, she is head of footwear and accessory cutting and finishing and is the general operations manager and also one of the main people you'll meet when you come into the shop. Krys enjoys helping customers push their design and aesthetic boundaries and finding the right fit. In her spare time, you'll find Krys making wine for her Galotz label, pottering with Jess & Quincy in their garden, having cups of tea, reading Japanese manga, or cuddling their dog, Hunter Rooney. The Game Changers podcast is produced by Evan Phillips supported by a School for tomorrow (aschoolfortomorrow.com), and powered by CIRCLE. The podcast is hosted on SoundCloud and distributed through Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at [email protected], on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil and Adriano via LinkedIn and Twitter. Let’s go!

The Game Changers podcast celebrates those true pioneers in education who are building schools for tomorrow. In episode 194 of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Jess & Krys Wootten founders of Wootten. Jess took over Custom Fit Australia when he was 23 years old. He was bright-eyed and full of ideas with his Dad's old shoemaking tools to make use of. Fast forward 17 years and he is still bright-eyed and full of ideas, but has also gained a broad variety of experience in the leather craft and varying facets of the footwear industry. Jess is the founder and leader of the team at Wootten. In the workshop he lasts all the footwear by hand and stitches every sole together. He is also our main sewer for our bags and accessories. He has a fondness for old shoemaking tools, lovingly displaying them on a wall in the workshop. In his spare time, Jess likes to potter in the garden and make stuff. Before starting with Wootten in 2015, Krys was heavily involved in the wine industry. She worked eight vintages at wineries around Australia and Italy, before becoming Wine Manager for Enoteca Sileno and finally Kind & Godfree in Carlton. Krys was thrown in the deep end when she began at Wootten, initially looking after the retail side. Today, she is head of footwear and accessory cutting and finishing and is the general operations manager and also one of the main people you'll meet when you come into the shop. Krys enjoys helping customers push their design and aesthetic boundaries and finding the right fit. In her spare time, you'll find Krys making wine for her Galotz label, pottering with Jess & Quincy in their garden, having cups of tea, reading Japanese manga, or cuddling their dog, Hunter Rooney. The Game Changers podcast is produced by Evan Phillips supported by a School for tomorrow (aschoolfortomorrow.com), and powered by CIRCLE. The podcast is hosted on SoundCloud and distributed through Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at [email protected], on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil and Adriano via LinkedIn and Twitter. Let’s go!

The Game Changers podcast celebrates those true pioneers in education who are building schools for tomorrow. In episode 193 of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Benjamin Cooper, Executive Chef at Chin Chin for a holiday special. Hailing from the small town of Taree in New South Wales, Benjamin Cooper has been Executive Chef at beloved Southeast Asian restaurant Chin Chin for the past 13 years. He has worked with several of Australia's most celebrated chefs, flexing his skill and knowledge in kitchens across Melbourne and the UK. Originally aiming to pursue a career in economics, Benjamin ended up completing a culinary apprenticeship on a gap year — and never looked back. The early days of his career saw him head to the UK, where he worked with head chefs at renowned restaurants including Nobu London, Bluebird in Chelsea and Smiths of Smithfield. Cooper’s passion for authentic techniques and high-quality ingredients grew as he worked with Australia's best-known Thai cuisine chef, David Thompson, at Nahm within London’s The Halkin — the first Michelin-starred Thai restaurant in Europe. Returning to Melbourne, Benjamin worked as Head Chef at fine-diner Ezard and esteemed Thai restaurant Longrain, both stints cementing his love of fresh and fiery flavours. In 2011, Benjamin joined restaurateur Chris Lucas to launch Chin Chin, where his now trademark big, brash flavour combinations had diners lining up down the street from day one. An icon of Melbourne’s food scene, Chin Chin arguably kickstarted the city’s trend of dining with energy, colour and music from its location on Flinders Lane. Benjamin's passion, understanding of ingredients and knack for experimenting with flavours and texture combinations has redefined Southeast Asian cuisine in Australia. It’s helped drive Chin Chin’s incredible success within the country’s hospitality scene, not just with the restaurant’s original Melbourne location, but also its second outpost in Sydney’s Surry Hills (opened in 2017) and the addition of Club Chin Chin at GMHBA Stadium (2024). Aside from the fiery Asian food he brings to life at Chin Chin, Cooper is passionate about coffee and cheese, and shares his years of culinary experience with those keen to learn via Chin Chin’s own ‘Cooking with Cooper’ classes. Benjamin’s recipes and kitchen experience have also contributed to Chin Chin’s three cookbooks, ‘Chin Chin: The Book’, ‘Chin Chin: Feed Me’ and the just-released ‘Chin Chin: Still Hungry’. The Game Changers podcast is produced by Evan Phillips supported by a School for tomorrow (aschoolfortomorrow.com), and powered by CIRCLE. The podcast is hosted on SoundCloud and distributed through Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at [email protected], on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil and Adriano via LinkedIn and Twitter. Let’s go!

The Game Changers podcast celebrates those true pioneers in education who are building schools for tomorrow. In episode 192 (Part 3) of Game Changers, Phil Cummins joins in conversation with Dr Joanne Ladds. Dr Joanne Ladds is an educational consultant and learning space designer with two decades of experience in the education sector. With a lifetime devoted to learning, Joanne's work shows an unwavering dedication to creating thriving educational spaces. As a consultant, researcher, and speaker, Joanne is a valued member of the Noble+Eaton team. Joanne is passionate about educational change and is dedicated to creating strategically designed and inclusive learning spaces. Her approach is deeply rooted in evidence-led and pupil-centric methodologies that foster growth and encourage all students to thrive. The Game Changers podcast is produced by Evan Phillips supported by a School for tomorrow (aschoolfortomorrow.com), and powered by CIRCLE. The podcast is hosted on SoundCloud and distributed through Spotify, Google Podcasts, and Apple Podcasts. Please subscribe and tell your friends you like what you are hearing. You can contact us at [email protected], on Twitter and Instagram via @GameChangersPC, and you can also connect with Phil via LinkedIn and Twitter. Let’s go!