Author Spotlight

                                                                                                    

Dr. Judi Newman, PhD is the Director of The Academy of Organisational Neuroscience Australia and is an expert in educational neuroscience. She is a former high school principal. Her mission is to boost influence through strengthening leadership capacity and learning impact, through a neuroscience lens by sharing evidence-based practice.

There is a gap between some of what we do and what the science shows us. Judi’s work is focussed on working with school principals and corporate leaders to establish brainwise schools or companies to build high performance teams to close that gap. Her unique approach, combining what we know from psychology, education and neuroscience is evident in her academic research and work background across these three areas.

Judi’s PhD research won the Paul Andersen Research Prize for the most outstanding thesis in the university’s academic year in 2022 and the ACEL New Voice Award for Leadership Research, 2023. She was the first school principal in Queensland to become Lead Principal, provided a $10000 research scholarship from the Education Department.

Currently, Judi is working with Canadian principals and California principals and is an adjunct senior lecturer at CQ University.  She has travelled to over 250 schools across Australia to work with teachers and hosts podcasts for the Institute of Organisational Neuroscience (ION). She has been keynote at several international conferences and has written over 20 professional papers. She has written several books.

Her latest book 'Influence: How Educational Leaders Transform Thinking to Inspire, Unite and Deliver', offers a unique blend of scientific insights and real-world application. Newman's research shows that the most effective leaders understand how to appeal to our inner motivations through biological processes in the brain. With compelling stories, evidence-based research and actionable tools, this book will help you master the art of influence and become the kind of leader who inspires others to bring out their best performance.

Influence: How Educational Leaders Transform Thinking to Inspire, Unite and Deliver

Influence: How Educational Leaders Transform Thinking to Inspire, Unite and Deliver
Title: Influence : How Educational Leaders Transform Thinking to Inspire, Unite and Deliver

Author: Dr Judi Newman

Year: 2025

Publisher: Amba Press

Leadership isn't about authority – it's about influence.

In Influence, Dr Judi Newman reveals how understanding the brain through a neuroscience lens can transform your ability to inspire, unite and deliver results. Drawing from her PhD research shadowing high-performing school principals, Newman demonstrates that without neuroplastic changes in the brain over time, there is limited learning and behaviour change. This groundbreaking book explores twelve essential leadership attributes and practical influence strategies you can implement immediately.

Whether you're a seasoned executive, emerging leader or someone seeking to amplify their impact, Influence offers a unique blend of scientific insights and real-world application. Newman's research shows that the most effective leaders understand how to appeal to our inner motivations through biological processes in the brain. With compelling stories, evidence-based research and actionable tools, this book will help you master the art of influence and become the kind of leader who inspires others to bring out their best performance.

ISBN: 9781923403222
Code: AP9781923403222
Number of Pages: 224
Published on: 20 August 2025
Paperback
Amba Press
Member price: 37.95
42.95
Members save: 11%