Gavin Grift is recognised as one of Australia’s most respected educational voices, known for his deep experience in learning, leadership, identity and collaboration. His influence began in Australian classrooms, where he spent fifteen years teaching and leading with a clear belief in student agency and purposeful learning. These early years shaped his conviction that growth begins with how people understand themselves and the relationships they build around learning.
His impact widened as he moved into system roles, supporting clusters of schools across Victoria and leading teaching and learning in Bayside Melbourne. During this time he became known for his ability to translate complex educational ideas into practical approaches that lifted student engagement and strengthened teacher capability.
Gavin’s work gained national prominence through his authorship and his leadership role with Hawker Brownlow Education and Solution Tree Australia. Working alongside Richard and Rebecca DuFour and the global Professional Learning Communities movement, he supported schools across Australia to strengthen collaboration and transform the way teams worked together. These years cemented his reputation as a trusted national leader in school improvement, adult learning and teacher development.
As invitations expanded, so did his influence. His work as a Cognitive Coaching training associate with Thinking Collaborative took him across Asia, North America, Europe, and the Middle East. Gavin became widely known for helping educators develop reflective practice, metacognitive skills, and identity driven leadership. His keynotes and seminars now reach communities across the world, showing the global relevance of his work while remaining firmly grounded in his Australian roots.
Gavin is the author of several well regarded books, including Assessing the Whole Child, Teachers as Architects of Learning, Collaborative Teams That Transform Schools, Collaborative Teams That Work, Five Ways of Being, Transformative Collaboration and Emerge. Each book reflects his commitment to practical approaches that deepen identity, strengthen collaboration, and support long lasting growth. In 2018 Gavin founded Grift Education, supporting schools and systems nationally and internationally with professional learning programs focused on leadership, culture, collaboration, coaching, and instructional development. As this work expanded, a larger vision emerged: to create a home for reflective professional learning that could meet the needs of educators worldwide.
This vision culminated in the formation of the Ingrove Group , a growing ecosystem that includes Grift Education, Ingrove Academy, and Ingrove Press. Together they provide thought leadership, professional learning programs, publishing and resources that help educators grow both internally and collectively. Ingrove exists to cultivate human growth through reflection, community, and purposeful practice, offering what complexity and automation cannot replicate: clarity, depth, connection and a thoughtful slowing down to support genuine adult learning.
What sets Gavin apart is the depth of lived experience he brings. He has spent the years in classrooms, the seasons in leadership and the decades refining what it means to support adult learning that lasts. His work carries authenticity shaped by experience, clarity shaped by research, and humility shaped by thousands of interactions with educators across the world. Today, through the Ingrove Group, his influence continues to expand globally, meeting the needs of educators who want learning that is reflective, courageous and deeply human.
He is known for translating complex educational ideas into practical strategies that strengthen teaching, learning, and collaborative culture in schools and organisations.
His coaching recognises that everyone comes to coaching for different reasons. It focuses on building personal effectiveness, helping leaders work smarter, and supporting ongoing professional growth. Central to his approach is guiding others to identify and challenge self-limiting beliefs and unhelpful thinking that can hinder impact.
Through his work with middle school and executive leaders, he helps educators at all levels unlock potential, build confidence, and develop clearer thinking—leading to greater energy, job satisfaction and improved problem-solving.
Gavin’s approach is grounded in lived classroom experience, strong relationships, reflective practice, and long-term adult learning — not quick-fix solutions. He translates complex educational theory into meaningful, practical action that strengthens individuals, teams and organisational cultures without diluting its depth.
He works at the identity level, helping educators and leaders understand who they are as teachers, leaders, colleagues, and teams. By creating safe spaces for reflection, he encourages exploration of professional habits and thinking patterns that are often overlooked. His work builds shared language, shared identity, and lasting resonance, enabling teams and organisations to grow together in ways that extend far beyond any single session.