“This award is a quiet affirmation of a job well done not just by me, but by a team committed to making a difference.”— Mr Ron Robinson, Director of Information Technology
Global EdTech Awards 2025: more than a personal accolade, it's a global endorsement of TGS's strategic approach to IT, online safety and education.
This year, Toowoomba Grammar School was honoured at the Global EdTech Awards, becoming the only Australian school to receive recognition in this category of the prestigious international program. While the category - Best Network Manager - may not often make headlines, it celebrates the quiet achievers who empower learning, protect students and enable innovation.
Arthur C. Clarke once said, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.” If that’s true, then network managers are the magicians of modern education: weaving invisible threads through classrooms, enabling ideas to take flight and ensuring that every digital interaction is safe, purposeful and empowering.
And the Winner Is…
Toowoomba Grammar School (Ron Robinson), Queensland, Australia
In announcing the winner, Dr Oterman praised TGS’s nomination for its strategic innovation, technical excellence and most importantly, its unwavering commitment to student wellbeing and community engagement.
TGS’s approach to technology goes far beyond tools and trends. It’s about intentional integration -empowering educators, protecting students and creating a secure, transparent environment where learning can flourish. The School’s model, now recognised internationally across more than 20 countries, is built on a foundation of child protection and eSafety, setting a new benchmark for educational technology leadership.
From Legacy to Leadership
This award marks the culmination of a three-year transformation - a shift from reactive IT support to a proactive, visionary force. Under Ron Robinson’s leadership, the School has reimagined its digital environment to be robust, secure and purpose-driven. It’s not just about technology; it’s about creating a space where students and educators can dream, innovate and thrive.
Technology with Purpose: Putting Boys’ Safety First
At TGS, student safety is non-negotiable. Every digital decision is made with the wellbeing of our boys at the centre. From cyber safety education to secure network design, our systems are built to protect, empower and prepare students for life beyond school: helping them become independent, balanced and resilient young men. This is in line with our purpose of educating boys and developing their good character for life.
Regional Leadership and Community Impact
This award also recognises TGS’s role as a regional leader, offering a platform for local schools to engage in vendor showcases, security roundtables and strategic forums. By breaking down barriers to knowledge and fostering collaboration, TGS is helping build a stronger, safer digital future for all schools in our region. In Term 1 of this year our School hosted at MITIE (Managing ICT In Education) Inc Conference: ICT Strategy and Leadership with a number of interstate speakers including our own Headmaster, Dr John Kinniburgh.
A Quiet Celebration
Upon receiving confirmation of the win on Friday, 19 September, I reflected not on personal accolades, but on the journey of a team. I feel technology has never been my goal; it’s about intention, purpose and application.

Looking Ahead: Vision, Courage and Heart
While awards are wonderful, they are not the destination. The real reward lies in the systems we build, the lives we impact and the futures we shape. At TGS, we continue to ask: "What’s next?" And we answer with action - through consistent cyber safety practices, strategic planning and a commitment to purpose-driven innovation.
We encourage our boys to align what they do with what they believe, to listen to voices braver than their own and to embrace technology not as a distraction, but as a window to transformation.
Latest Blog
Fostering Growth and Resilience
This philosophy is vividly demonstrated through our Junior School MATES program, an initiative designed to equip boys from Prep to Year 6 with the skills they need to thrive both in and out of the classroom. Year 6 leader Hugo Seaby epitomises what the program is all about. As a leader in Stephens House, he explains its importance: “It’s about spending time with the younger boys and learning about honesty, respect, kindness and other attributes like that.” He said that it’s helpful for the…
Preparing for the Future of Work
For months I have been watching the earthworks being undertaken ahead of construction for the new DET Centre at Toowoomba Grammar School with interest. It is hard to miss, given that the Headmaster’s residence, our family home, is right next to the building site. The vibrations can be unsettling, and the noises are constant. However, each day reminds me of the important work underway to secure a part of the School’s future. Soon, all boys at TGS will have the opportunity to immerse themselves…
“Watch your character, it becomes your destiny.”
Whether it was American essayist Ralph Waldo Emerson, Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu, or even UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher’s father who coined the phrase “watch your character, it becomes your destiny,” it was Dr Linda Evans who gave it real relevance to a theatre full of students, staff and families. After a decade and a half in charge of Toowoomba’s respected Fairholme College as Principal and some 22 years in total on staff, Dr Evans will leave the institution she has led and loved by…
Preparation for Boarding: Practical Tips and Tricks
In fact, I’ve coined the phrase “the clearer the runway, the smoother the landing” as a neat summary of this observation. A great deal of boarding experience can be initiated at home in the weeks and months leading up to your son’s departure, helping him prepare psychologically and logistically for his upcoming journey. At TGS, we acknowledge that the boarding journey for boys and families starts long before they enter the house in late January. In the mind of a new boarder and their family,…
Exploring the Role of Neuroscience in Supporting Teenage Boys
Recent insights from neuroscience reveal that the teenage brain undergoes significant changes, particularly in the frontal lobe, which is essential for decision-making, impulse control and emotional regulation. By leveraging this knowledge, we can create supportive environments that guide our boys through the complexities of their teenage years.The Prefrontal Cortex The prefrontal cortex, located in the frontal lobe, is one of the last areas of the brain to mature, significantly impacting…
Wellbeing and Character Development Program — Benefiting Students and Staff Alike
In 2024, the School re-established the Head of Pastoral Care position. The role will be pivotal in supporting all staff to foster a supportive and nurturing environment at Toowoomba Grammar School. Integral to the role’s success is the parallel expansion of the Wellbeing and Character Development (WCD) program to yield multifaceted benefits for both staff and students. For staff, the Head of Pastoral Care provides guidance, support and resources, aiding in their efforts to address students’…
Nurturing the Seeds of Leadership
Early exposure to leadership roles helps children develop character traits such as responsibility, empathy, resilience and integrity. As a School, we provide the opportunity for the cultivation of leadership skills in our young boys. From the formative years in Prep through to the adolescent years of Year 6, the importance of fostering leadership qualities cannot be overstated. In our modern world, where adaptability, resilience and initiative are regarded as quality attributes, nurturing the…
Pedal Power: The TGS Mountain Bike Club
What started with 12 boys now has 90, with many of the riders racing in the Schools Academy Gravity Enduro Series and other events. We also have a tour of 20 boys going to Thredbo in December this year, where they will tackle some of the most exciting trails in Australia. We thank the wonderful group of parents who support the club. They can often be found driving vehicles up and down the range on a Sunday morning to support the boys. We would not have been as successful as we are without…
Beyond the Blue and Gold
Our focus is to work with each individual student to assist in creating awareness of the world of work, helping students to articulate their interests and identifying what is important to them and their values. We assist the boys in developing the skills to explore the different careers out there. We connect them with employers and industry professionals and help them navigate towards the job or career they are interested in. We work hard to individualise each student’s unique School journey to…