Dr Angela Millar-Swan
Senior Project Lead
Growing up in a low socio-economic area shaped Angela’s proud and unwavering passion for ensuring every child has the opportunity to reach their potential, no matter their background.
With expertise in leadership, inclusive pedagogical practices, complexity theory, and curriculum learning design, Angela is committed to transforming education into a space where all learners have the opportunity to rise and thrive.
At ThirdStory, formerly Innovation Unit Australia New Zealand, Angela plays a pivotal role in collaborating with the Bermudian Government, designing innovative learning models and reshaping the island’s educational landscape. Drawing on her unique skill set, she empowers communities to re-engineer their ecosystems in ways that are interconnected and aligned with their values and beliefs.
Beyond education, Angela is deepening her engagement with philanthropic organizations, helping them strengthen funder partnerships, amplify program impact, and achieve the transformational change that underserved communities need to truly thrive.
Before joining ThirdStory/Innovation Unit ANZ, Angela built a diverse and dynamic career in education, spanning over 34 years. She began as a teacher before taking on a variety of roles, including: facilitator, researcher, lecturer, and evaluator. Her journey has taken her across the globe, where she worked in various educational institutions in Australia, England, Colombia, and Aotearoa, New Zealand. Beyond academia, she has contributed to the public sector, not-for-profits, and state-owned enterprises—deepening her understanding of education as a complex, adaptive, interconnected ecosystem.
Angela's profound understanding of complexity theory is exemplified by her doctorate, which utilises a holistic view on life to explore principal leadership in low socioeconomic settings for educational success.