Tandem respectfully acknowledges the traditional custodians of the land on which we live and work, the Wathaurung, Bunurong Boon Wurrung and Wurundjeri Woi Wurrung peoples of the eastern Kulin nation and pay respect to their elders past, present and emerging.
Modern methods for modern schools.
We know schools. We know education systems.
Who are we?
We’re systems thinkers, researchers, and behavioural scientists. We work with schools, education institutions, and the sector.
What Makes Us Different?
Most change efforts focus on parts.
We focus on the interactions. Between people, processes, decisions and systems—whether technical, organisational or cultural.
This is where complexity lives. And where flow begins.
What We Believe
1. Schools are adaptive systems, not machines.
2. People do their best inside the systems they’re given.
3. Better systems = the freedom to educate.
Why ‘Tandem’?
Because you shouldn’t have to lead change alone. You lead. We walk beside you.
Our leadership
Our team of talented associates is lead by our Director, Strategy, Michael Noonan.
Michael Noonan
Researcher | Systems Thinker | Sense Maker
Michael believes schools don’t need to work harder. They need to work differently.
Michael is a social scientist who’s spent his career working within the complexity of schools. He’s passionate about helping school leaders cut through the noise, find the signal, and redesign elements of their school so everything flows.
He has held executive leadership roles in education peak bodies and the corporate sector that have focused on education policy, technology transformation, data and analytics, systems, and strategy. But his real skill is seeing the bigger picture—and helping others see it too.
Michael has led school-based research and evaluation projects spanning a wide range of issues concerning education. He has worked with schools across all states and territories and from all school sectors. His work aims to get to the heart of how schools work—and why they sometimes don’t.
Michael brings empathy and understanding to every relationship. He knows change isn’t easy, but it’s possible.
And that it starts with seeing the system.