Synopsis & Media Kit
What Matters Most
By Dr. Graham Leo · 2013 · Emmanuel College
Synopsis
What Matters Most is a curated collection of the best writing from Dr. Graham Leo's 18-year tenure as Principal of Emmanuel College on the Gold Coast — a multi-denominational K-12 Christian school of over 1,700 students. Drawing from hundreds of newsletter articles, speeches, chapel addresses, and reflections written to parents, teachers, and students, the book is organised around three enduring pillars — Truth, Beauty, and Goodness — and the eight values of the Emmanuel Compass. It captures a distinctive educational philosophy that is both deeply Christian and thoroughly practical: the conviction that school culture is formed not by policies alone but by the daily accumulation of values lived out in community. The book offers a window into how one school leader shaped culture over nearly two decades, and provides a template for anyone seeking to build an institution around things that truly matter.
Key Themes
- •Truth, Beauty, and Goodness as educational foundations
- •The Emmanuel Compass — eight values for school culture
- •School leadership as culture formation
- •Christian education beyond chapel and RE
- •The daily accumulation of values in community
- •18 years of practical educational philosophy
Selected Quotes
“What we want is not more books about Christianity, but more books by Christians on other subjects — with their Christianity latent.”
“Truly compassionate leaders deal realistically with people; they help them to achieve the very best that they can.”
“The ground they leave behind will be better for their having been here, and all manner of things shall be well.”
About the Author
Dr. Graham Leo is a writer, speaker, and educator based on the Gold Coast, Australia. He holds a Doctor of Ministry from the Adelaide College of Divinity and trained at the Oxford Centre for Christian Apologetics under Alister McGrath. For 25 years he served as Principal of two independent Christian schools in Queensland, including Emmanuel College — a multi-denominational K-12 school of over 1,700 students. He is the author of eight books spanning theology, fiction, poetry, education, and pastoral care. Graham describes himself as an “organic theologian” — someone homegrown in faith communities who studies Scripture carefully and communicates its truth to others. He is a Fellow of ISCAST, a graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, and an international conference speaker with engagements across the USA, UK, South Korea, Japan, and the Philippines.
Media & Review Copies
For review copies, interview requests, or speaking enquiries, contact Graham directly: