As the working day in Sydney comes to an end, Dr Liam Hammer’s day is just beginning at the International School of Lusaka in Zambia’s capital. Contrary to the image many have of Africa, Dr Liam – as his students like to call him – explains that landlocked Zambia is not as hot or dry as you might expect.

“Africa is an enormous continent with incredibly diverse climates and geography, and Zambia is very mild due to the elevation,” he says. “It’s currently the wet season, and only about 22 degrees, so it’s quite comfortable. I had no idea what it would be like before I arrived, but it’s a very friendly country – it’s fabulous.”

Based right in the middle of Lusaka, the school boasts 55 nationalities of students, including children of ambassadors, UN staff and businesspeople. “About a third of our students are Zambian, so it’s a very diverse school,” says Dr Hammer. “There’s a lot going on – the students experience varied opportunities and amazing learning.”

Now in the second year of a three-year contract, Dr Hammer oversees nearly 200 in-house and outsourced staff. It’s a medium-sized business, and the work is wide-ranging, from overseeing the management and direction of the school to growing the school’s alumni community, and even sitting with students at lunchtime. It’s clear he’s in his element.

“I realised early on what I wanted to do,” he reflects. “I still remember when, at 16, at a Catholic boys’ school, during assembly a brother mentioned teaching English at a school in Papua New Guinea in a village that was a day’s walk from the nearest airfield.

“Straight away I thought, Wow, that’s what I want to do. Before that, I really had no idea – maybe an author or a journalist, or a geologist? I was one of eight, and we’d never travelled, but suddenly I knew I wanted to be an international schoolteacher.”

Dr Hammer spoke to his career counsellor straight away – he’d need a teaching degree and five years experience in Australia, but his path was set. “I enrolled in Melbourne University in 1992 and completed a Bachelor of Education, majoring in science education.”

So keen was he to begin his career, he even organised his own internship at an international school in Indonesia teaching maths, science and computers while still at university. Then, after graduating, he taught in Victorian schools for the requisite five years. “Finally, I went to a recruitment fair, got a job and moved to Thailand in 2001.”

He’s worked in international schools ever since. “For the first half of my career, I was a biology and science teacher, then about a decade ago I moved into middle and senior management, working in schools in Albania, Indonesia, Malaysia and now Zambia.”

But it was his first job at the New International School Thailand in Bangkok, one of the top international schools worldwide, which drew him to Macquarie University. “At the time, most international schools encouraged teachers to get their masters, but I couldn’t find one that allowed me to continue with science education.”

Fortuitously, while on a NASA-sponsored astronomy workshop in the USA, one of the teachers recommended Macquarie University. “They said there was a great science education degree you could do online, so I looked into it and enrolled in the Master of Science Education, which I completed in 2006.

“It was early days for online learning, well before Zoom, but Macquarie stood out. The materials were purpose-written, using ICQ for chats and quizzes, PowerPoints and video lessons. It was engaging, interesting and very much at the forefront of online learning – that’s why I remember my time at Macquarie so well.

“It reignited my love of learning and showed me the potential of online education – a lesson that proved invaluable during COVID. The schools I led during the pandemic were well-prepared for closures, making the transition seamless. We even increased enrolments while others were struggling, and I opened a new national primary school in Malaysia during the pandemic, which now has over 300 students.”

Ever the lifelong learner, following his master degree at Macquarie, Dr Hammer earned additional qualifications, including a second masters and a doctorate. “My qualifications from the US, Australia and the UK have all exposed me to different teaching and learning styles, but ultimately, it’s about the learning journey and how it can be embedded in your work life and improve your professional practice; that’s what learning is about, the continual inspiration.”

For a career teacher, there was also the imperative to upskill. As he explains, “Most school leaders come from an educational background, and when they’re promoted, they suddenly take on CEO-level responsibilities but haven’t had much training in finance or business.

“I was keen to prepare for the financial aspects of the management roles I undertook, and believe accreditation agencies and universities should offer more business admin training for those pursuing leadership roles in education.”

It’s been a full career so far for Dr Hammer, who has also published research books and articles, and even done a TEDx Talk, not to mention visiting more than 45 countries and getting to know other teachers from all around the world.

“The friendships you build are invaluable. You only do two to four years at a time, so I’ve now got friends in Russia, Guam and the Bahamas – all over the world, in fact. Naturally, as the world has become more connected, more people are teaching internationally, and it’s easier to keep in touch.”

So, would he recommend the path he’s taken? “For alumni who are teachers, I’d strongly encourage them to look at teaching overseas. The international teaching life is great – you often get paid in US dollars or tax-free, and there are benefits like flights, accommodation, housing and free tuition. It’s an incredibly rewarding option for teachers.”

Of course, it’s been a lot of fun too. “Outside work, what I discovered was the value of a rich social life – I’ve had some great times, especially playing AFL football and cricket as an expat, and found a balance between my professional life, learning, sports, socialising, making friends and raising my children.

“And there are so many Aussies out there! If you’re a Macquarie alumni, I’d encourage you to get involved with the University community and network as much as possible – the connections you make will help you professionally and personally, wherever you are.”

Dr Liam Hammer’s bio

Dr Liam Hammer is an experienced and highly accomplished educator. Originally from Melbourne, Australia, he has qualifications from institutions across three continents, including a Master of Science Education from Macquarie University.

He also holds an MBA from the University of the West of Scotland, an educational leadership certificate from Harvard Graduate School of Education, a Bachelor of Education from the University of Melbourne, and a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Wilkes University.

With almost 30 years of international teaching and leadership experience, has worked in Australia, Asia, Europe and Africa, implementing various international curricula. Currently Head of School at the International School of Lusaka in Zambia, Dr Hammer also maintains multiple professional roles as an examiner, curriculum writer and workshop leader. His expertise extends to school evaluation and development, as he conducts authorisation visits for the international baccalaureate, the Council of International Schools, and the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

He has edited and published several handbooks of research in international education and has presented at numerous conferences, particularly on the issue of passport-based split salaries in international schools and financial literacy of school leaders. Beyond his professional commitments, he values time with his family and enjoys travelling and coaching rugby.

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