Mr Anesti Anestis
Mr Anesti Anestis is an experienced Victorian educational leader whose career spans more than 25 years in government schools, characterised by a deep commitment to student-centred learning, inclusive practice and community partnership. Over this time, he has established a reputation as a collaborative, values-driven principal who places student wellbeing, agency and achievement at the heart of every decision.
Mr Anestis currently serves as Executive Principal of Bundoora Secondary College, leading approximately 590 students and 70 staff in a multicultural, socially and economically diverse community. Since his appointment in 2018, he has overseen significant enrolment growth, delivered the goals of the school’s strategic plan and positioned the College as one of the most progressive and innovative government schools in Victoria. Prior to this role, he spent eight years as Assistant Principal at St Helena Secondary College, with responsibilities across student climate, engagement, operations, staffing and curriculum innovation, while continuing to teach mathematics and physics.
Earlier in his career, Mr Anestis held leadership and teaching roles across several schools and system-level initiatives. He worked as an Ultranet Coach in the Northern Region, supporting around 50 colleagues to implement statewide digital innovation and e-learning. He previously led the Middle Years Research Initiative at Eltham High School, fostering inquiry-based collaboration between primary and secondary settings. His classroom teaching experience spans mathematics, science, physics and chemistry in secondary schools, complemented by positions such as KLA (Key Learning Area) Leader, student manager and community relations coordinator.
Mr Anestis’ educational philosophy is grounded in the belief that students learn best when they feel safe, respected and genuinely known by their school community. He is passionate about building orderly, inclusive environments in which every young person can access learning at their point of need, across both core and extracurricular programs. Central to this work is his commitment to rigorous professional learning communities, coaching and leadership pipelines that build staff capacity, strengthen reflective practice and ensure high-quality teaching in every classroom.
Across his principalship, Mr Anestis has led whole-school reform, capital works and program innovation that connect curriculum, wellbeing and pathways. He has secured multi-million-dollar capital works to align learning spaces with contemporary pedagogy, established community-connected programs such as urban agriculture and conservation, and broadened senior secondary offerings through Vocational Education and Training (VET), Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) and Vocational Major (VM) and university partnerships.
His leadership beyond the school includes roles on Department of Education advisory panels, local learning and employment networks and senior secondary reform groups, reflecting his influence on system-level improvement as well as local school success. Mr Anestis holds Bachelor degrees in Science and Education from The University of Melbourne and a Graduate Certificate of Principal Preparation (Victoria) from Monash University.