Spend time in almost any school and you’ll notice it quickly: beneath academic ambition sits a deeper search for meaning, coherence, and direction. Many students sense their lives are part of a bigger story but struggle to name it, while teachers carry the quiet responsibility of helping them navigate questions that rarely fit inside a lesson plan. Simon Smart understands this tension and partners with school communities to approach life’s biggest questions with wisdom and empathy.
A former History and English teacher with over a decade in the classroom, Simon is now Executive Director of the Centre for Public Christianity. He holds a Master of Christian Studies from Regent College in Vancouver and has written extensively for both academic and popular audiences. For more than twenty years, Simon has spoken in schools, at staff development days, and at conferences, offering credible, culturally engaged perspectives on faith, literature, and human flourishing.
Simon’s presentations blend thoughtful reflection with storytelling and an invitational posture. He offers teachers renewed confidence in their vocation and its significance, and helps students make sense of the “big narratives” shaping culture. His goal is always transformation: that schools might not simply react to cultural change, but form young people who can live with courage, clarity, and hope. He invites school communities to rediscover the Christian story as the largest and most compelling story of all – one that offers meaning and a place for every person.
Simon is based in Sydney.
Speaking Topics
The Dilemma of Modern Masculinity
Boys today are growing up in a world confused about what it means to be a man. This session explores the cultural pressures shaping young men, why these challenges matter for whole school communities, and how teachers can play a vital role in forming healthier models of masculinity. Simon offers practical insights, compassion, and a balanced critique of both old and new narratives, drawing on Jesus as a rich example of strong, generous, and emotionally intelligent manhood. Staff will leave better equipped to support boys with wisdom, confidence, and hope.
Healthy Masculinity Matters
Many young men feel unsure of who they’re meant to be and overwhelmed by mixed messages about masculinity. Simon comes alongside students to acknowledge these pressures and offer a hopeful, grounded vision of manhood. Through story, reflection, and honest conversation, this session helps boys consider their strengths, their challenges, and the kind of men they want to become – not defined by stereotypes or bravado, but by courage, character, empathy, and purpose.
Are We Better Off Without Christianity?
Many of the values we take for granted – equality, human rights, compassion, dignity – have deep roots in the Christian story. This session examines the surprising ways Christianity has shaped the modern world and asks what might be lost if we abandon it. Simon presents both the highs and lows of the Christian tradition with honesty and fairness, inviting thoughtful discussion about the role of faith in public life and in shaping the future.
Lemonade on the Porch – Christian Schools as Vehicles of Hope
The pace of secularisation has left many Christians feeling bewildered, defensive and increasingly disconnected from the surrounding culture. How should we respond? Simon Smart makes the case for Christian schools being uniquely positioned to not only proclaim but to embody a life-giving alternative to the dominant cultural narratives of our day. In this staff session Simon will illuminate key aspects of the Christian story that speak to universal human longings with compelling answers that are found nowhere else – exploring a vision of life that is not only coherent, but uniquely appealing.
Glorious Ruins
Every human being is a mix of beauty and brokenness – glorious because we’re made in the image of God, and flawed because of our human condition. This session explores the Christian vision of human worth, dignity, and struggle, offering students and staff a framework for understanding themselves and each other with greater respect and compassion. Simon shows how this perspective helps us navigate failure, conflict, and pressure with realism, honesty, and hope.
The Uniqueness of Christianity
In a world full of competing philosophies and belief systems, what sets Christianity apart? This session explores the distinct features of the Christian story – especially grace, incarnation, and the God who enters human history. Simon invites students and staff to consider Christianity not only as one worldview among many, but as a story that is intellectually credible, culturally significant, and personally transformative.
Worldview
Every student lives with a worldview – a “big story” that shapes how they see themselves, others, and the world, even if they’ve never named it. This session helps students and staff identify some of the most influential cultural narratives of our time, from individualism to consumerism, and explores how these stories shape our decisions, assumptions, and hopes. Simon introduces the Christian story as a coherent, compelling alternative that offers a strong foundation for life, meaning, and identity.
For Simon’s availability and other possible topics, reach out to our booking team.
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CPX Youth & Schools Speakers
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