Our History

Origins: The de Bono Institute

The Elevo Institute was founded in 1996, when the de Bono Institute was established in Melbourne with support from the Andrews Foundation and renowned thinker Dr. Edward de Bono. 

The idea began with a simple question posed to Dr. de Bono: What would your ideal country look like? 
His answer: 

“It would have a population of under 25 million; it would be somewhere in the Pacific Basin; it would have to have the English language. It would have reasonably articulate, literate and clever people. With that going for it, we could create the most astonishing country. But actually it already exists – it’s called Australia.” 

Inspired by this vision, the de Bono Institute was founded as a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping young Australians equip themselves for the challenges of the 21st century. 

In its early years, the Institute conducted research, developed learning materials, and created programs in education, business, and entrepreneurship, with a particular focus on thinking skills and de Bono’s methodologies. 

Transition to the Elevo Institute

By 2013, the Institute recognised the need to expand its focus beyond thinking skills to include insights from developmental psychology, neuroscience, and educational innovation. 

The organisation re-launched as the Elevo Institute, with a broadened mission: 

  • Develop the creative potential of young people to prepare them for an uncertain future. 
  • Improve teaching and learning through evidence-based methodologies. 
  • Collaborate with leading thinkers to bring research into practice. 
  • Incubate new ideas, moving from thought leadership into classrooms. 
  • Provide evidence and practical tools for innovative learning. 
  • Communicate the latest advances in education research and practice. 

The ThinkPlus Project (2013–2024)

During this period, Elevo focused on ThinkPlus, a program designed to bring cutting-edge research into schools. Influenced by the work of global leaders such as Carol Dweck, David Perkins, Michael Merzenich, Robert Sternberg, Daniel Siegel, Jo Boaler, and Edward de Bono, ThinkPlus sought to build student resilience, growth mindset, and deep learning skills. 

While many schools valued the program, it ultimately did not achieve broad system-wide traction. In reviewing the initiative at the start of 2025, the Board concluded that ThinkPlus was not sufficient to meet the Institute’s founding purpose: to ensure all young Australians are equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century. 

ThinkPlus includes the recognized and ground-breaking work of: 

  • Carol Dweck, Lewis & Virginia Eaton Professor at Stanford University. 
  • Dr Edward de Bono 
  • David Perkins, Carl H. Pforzheimer, Jr. Research Professor of Teaching and Learning, Harvard Graduate School of Education 
  • Dr. Michael Merzenich, Professor Emeritus Neuroscientist at University of California, San Franscico 
  • Robert J. Sternberg, Professor of Human Development in the College of Human Ecology at Cornell University. 
  • Dr. Daniel J. Siegel, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the UCLA School of Medicine 
  • Dr. Jared Cooney Horvath, Educational Neuroscientist 
  • Dr. James Marshall, Senior Lecturer, School of Design, Swinburne University 
  • Lisa Feldman Barrett, University Distinguished Professor of Psychology at Northeastern University 
  • Dr. Jo Boaler, Professor of Mathematics, Stanford Graduate School of Education 
  • Dr. Dawn Huebner, Clinical Psychologist 
  • Dr. Catlin Tucker, Author, Trainer and Speaker 
  • Dr. Andrew Lane, Lecturer, School of Design, Swinburne University 
  • Dr. Venesser Fernandes, School of Education, Culture and Society in the Faculty of Education, Monash University 

Reclaiming the Lost Years (2025–2026)

In 2025, the Elevo Board turned its attention to a pressing issue: student disengagement in years 7-9 of secondary school. 

Initial research revealed a stark reality: more than 50% of students in this age group are not engaged with schooling—a challenge not unique to Victoria, but mirrored across Australia and internationally. 

To lead this new chapter, the Board appointed David Loader as Project Director and Dr. Geoff Masters to assist as Director of our research. Dr Masters recently retired as CEO of ACER. ACER’s early investigations confirmed the extent of disengagement, while wider reviews—including Michael Fullan’s sixth edition of The New Meaning of Educational Change—underscored the deep, systemic failures of past reform efforts worldwide. 

Elevo Institute resolved to act decisively. The Reclaiming the Lost Years Project will: 

  • Commission targeted research into the causes and solutions for disengagement. 
  • Review global literature and build a comprehensive database of evidence by 2026. 
  • Convene community discussions and a public program to bring the issue to national attention. 
 

Current commissioned projects include: 

  • Dr. Fiona Longmuir, Monash University – Voice, Choice, and Belonging: Understanding and Responding to Student Disengagement in Victoria’s Schools 
  • Dr. Amanda MacGraw, Federation University – Student Engagement in Learning 
  • Dr. Pam Dettman, UCL Institute of Education, London – New World Challenges to Schools 
  • Dr. Ralph Sauburn, ACER – The Role of Technology in Schooling 
  • Dr Geoff Masters, AO –  A new focus in the critical role of measurement in teaching and learning. 
 

In 2026, Elevo will launch a major program to inform and engage the wider community about this crisis in schooling—mobilising educators, policymakers, and parents around solutions that can reclaim these critical years.