Kim Parker is a teacher, technologist, and lifelong learner who has spent over four decades exploring the intersections of education, knowledge, and human potential.
Kim began his career as a secondary school teacher, specialising in mathematics and computer science. Over twelve years in both state and private schools, he developed a deep understanding of how people learn—and how traditional systems often fail to honour the diversity of human minds. As Head of Computers at a large K-12 school, he witnessed firsthand the gaps between institutional expectations and the realities of neurodivergent, gifted, and introverted learners. This experience ignited a lifelong curiosity about how knowledge is acquired, retained, and applied—not just in classrooms, but in the messy, lived experience of being human.
After leaving teaching, Kim transitioned into the world of information technology, where he spent 27 years wearing many hats: programmer, database administrator, project manager, systems engineer, and enterprise architect. His roles in client services, data analytics, and knowledge management reinforced his belief that true learning is rarely linear. It thrives in collaboration, curiosity, and the willingness to embrace uncertainty. Throughout his IT career, he remained a mentor, facilitator, and occasional team leader, guiding others through the complexities of project management and systems architecture. His final corporate role as Manager of Data Analytics and Knowledge cemented his fascination with how information transforms into wisdom—and how organisations (and individuals) can design environments that nurture both.
Now semi-retired, Kim has returned to his roots in education, this time as a writer and occasional casual relief teacher. His Substack publication, The Knowledge Economy, explores knowledge acquisition, decision-making, and the mechanics of learning, neurodivergence, giftedness, and mentoring. Through long-form essays, books and deeply personal reflections, he examines what it means to learn as a whole person—body, mind, and spirit—rather than a cog in a system.
At 71, Kim is proof that learning doesn’t end with a diploma or a retirement party. Whether he’s writing about the cognitive quirks of ADHD, the hidden barriers in traditional education, or the art of mentoring, his work is infused with the conviction that everyone’s way of learning is valid—especially those who’ve been told theirs isn’t. When he’s not writing or teaching, you might find him learning a new language (although he says at this he is failing), tinkering with systems (both digital and human), or advocating for a kinder, more human-centred approach to education and work.
Kim lives in Australia, where he enjoys the quiet rebellions of retirement: asking hard questions, challenging assumptions, and helping others trust their own rhythms.
