Our Founder
HI. I'M LEONG. Thanks for stopping by.
I am a father of two young boys.
My career was in Computer Science research and teaching, and now in aged care and disability services, as well as youth education.
My work today is about being human: how our relationships, experiences, communities and technologies form who we become, and how we participate in the formation of others.
I am a human being, beyond a title, a headline and a profile on a page, even this page.
I see you as a human being.
My Career
I completed my undergraduate and postgraduate studies in Computer Science at The University of Western Australia in the 1990s.
In the first half of my career, I was a university lecturer and academic focused on technology, engaging in research and teaching on Artificial Intelligence, Internet protocols and programming, and Bioinformatics. In the second half, I transitioned to health and community services, being a business owner-operator in aged and disability care services, as well as a mental health instructor.
The University of Western Australia | Tutor in Computer Science | Perth, Australia | 1992-1995
Murdoch University | Lecturer in Computer Science | Perth, Australia | 1998 – 2006
Mental Health First Aid | Accredited Instructor | Australia | 2011-2013
Lifespan Education | Founder | Australia | 2021-present
The University of Western Australia | Graduate Research Student and Research Assistant, Logic and Artificial Intelligence Laboratory, Department of Computer Science | Perth, Australia | 1992
The University of Western Australia and Royal Perth Hospital | Visiting Scholar, The Centre for Molecular Immunology and Instrumentation | Perth, Australia | 1996-1998
Murdoch University | Research Scientist, The Centre for Comparative Genomics and The School of Information Technology | Perth, Australia | 1998-2006
The University of Queensland | Language and Cultural Consultant, School of Psychology | Brisbane, Australia | 2009-2014
Just Better Care | Owner and Managing Director, Brisbane South franchise | Brisbane, Australia | 2008-2014
Cuncaoxin (CCX) Home Care | Co-founder | Shanghai, China | 2011-2013
Jeta Gardens | Operations Manager, IT Advisor | Logan, Australia | 2013-2020
Lifespan Aged Care Consulting | Founder and freelance consultant | Brisbane, Australia | 2020-present
Oxfam Australia | Events volunteer and organiser, office support | Perth, Australia | 1992-2008
West Australian Ice Skating Association (WAISA) | Council member | Perth Australia | 1994-1996
Murdoch College | Mentor, Gifted and Talented Program | Perth, Australia | 2003-2005
Wesley Mission Queensland | Volunteer, Community Meal Committee Chairs | Queensland, Australia | 2007-2013
The University of the Third Age (U3A) | Tutor | Brisbane, Australia | 2010-2013
Xintu Center for Community Health Promotion | Project Partner | Shanghai, China | 2011-2013
The Smith Family | Learning Facilitator and Tutor | Helensvale, Queensland, Australia | 2022-2024
Albert Street Uniting Church | Council Member | Queensland, Australia | 2022-present
All my experiences have shaped how I understand what it means to be human, how we participate in one another’s formation, and the importance of walking alongside one another through life.
This is who I am today...
I am someone who takes the scenic route to destinations.
I am a thinker and a daydreamer.
I am a friend who will sit with you over a cup of coffee and chat for hours.
I enjoy my time active and outdoors, from bushwalking to roller-blading. In my life, I have been a scuba diver, a hang-gliding pilot and a national ice dance champion.
I am an avid cook. The results are hit-and-miss, but I have a blast every time I go into the kitchen. I have not burnt down my kitchen... yet.
I'm known by many names.
I am…
“Leong” to my friends,
“Liang” to my family,
“Hiew” to my university students and colleagues,
“Hong Liang” to my schoolmates.
I am “Daddy” to my kids. They think I’m a bit silly. I tend to agree.
They see me make mistakes. They see me not know what to do and have to rely on others. They hug me when I cry. They know me in those moments too.
If you want the long version...
This page only gives you a short version of who I am.
You can find a much fuller record of how my thinking has changed, what I care about, and how I relate to people in these transcripts:
[My daily reflections on TikTok 2023 to present — full transcripts]
[My Substack articles from 2026 to present – full articles]
[My conversations with students around the world from 2024 to present — full transcripts]
In reviewing my journey over time, I find myself becoming less interested in telling others what they should do, and more interested in walking alongside them as we participate in one another’s formation.
Why I Started this Project?
In my life, I have been fortunate to accumulate many lessons and resources that I hoped one day to pass on to my children.
When I first became a father, my main concern was what I could give them: a happy life, a safe and comfortable home, a good education, good values, and the confidence to face what life might bring.
As they grew, I realised that much of their lives would eventually be lived beyond what I give them. They will encounter people I will never meet. They will make choices when I am not around. They will be shaped by experiences I will not control.
Gradually, my questions as a father changed, from “ what can I give them?” to: how do they make a life of their own, and what do they need from those who walk alongside them?
Lifespan Education grew from those questions.
