PROFESSOR DAVID GURR 2024/5 This paper was commissioned by the Global Education Monitoring Report as background information to assist in drafting the 2024/5 GEM Report, Leadership and education. It has not been edited by the team. The views and opinions expressed in this paper are those of the author(s) and should not be attributed to the Global Education Monitoring Report or to UNESCO. The papers can be cited with the following reference: “Paper commissioned for the 2024/5 Global Education Monitoring Report, Leadership and education”. For further information, please contact gemreport@unesco.org. A think-piece on leadership and education Background paper prepared for the 2024/5 Global Education Monitoring Report Leadership and education ED/GEMR/MRT/2023/T1/2