Jordana Hunter is the Education Program Director at Grattan Institute. She has an extensive background in public policy design and implementation, with expertise in school education reform as well as economic policy. She has co-authored a number of Grattan reports on school education, focusing on education strategy and teacher professional learning. Her particular research interests are in approaches to designing government policies to support quality teaching and evidence-based literacy and numeracy instruction

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Sharon Foster was appointed Director, Curriculum in November 2021. She initially joined ACARA in September 2020 as Senior Manager, leading the consultation process for the review of the Australian Curriculum. Sharon came to ACARA from the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA), where she was the Manager of the Victorian Curriculum: F-10 Unit responsible for the development and delivery of the Victorian F-10 Curriculum. Prior to that, she worked in senior program and policy roles across the Department of Education and Training, Victoria focused on developing and delivering curriculum projects and professional learning programs

Martin Westwell has worked extensively with education systems and other organisations in using evidence to inform policy, practice, innovation, and impact in education. He was a Chief Investigator in the national Australian Research Council (ARC) Science of Learning Research Centre and has worked with UNESCO using evidence to inform strategic planning of education in the Asia-Pacific region. In 2018, Martin received the prestigious Australian Council for Educational Leaders’ (ACEL) Gold Medal, awarded for the most outstanding contribution to the study and practice of educational administration and leadership.

Helen Connolly The Commissioner promotes and advocates for the rights, development and wellbeing of all children and young people in South Australia, with a special focus to engage with and listen to children who aren’t usually heard. Helen has 30 years’ experience as a leader in human services. Throughout her career, Helen has taken an active advocacy role on the main policy issues that impact on the wellbeing of Australian families and children, with a strong focus on early intervention and prevention strategies.

Alan Reid is Professor Emeritus of Education at the University of South Australia where he has held a number of positions including Dean of Education, Director of Research Centres, and Professor of Education. He publishes widely in such areas as curriculum, education policy and the history and politics of public education, and gives many invited keynotes and talks. He has been a key figure in some significant policy developments at the state and national levels. Alan’s contributions to education have been recognized through a number of awards including the Gold Medal of the Australian Council of Educational Leaders (ACEL), the Alby Jones Award, and the Mackillop Medal (ACE). In 2012 he was made a member of the Order of Australia (AM); and in 2017 he was named as one of the four finalists for South Australian of the Year.

Greg Whitby has led Catholic schools across Western Sydney and the Blue Mountains as Executive Director of Catholic Education Diocese of Parramatta since 2006. He also served as Director of Schools at the Catholic Education Office Wollongong from 1999 to 2006. Prior to this, Greg was a teacher and school leader in government and Catholic schools. This included a period as Principal of Emmaus Catholic College Kemps Creek. Greg has also lectured in the faculty of business at Western Sydney University

Dr. Sara Weuffen is a specialist of cross-cultural education, in particular, non-Indigenous Australian's engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander communities. She has a proven track record of strategically leading multi-disciplinary teams to critique current practices and envision transformational possibilities of more culturally respectful and responsive pedagogies, organisations, and societies. To action this endeavour, post-qualitative research methods, including Poststructuralist theory, Indigenous Standpoint Theory, and Critical Social Theory are employed to revise and enhance cross-cultural relations, knowledge, pedagogical practices, professional development, and further research

Andrew Smith is CEO of Education Services Australia, a not for profit education technology company owned by all Australian education ministers. ESA develops and deploys national education infrastructure, develops digital education resources and provides technology-based services to the education sector. Andrew has qualifications in education, science and business and brings to the role of CEO extensive experience and expertise in strategic leadership in the education, training and not-for-profit sectors. Having started his career in the classroom, Andrew’s previous roles include Vice President (Engagement) at Swinburne University and CEO of the Australian Council for Private Education and Training.

Liz believes that ‘every student deserves a great teacher, and every teacher deserves the opportunity to be great.’ As such, Liz’s career has been dedicated to building teacher capability through leading curriculum and pedagogy in secondary schools. Liz now specialises in creating opportunities for middle leaders in schools to thrive. This has led Liz to establish Pivotal Leadership, offering coaching and mentoring opportunities for middle leaders. In 2018 Liz established the ACELQ Pivotal People Middle Leaders network on the Gold Coast. Pivotal People is a professional collegial network for educators leading from the middle that aims to create engaging and intellectually stimulating conversations about issues important to middle leaders. This network has expanded to Brisbane and has provided professional learning for over 250 middle leaders. Liz is currently the Executive Officer, Adolescent Success, and an Australian Council of Educational Leaders Queensland Branch Executive Board Member. Her previous roles include Leadership Development for the QLD Department of Education, Deputy Principal, Pedagogy and Curriculum leader in various secondary schools in Victoria and Queensland. Liz is currently tackling a PhD at Griffith University, researching how middle leaders in secondary schools develop their leadership practice.

Jacqui Wilton has been the Director of the Curriculum Services Division of the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA) for the past 7 years. Jacqui is an experienced school and system leader having held senior leadership roles over 10 years in some of Queensland's largest and most dynamic school contexts. She has driven and delivered complex large-scale reforms with deft stakeholder management and strong strategic capabilities. Jacqui's practical leadership experience and depth of theoretical insight has seen her recognised as an ambassador for the University of Queensland's Master of Business Administration program.

Professor Donna Cross is a behavioural scientist and Emeritus Professor at the University of Western Australia, and Senior Research Fellow at the Telethon Kids Institute. Donna has received over $84m in competitive applied research funding which has contributed to significant health and education policy and practice change in schools and communities. Her research addresses children’s and adolescents’ social and emotional wellbeing, mental health promotion, bullying prevention, and positive and safe online behaviour. For her leadership improving children’s and adolescents’ mental health and wellbeing Donna received an OAM, was the 2012 WA Australian of the Year, the 2022 inductee to the WA Women’s Hall of Fame and she is a Fellow of the Australian Academy of Health and Medical Science.

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Dr Deborah Price is the Research Degree Coordinator and Senior Lecturer in Inclusive Education and Wellbeing at the University of South Australia Education Futures and is the Portfolio Lead: Partnerships on the executive of the Centre for Research in Educational and Social Inclusion (CRESI). Dr Price’s research, teaching and scholarship span inclusive education and wellbeing which advocate capability and codesign approaches, valuing the diversity and voice of young people. Her current research contributes to the broad themes of social justice and equity, with a particular focus on: disability studies and special education; inclusive education; learner, educator and community wellbeing; youth studies; relationships and identity; bullying and cyberbullying; alternative education; culturally and religiously responsive pedagogies; inclusive curriculum; initial teacher education; and educational influence. Dr Price has led significant research projects, supported by national competitive grants and university funding. She was recently a Chief Investigator on the project Cultural Preparedness to Teach in the Middle East, jointly sponsored by Department for Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and the Council for Australian-Arab Relations. Dr Price has also previously been a Chief Investigator on the Engagement and Wellbeing research node for the University of South Australia Aspirations Project, sponsored by the federal government. This project involved collaborative action research with practitioners in the northern suburbs of Adelaide to engage students in wellbeing curriculum and to raise student university aspirations. Dr Price led the Youthworx South Australia initiative in collaboration with local councils and not for profit organisations focused on Re-engaging youth in learning and employment through the creative art of film-making. Dr Price has also been a Chief Investigator for Commissioned Research including Teacher Wellbeing for the Australian Independent Schools Association, New South Wales.

Jill Willis is an Associate Professor in Education. She evaluates the social structures of assessment and learning spaces, to make recommendations for improving teacher and student agency. Her current projects include co-leading the ARC Linkage Accessible Assessment; and the ARC Linkage Thriving in Vertical Schools. She is the Australian lead researcher on the SSHRC Preparing Assessment Capable Teachers project. Jill has a strong track record in collaborative partnerships and innovative methodologies

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Dr Greg Vass came into research provoked by significant changes in high school education, which were in part triggered with the introduction of standardised assessments and his involvement in professional learning related to Indigenous education. His PhD was a school-based autoethnography, analysing discursive practices with a view to understanding the reproduction of race, and the ways that schooling contributes to making race meaningful in the lives of learners.

Professor Lee Anne Perry AM is the inaugural Professor of Practice (Educational Leadership and Partnerships) at Queensland University of Technology (QUT). Prior to commencing in this role in February 2023, Professor Perry was the Executive Director (CEO) of the Queensland Catholic Education Commission (QCEC). Professor Perry has had a longstanding involvement in school education as a teacher, school and system leader including over twenty-five years as a principal. Lee Anne has been a member of many state and national associations and committees concerned with school and higher education. She is currently a Director of the Australian Institute of Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL) and an Honorary Professor of the Australian Catholic University. Professor Perry has been actively involved in many educational reviews including as a panellist for the Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools led by David Gonski AC, a member of the STEM Partnership Forum chaired by the Chief Scientist, Professor Alan Finkel AO, and a member of the Queensland Premier’s Anti-Cyberbullying Taskforce. Lee Anne is a passionate advocate for education from the early years to higher education, including vocational education and is particularly committed to supporting collaboration, partnerships and connections within and between education sectors and systems.

Nina Ross is a proud Aboriginal woman with connections to Anaiwan and Dunghutti lands while living and working on Wonnarua Country. She is a mother, wife, artist, and teacher and has 22 years’ experience in secondary schools, including writing educational resources for New South Wales Education Standards Authority (NESA). She has written professional teacher learning programs that embed Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander perspectives to build cultural understanding. Nina believes reconciliation is everybody’s business and wants to help educators access and use resources in their classrooms. Since joining Reconciliation Australia’s Narragunnawali team, Nina leads the program’s Professional Learning and Curriculum strategy.

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Dr Emily Ross has extensive experience in curriculum implementation, supporting school leadership teams and teachers to implement some of the most exciting and cutting-edge curriculum initiatives. She has led the design and implementation of key curriculum and assessment initiatives for the state of Queensland and at a national level. Most recently, Emily has come from a leadership role at the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority leading projects to support the implementation of the Australian Curriculum in Prep to Year 10, as well as development of resources to support the new Queensland Certificate of Education

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Jenny began her career in education as a secondary physical education teacher in South Australia and subsequently completed a Master’s degree at the University of British Columbia, Canada (1983), and PhD at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, USA (1990). Having worked previously at the University of Queensland, she has been at the University of Newcastle since 1991, where she was Dean of Education and Head of the School of Education from 2008 to 2013, and is currently Laureate Professor of Education and leader of the Teachers and Teaching Research Centre. In 2017, she received the Australian Council of Deans of Education award for outstanding contribution to education reform. In 2018, Jenny was awarded the Paul Brock Memorial Medal for outstanding contributions to social justice and evidence-informed policy, practice and research, and she was formally appointed as Visiting Professor at the University of Oxford. Jenny’s educational and research interests have consistently centred on quality and equity, and have ranged across topics such as teacher socialisation, alternative pedagogy, power relations in teaching, reform in teacher education, pedagogical reform, and teacher development.

Beth is a Professor in The Centre for Inclusive Education (C4IE) and a member of the Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice. Beth has educational practice and research experience in autism, inclusive education, disability, social emotional competence, wellbeing and challenging and complex needs. She has engaged in research in schools that informs policy and practice including leading the national Autism Educational Needs Analysis https://www.autismcrc.com.au/knowledge-centre/resource/educational-needs-analysis. She has published over 70 journal publications, books, book chapters and research reports and is an active researcher in Program 2: The School Years for The Cooperative Research Centre for Living with Autism (Autism CRC). http://www.autismcrc.com.au/.

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Bianca Nuss The Village School Gold Coast is a child-focused, play- and skills-based community school that provides curiosity-led and place-based learning experiences with consistent low student to teacher ratio. We ensure that we hold ourselves accountable to the highest standards by meeting our students’ needs precisely and completely; ensuring that as a learning community, the students overall best interest comes first, to service their educational needs.

Bio to come.

Bio to come.