presenters


Stream one

Dr. Jane Hunter
Associate Professor
University of Technology

Dr Jane Hunter is a former primary and secondary school teacher. She is an Associate Professor in teacher education specialising in curriculum, pedagogy, and digital learning in K-12 education at the University of Technology Sydney. 

Her work reinforces the importance of continuous teacher professional learning through ongoing school-university partnerships. The pedagogical framework developed out of her research with teachers known as ‘High Possibility Classrooms’ was awarded ‘high impact’ by the Australian Research Council (2019) and has led to innovation and changes to practice; her latest book featuring research on integrated STEM with teachers recommends a new ‘blueprint’ for Australian schools. Catch Jane on Twitter @janehunter01 and her latest venture: a new podcast series Talking Teachers offering solutions to the current challenges in schools.

Kelly Hollis
Australian Curriculum Specialist
Education Perfect

Kelly is the Australian Head of Curriculum at Education Perfect. She is an experienced Science teacher and an ambassador for the effective integration of technology in the classroom. Kelly wears many hats in her role as an edtech expert and has been instrumental in building a strong culture of resource sharing and thought leadership online.

Dr Susan Caldis
Lecturer
Secondary Social Science, Macquarie University

Susan is a Lecturer, Secondary Social Science, who specialises in geography education. Susan also convenes and teaches the undergraduate and postgraduate methodology courses for Geography, and Economics-Business; She is also Deputy Director, Master of Teaching (primary and secondary).

Susan's research interests focus on transition into the profession, transformation of pedagogical practice in the geography classroom, and out-of-field teaching.

Outside of Macquarie University, Susan continues to advocate for quality geography education within initial teacher education programs and in school-based settings through active engagement with the professional associations for geography: Immediate Past President, Geography Teachers Association of NSW and ACT (GTANSW&ACT); Chair, Australian Geography Teachers Association (AGTA); Co-opted member, Geographical Society of NSW; and AGTA Representative for the Institute of Australian Geographers (IAG). 

Karen Yager
Principal
Hills Grammar School

Karen who has been an educator for over 25 years is passionate about ensuring that students and staff are enabled to flourish. 

She is the Principal of Hills Grammar School, President of PTC NSW, Vice President of APTA, Vice President and Life Member of ETA NSW, and President of AATE. 

Karen has been awarded the NSW Premier’s Scholarship, the 2020 National Reading Australia fellowship, a 2020 leadership fellowship to China, the Singapore Ministry of Education International Teaching Fellowship in 2011, the PTC NSW Outstanding Professional Service Award in 2009 and PTC NSW Exceptional Service Award in 2020, the APTA award in 2014 and in 2021, and is a NSW Teachers’ Guild Fellow.

Karen has written three books; one on writing and the other two on senior English. Her Oxford Press book won a national publishing award. Karen is currently doing a PhD on how a professional learning model can enable teachers to foster their students’ academic success.

David de Carvalho
CEO
Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority

David de Carvalho has been the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA) since March 2019. He has extensive experience in leading major reforms at both national and state level and a deep personal passion for, and understanding of, education. Immediately prior to ACARA, he was CEO of the NSW Education Standards Authority.

He has held senior roles in the NSW Department of Family and Community Services and the Commonwealth departments of Treasury, Health and Ageing, Finance and Deregulation, Education, and Prime Minister and Cabinet.  He has also been seconded to work in two ministerial officers in senior adviser roles. From 1998-2003 he was CEO of the National Catholic Education Commission.

He started his career as a secondary school teacher, and has served on the boards of Centrelink, the Australian Council of Educational Research and the Curriculum Corporation (now Education Services Australia).

Mark Grant
CEO
Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership

Mark Grant is the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL). With a career spanning over 35 years in education as a teacher, principal and executive, Mark has a passion for improving the quality of teaching and school leadership in Australia, seeing firsthand the positive impact it can have on students in the classroom. Mark has presented extensively on topics such as the importance of teacher quality, the role of school leaders in driving student outcomes, and the need for ongoing professional development in education.

Since joining AITSL in 2019, Mark has focused on working across all systems and sectors, partnering with ministers, education employers and other key stakeholders to support teachers and school leaders in delivering lasting, positive outcomes for learners. Prior to joining AITSL, Mark held various senior leadership positions within the NSW Department of Education. Mark combines his executive experience and his background in schools to lead complex, integrated strategic initiatives, which have included school improvement measures, teacher quality and professional development programs, and needs-based funding for all schools.

Mark has a strong commitment to making a significant contribution to education in Australia and to the lives of children and young people across the country.

Emma Mansfield
President
HALT NSW

Emma Mansfield is currently a Director in the NSW Department of Education currently exploring career pathways for teachers. 

Emma is accredited at Lead and the inaugural President of the HALT Association NSW. Emma has also held teaching and leadership positions in various schools including most recently as Relieving Principal at Macarthur Girls High School.

Dr Christine Furner
Director of Professional Learning 
The Hills Grammar School

Chris has held a number of teaching and leadership positions across State and Independent schools. A career highlight has been the completion of a PhD on how to boost teacher and leadership learning across all career stages as a means to improve practice, support staff wellbeing and resilience and accelerate student learning outcomes. 

She enjoys developing whole-school staff development initiatives and professional learning and leadership programs that inspire and encourage teachers and leaders as they work within their school communities

Ye Yan
Co-Founder & COO
Smart Stone Technology Pty Ltd
X Spaces Pty Ltd


Angelina Chamat
Teacher Consultant
Education Perfect

Angelina, a native French speaker and passionate educator, works as a teacher consultant at EP. She assists teachers in fully harnessing the platform's capabilities. Prior to EP, she taught French to secondary and primary students in NSW across different curricula. Her experience using EP in her classes makes her a valuable guide in its practical application. Angelina is dedicated to engaging students in their language-learning journey.

Leah Weir
Business Development Manager
Education Perfect

Leah is a highly skilled educator, with over 11 years of primary teaching experience. She is passionate about the integration of technology to enhance teaching practice. Prior to joining Education Perfect, Leah dedicated herself to creating supportive learning environments that prioritised the mental health and wellbeing of her students. As a Teacher Consultant, she leads professional learning opportunities for educators, empowering them to effectively implement technology in their classrooms. Leah's aim is to support learning and facilitate growth and achievement while fostering the holistic development of student’s mental health and wellbeing. Her expertise in integrating technology and creating inclusive learning environments ensures that attendees will gain actionable knowledge to support their students effectively.

Ryan Besgrove
Teacher Consultant
Education Perfect

Born in the depths of curiosity and forged by a thirst for adventure, the enigmatic figure known as Ryan has lived a life that defies all conventions, before growing up and slowly but surely dragging his life into alignment with almost all conventions. Legend has it that he emerged from the womb with a twinkle in his eye and a mischievous grin. In this workshop, he will stand before you with none of those endearing qualities. Instead, he’ll do his best impression of himself as he looks to start a fire under each and every one in attendance. Figuratively. Definitely not literally. We’re in doors and that would be in defiance of convention. Ryan is no longer about that life. While this bio may go unnoticed by most, it stands as a testament to the myth and legend surrounding Ryan; a figure whose remarkable exploits have long since been replaced by the mundanity that is everyday life.

NESA Representative
NSW Education Standards Authority


Stream two

Margot Smith
CEO
RSL & Services Clubs Association

As a people focused senior leader, Margot has been working in not-for-profit and corporate organisations for 25 years, currently as Chief Executive Officer of RSL & Services Clubs Association.

Prior to that, Margot has worked in a variety of membership, events and community engagement roles with companies such as Optus, Ausgrid, LexisNexis, Governance Institute and Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand. 

Margot has a Graduate Diploma in Business, a Certificate IV in Training & Assessment, a Bachelor of Arts with majors in Education & Psychology, has completed the Company Directors Course with AICD and a Certificate in Governance Practice with Governance Institute. She also completed certification as a Chief Happiness Officer, demonstrating her commitment to corporate wellness.

Claire Hewat
Advisor
Associations Forum

Claire has over 20 years’ experience in senior executive positions including two successful roles as a CEO at Dietitians Australia and Allied Health Professions Australia. Claire has also had substantial non-executive governance experience on four national and one international board. She has extensive experience in professional self-regulation and is currently chair of the Ethics Review Committee for an Australian allied health profession.

Claire has used her experience to provide support and mentoring to other NFP CEOs and boards in areas of governance, strategic planning, complaints and disciplinary processes, media and communications, change management and more.

Jennifer Moltisanti
Assistant Commissioner
Not for Profit Centre
Australian Taxation Office

Jennifer has focused her career in public sector working in two significant organisations dedicated to supporting and encouraging Australia’s prosperity. Jennifer has a broad experience in public sector administration and was Australia’s first Minister Counsellor Taxation in Paris holding a diplomatic role with Australia’s permanent delegation to the OECD. She has extensive commercial experience working with a wide range of Australian businesses and multinationals.

Her roles have focused on commercial compliance, law interpretation and trade facilitation. Jennifer has a Master of Business Administration from the Melbourne Business School at the University of Melbourne and a Bachelor of Arts from La Trobe University in Victoria. She also has extensive experience in large scale fund raising, committees, reviews and forums across government and globally.

Mai Mai Lin
Finance Officer
PTC NSW

Audrey Juska
Accreditation Officer
PTC NSW


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