Presenters & Workshops 

Cath Quinlan - Blessington

Bio: Cath Quinlan is the QLD State Sales Manager & Educator for Blessington and has been teaching machine embroidery and digitizing for over 15 years.  Cath has pushed the boundaries of embroidery machines to get the most from this creative tool.  In this video she has taken a basic denim jacket and created 3 dimensional features and insert luscious lace to produce a one of a kind fashion statement.  All thread embellishments have been made using the embroidery machine.

Course Title: Upcycling with an Embroidery Machine (Skill level: Intermediate - Advanced)

Course Outline: Cath has pushed the boundaries of embroidery machines to get the most from this creative tool. In this video she has taken a basic denim jacket and created three dimensional features and inserted lace to produce a one-of-a kind fashion statement. All thread embellishments have been made using the embroidery machine.  

Course Title: Fashion with an Overlocker (Skill level: Intermediate - Advanced)

Course Outline: Creating clothes can be easy, especially with the correct tools. Cath Quinlan will take the next 15-20 minutes to show you how easy it is to create a skirt completely on the overlocker. Embellish the project with skills learnt in our other videos or make your fabric the feature. The overlocker is for more than neatening seams and this video will show you why.

Letitia Moore - Blessington

Bio: Letitia Moore is the Blessington Product Manager for Handi Quilter products & SVP Software and has been in the industry for over 25 years. She has an extensive background in education and training and will delight in showing you how to get the best out of your sewing machine by making a triangular zippered pouch.  Combine practical zipper insertion with decorative stitches and embellishments to get more from your sewing machine.

Course Title: Zips with Letitia (Skill level: Basic - Intermediate)

Course Outline: Letitia will show you how to get the best out of your sewing machine by making a triangular zippered pouch. Combine practical zipper insertion with decorative stitches and embellishments to get more from your sewing machine.

Terri Ahrens - Blessington

Bio: I am passionate about creating with fabric.  My sewing career began at the age of 5, when I learnt to sew clothing with my grandmother.  I’ve been sewing ever since, initially as a dressmaker, and then I discovered patchwork and that turned my sewing into a new direction.   I opened Sew Patch n Quilt, a patchwork store, 8 years ago, and love to help quilters choose the perfect fabric for their quilts, and enjoy sharing my knowledge and passion with like-minded people.  More recently, I have become excited by Art Quilting and now that is my passion.  My first Art Quilt won several awards, including Second in the World Quilt Competition, which was a huge honour.  Whenever I can, I spend time creating, but of course, I would always love more time than I get.  I’m curious about where my passion will lead me next.

Course Title: Thread Painting with the Sewing Machine (Skill level: Beginner - Advanced)

Course Outline: Learn how to use your sewing machine in this extremely creative and fun way. Terri will take you through how to set up the machine for thread painting and applique and share some important skills to make your next project come to life

Eri Phu - Citizen Wolf

Bio: Citizen Wolf combined algorithms and on-demand manufacturing to create the future of fashion today: made-to-measure, ethical and planet friendly. Citizen Wolf won a Good Design Award Gold in the Fashion Impact category (2019) and was also named 'Innovation Champion of the Year 2019' by the National Retail Association, as well as being a finalist for 'Best Ethical Brand' at the prestigious Prix de Marie Claire (2017). Citizen Wolf has been featured on national TV via SBS World News (twice) and Shark Tank as well as top tier press such as Vogue, InStyle, Men's Health, the AFR's 'Luxury' magazine, The Australian and The Sydney Morning Herald to name but a few.

Course Title: Designer Case Study - Citizen Wolf 

Course Outline: This presentation is facilitated by industry expert Eric Phu. It provides an outline of CAD (Magic Fit algorithm) and CAM (laser cutter linked to computer) employed by Citizen Wolf. Participants will learn to appreciate the sustainability measures, such as making stock to order, using organic fibres, using deadstock fabric and sustainable use of textile waste, lifetime repairs and sustainable packaging, employed by Citizen Wolf. Participants will be able to recognise Citizen Wolf T-shirts as a niche product responding to consumer demand for more sustainable and ethical fashion. Participants will understand the marketing strategy of Citizen Wolf, including target market, internet sales and promotion, transparency of production and use of social media. 

Graham Mitchell - Core Electronics

Bio: I've been passionately involved with the maker movement since 2004; back when I use to build practical solutions for everyday problems, usually powered by PIC microcontrollers. I enjoyed sharing my projects with others, along with the method of making and any tips I collected along the way. I launched a community website in 2006 to share my tutorials/projects which evolved into a large group of electronics enthusiasts helping each other over technical hurdles and a platform to share their own projects. Neat! Those projects were often featured by Hackaday, Make Magazine and syndication circles that were popular at that time. To place my interests in the era of Maker Electronics; Adafruit was founded 2005, Sparkfun a little before that, Hackaday was 2004, Make Magazine was 2005. Core Electronics was a derivative of those efforts and the need for hard to find bits and pieces. In our early days we had two or three orders a week and operated out of our garage during after-hours. In 2014 we outgrew the 6x6M garage and leased a 160sqm warehouse in Newcastle. On January 4, 2016, I left my Avionics position in the Royal Australian Air Force to join the Core Electronics team. In November 2016 we moved into a well needed 700sqm building in Newcastle. Throughout this time we've partnered with industry-leading brands from around the world to make innovative electronics more accessible in Australia. The whole team at Core Electronics is passionate about community education; we create our own tutorials, educational videos, projects and have community workshops at our offices to up-skill makers and educators.

Course Title: An Introduction to Digital Technology using Maker for Stage 4 Technology Mandatory

Course Outline: This presentation will provide an engaging introduction to digital technologies using Python for educators to deliver in a creative, innovative technology class. 

Alex Elliot Howery - Cornersmith

Bio: Cornersmith is a ground-breaking Sydney business with an established cooking school, café, three cookbooks, online preserving courses, an online store and one strong philosophy: Ethical food production, community engagement and sustainable business practices. Cornersmith co-founder, Alex Elliott-Howery has established herself as the authority on preserving, a pioneer in the war on food waste and a trusted source for the future of food. Alex is passionate about sharing her knowledge and offering quality food education to a broad audience. This passion is what drove the birth of the cooking school and the writing of two best-selling cookbooks, Cornersmith and Salads & Pickles. Plus a forthcoming book – Use it All! Alex brings her passion for preserving and reducing food waste to her popular classes. Her style is warm, informative and inspiring.

Course Title: Waste Not Want Not...Use it All! 

Course Outline: This presentation will provide participants with the opportunity to watch, see and become educated on the ways in which they can reduce kitchen waste by using all elements of their food items. Participants will be provided with recipes, waste tips and food hacks. 


Anne McCrory - The Hotel School

Bio: After studying hospitality in the UK, Anne worked in restaurants, bars and catering continuing with an education role in Hong Kong. This role allowed an opportunity to introduce local students to train in luxury, international hotels. Recruited from Hong Kong to be part of the opening team for The Hotel School Anne has held numerous positions within the company. After completing a Bachelor of Education Anne now liaises and communicates with high schools through school visits, careers expos and connecting high school students to industry.

Course Title: Facing COVID - Current Issues in the Hospitality Industry

Course Outline: This presentation will focus on current issues in the Hospitality Industry. Participants will hear about the impact COVID has had on small business, cafes and restaurants, and the plan to move forward to cope with this pandemic. Anne will be able to give first-hand experience about how the 'Sydney Hotel School' has coped with various requirements and will discuss a positive 'road to recovery' for the industry in general.


Anthia Koullorous 

Bio: Anthia began consulting as a naturopath, herbalist and organic food, health, and lifestyle educator in 1994. These beginnings inspired her Paddington Naturopathic Clinic and formed the basis of Anthia’s philosophy, practice, prescriptions, teachings, writings, workshops, and her range of premium organic teas. 

Today, Anthia is intent on bringing good health to the world. Proving that great nutrition and lifestyle can be a simple fact of life – embedded in the everyday. That health food is just food grown well  – with care for the soil, season, region, people, and animals involved. That cooking for taste and tradition boosts nutritional value. That nature heals and herbs are our medicinal allies. That organic should be the norm, and personal products should not be riddled with potentially harmful chemicals. That tea is a simple, nourishing elixir that everyone can enjoy.

Course Title: Nutrients and Supplementation 

Course Outline: This presentation is from an industry expert who will share all things nutrients, diets for optimum nutrition and supplementation. Sharing up to date knowledge, this presentation is perfect for anyone teaching Stage 6 Food Technology and would also assist those who teach Stage 5 to develop a deeper knowledge of nutrition. 


Tara Morelos - SMART TEXTILES

Bio: Tara Morelos is an independent artist and cultural producer interested in synergy between art, fashion and technology. In 2016 she produced sARTorial for Sydney Fringe Festival – an event which saw senior media artists, design and technology professionals and students collaborate to produce and showcase interactive, tech-infused garments. She founded ARTeConnect the following year and produced sARTorial for VIVID Sydney at The Connection Rhodes (2017) and the Museum of Contemporary Art (2018). ARTeConnect ran Fashtech (2019) a 12 week immersion program for High School students to produce and perform interactive garments for Inner West Council’s EDGE Art Festival. In the same year, in collaboration with other ARTeConnect artists, she entered New Zealand’s World of Wearable Art receiving a third place award.         


Liz Bradshaw - SMART TEXTILES 

Bio: Dr Liz Bradshaw is an artist and educator who has worked with ARTeConnect on fashion technology events and education programs. She has taught Art and Design in Australia and UK and developed teacher professional development for the University of the Arts London Awarding Body. She ran teacher professional development and education programs for 2018 Biennale of Sydney and taught on the 2019 Masters of Interactive Design at UNSW Art and Design, convening the Wearable and Interactive Design Masters Studio and teaching undergraduate Smart Textiles.                

Course Title: SMART Textiles 

Course Outline: This presentation will introduce wearable technology through a design prototyping case study. It will provide a timeline of key moments in the evolution of wearable technology and smart textiles; examples of contemporary practice; and introduce components and coding that can be easily be adapted to a range of teaching contexts.   


Leona Beeson - S & S Wholesalers

Bio: Leona has been an Art and Textiles consultant for 37 years with S&S Wholesale. As National Sales Manager she visits schools conducting workshops for teachers and students. These workshops provide up to date and knowledgeable content and demonstrations of a wide variety of textile art techniques suitable for student to use in the classroom.

Like many, Leona and her team have spent the Covid-19 months producing an array of digital teaching resources that consist of YouTube clips and 'How to Sheets' for 30 different processes in Textiles and Art.  

Course Title: Fabric Colouration and Decoration with Leona from S&S

Course Outline: During this workshop Leona will present a wide variety of pre-recorded demonstrations covering different dyeing and printing techniques such as Solar Fast Sun Printing, Ice Tie Dyeing, Heliographic Sun Printing, Gelli Plate Printing, Monoprinting and Scratch Foam Printing onto fabric. She will also share some creative ideas for senior classes including embellishing with Angelina Fibres and Polymer Stamps as well as felting. Be prepared to widen your ideas and skills on how to engage your students using colouration and fabric decoration. 


Michael Holmstrom - STEM Punks

Bio: In the past 15 years, Michael Holmstrom has transformed ideas into global businesses and endured the journey of the start-up through great failures and awesome successes. His combination for education and STEM was the foundation for STEM Punks, a global leader in STEM Education. Through STEM Punks, a passionate team of educators inspire a new generation of innovators and entrepreneurs.

Course Title: Smart Garden and IOT

Course Outline: Smart Garden and IOT. In this fun and interactive presentation participants will explore Coding, Electronics, Sensors and the Internet of Things (IOT). Participants will learn how these STEM tools can be used to create immersive STEM experiences in their classroom and to design a 'Smart Garden'. The presenter will guide participants to learn how to apply design thinking to create project and problem-based learning scenarios with curriculum linked learning outcomes. 

Course Title: Online Transformation - Lessons Learnt From Covid-19 and Beyond

Course Outline: "Going Online" is more than just providing a Zoom link, especially if you want to keep a high level of engagement and preserve key learning outcomes. Participants will learn from the STEM Punks team as they share their journey about successfully delivering STEM education to a global audience. This keynote presentation will cover the setup and production techniques used to create an immersive and interactive online learning experience. Perfect for any school or faculty who want to produce their own online content and avoid any of the traps and shortfalls when transferring classes online.