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Nikki Bonus
CEO & Founder of Life Skills GO
Nikki Bonus is an Australian founder, educator, keynote speaker and wellbeing innovator who has spent more than two decades building purpose-driven work that helps people thrive. As the Founder and CEO of Life Skills GO, she is helping redefine how schools understand, measure and respond to student wellbeing — shifting education from outdated, reactive models to real-time, evidence-based support. Nikki brings over 20 years of personal and professional experience in the research, co-design, development and delivery of social-emotional literacy programs for students, schools and organisations. Through Life Skills GO, the EdTech SaaS platform she founded for K–12 education, she has dedicated her career to equipping schools with real-time student wellbeing data, metrics, insights and reports that enable earlier identification, more precise intervention, and stronger wellbeing and academic outcomes. At the heart of her work is a clear belief: no child should fall through the cracks because of the circumstances they were born into. Grounded in evidence, neuroscience and lived experience, Nikki's approach is built on the conviction that every child can thrive when they are met with the right environment, the right skills, the right support and the right tools at the right time.
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Geoff Masters
Director of World-Class Learning Systems
Geoff Masters AO is an international adviser on curriculum and assessment redesign. He was previously long-term head of the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER). He has conducted a number of reviews for governments, including a review of the NSW school curriculum. He led an international study of five high-performing jurisdictions for the US National Center on Education and the Economy (published as Building a World-Class Learning System) and is author of The Children We Leave Behind (Routledge, 2026).
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Gayle Walters
Executive Director Strategy and Communications at PeakCare QLD
Gayle Walters brings over twenty-five years’ experience in public policy, strategic leadership and corporate governance roles across from across state government and two decades of experience in the Not-for-Profit human services sector. Having worked in Ministerial Offices and in senior government roles across many agencies, Gayle brings a strong passion for education, child protection and supporting families and children to make our communities stronger and safer. Having been Chief of Staff to the Minister for Education and Minister for Youth Justice, Gayle brings experience and knowledge of the critical issues facing the youth justice and child protection system and the critical intersect with education in this space. Having also led P&Cs Qld for four years as President and eight years as a Board director, Gayle knows first-hand the importance education is for our community. Leading the Strategic Vision for P&Cs Qld to provide Every Child Every Chance was introduced under Gayle’s leadership. Having Chaired the K-10 Curriculum Committee for the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority as well for four years, Gayle knows how important the impact of access to early education is for every family. Gayle’s personal motto is “education is the pathway from poverty to prosperity”. As the Senior Policy Advisor to the Minister for Child Safety Youth and Women and the Minister for the Prevention of Domestic and Family Violence in 2020, Gayle led the first ever national virtual summit on Domestic and Family Violence.
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Claudia Bou-melhem
Director of Wellbeing and Engagement K-12
I am an experienced leader with a background across curriculum, wellbeing and whole‑school improvement in multiple school settings. I am currently completing a Master of Educational Leadership, which continues to shape and strengthen my practice. Recently, I have led the development of a strategic Engagement Framework for students, staff, and parents, and co‑created a comprehensive Student Wellbeing Framework for our College. My work is centred on building consistent, relational systems that enhance belonging, emotional safety, and engagement across the whole school community.
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Dianne Giblin
CEO of Australian Council of State School Organisations (ACSSO)
Dianne has worked in education in both paid and unpaid capacity for the past 32 years. Di has a passion for education, in particular public education, and the opportunities it affords young people. She has led the ACSSO secretariat since 2011 but has been a significant player in parent activism since 1984 when her eldest child commenced school. She is proud of her four children’s achievements – all successes of public education. She has held various volunteer roles in the parent movement finishing her P&C career as President of the Federation of Parents and Citizens Associations of NSW. Di was a founding Director of Public Education Foundation whose board position she held for six years; a founding Director of Primary Ethics Board and also a founding Director of The Parenthood board. She worked in a paid capacity for the NSW education department in a number of roles across a large area of Sydney. Her roles were all in the area of parent engagement and home-school partnerships including school based community officer, across district Community Development Officer and regional Partnership Officer – all through the Priority Schools Program. Recognition of her work saw her commended for Meritorious Service to Public Education and Training in 2010. In 2012 Dianne was admitted as a Member in the General Division of the Order of Australia for her service to public education and the community.
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Dan Hart
CEO / Founder of CurricuLLM
Dan is the Founder of CurricuLLM, an AI-powered personalised learning platform built around the Australian and New Zealand curricula. Before CurricuLLM, he les the team that built NSWEduChat at the NSW Department of Education, one of the world's largest implementations of AI in a government education setting. His work sits at the intersection of AI, education, and student safety. He is focused on ensuring that as AI enters classrooms, it is purpose-built for curriculum, aligned to how teachers actually work, and designed with student wellbeing at its core. Dan writes and speaks publicly on AI in education, AI governance, and the broader implications of AI for young people and the workforce.
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Andrew Pearn
Deputy Principal Wellbeing
Educator who has worked in both Government and Catholic education during the past 20 years, leading whole school improvement initiatives. Passionate about improving the wellbeing and learning outcomes of students and staff alike, by creating safe and supportive educational environments, that focus on the interconnection between Academia, Faith, Wellbeing and Extracurricular opportunities.
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Simon Torok
Client Engagement Manager - Sentral
Simon Torok is a passionate technologist, focusing on improving education through technology. This has spanned his over 15 years in the education industry, working at Apple, Google, Instructure and now at Sentral.
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Richard Crawshaw
CEO / Founder of Can't Face School
Richard Crawshaw is the founder of Can’t Face School, an organisation dedicated to supporting young people who experience school avoidance and disengagement. With extensive experience as a leader in contemporary education, youth wellbeing, and disability inclusion, Richard works at the intersection of schools, families, and communities to create safe, supportive environments that prioritise connection, regulation, and belonging. He is committed to transforming how adults, schools, and systems understand and respond to children who struggle to engage, turning behaviour signals into opportunities for understanding and sustainable re-engagement.
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Karen Robertson
CEO of Life Education Australia
Karen Robertson is CEO of Life Ed Australia and Vice President of the Australian Parents Council, with more than three decades of experience in education leadership, policy and program innovation. She is a recognised voice in children’s health, wellbeing and digital safety, contributing to national policy discussions, Senate inquiries and global education networks. Karen is passionate about translating evidence into action and building partnerships that create meaningful, lasting impact for children and young people.
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Darryl Thompson
Teacher & Principal — Department of Education, NSW
Darryl is a passionate advocate for public education. He has been a teacher and principal for almost 40 years with the Department of Education in western New South Wales. A love of the dust versus a sea breeze has seen him dedicate his career to building an understanding of the unique nature of a education in a rural context and the need to ensure that ALL STUDENTS achieve to their own potential despite their postcode. He has led, in his own schools, an integrated approach to rural education where all levels of government, supported by local communities work together to achieve quality learning, cultural and social outcomes. In complex communities this integrated approach has seen school attendance of 90% achieved for a diverse student demographic. With students at school taking advantage of their great programs Wellington Public School is currently one of the Top 50 NSW Schools Making a Difference as measured by learning growth. Support to address generational trauma has seen the school focus on emotional literacy and self-regulation as crucial foundations in the development of young people in schools and their local communities. A wide range of evidence is showing that these programs are making a difference.
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Matthew Esterman
Founder of The Next Word
Matt Esterman has over 20 years working in schools and beyond as a leading voice in the thoughtful adoption of technology. He is a trained History teacher with two masters degrees, who has made a significant contribution to educational thinking in Australia and overseas. He has written articles, book chapters, presented at local, state, national and international conferences on history, technology, and, of course, AI in education. Matt has been recognised with several awards, most recently a Commonwealth Bank national Teaching Fellow award, and a NSW Teacher’s Guild fellowship. Matt has founded The Next Word, a consultancy that seeks to leverage AI and other technologies to help shape a better future. He works with schools, universities and other organisations to increase awareness and capability in using AI. He has co-authored two books with Dr Nick Jackson, “The Next Word: AI & Teachers” (2024) and also “The Next Word: AI & Learners” (2025) co-written with award-winning high school student Amy Wallace. Matt has been appointed an Adjunct Fellow in the School of Education at Western Sydney University, and is a member of the HP Futures: AI & Leadership Council. In 2026, he is working with several schools and systems on thoughtful governance, strategy and implementation of AI within thriving school communities. In partnership with ClassCover, he is also co-founder of Educator Intelligence a platform that will help educators across the world build and maintain their knowledge and skills in AI.
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Gemma McLean
VP Digital Sales at TTEC Digital
Gems McLean is a passionate advocate for student wellbeing, equity, and the power of technology in education. As the VP Digital Sales at TTEC Digital, she is dedicated to ensuring no learner is left behind. Her journey has been anything but traditional. Despite being told she would never amount to anything and facing significant challenges in her school years—including an undiagnosed neurodivergence and growing up in a household affected by mental health struggles—she has built a career that proves otherwise. Without finishing high school or attending university, she has navigated a path that led her from the world of EdTech to Amazon Web Services and now at TTEC Digital. More than just a leader in edtech, she is a mentor, a champion for diversity and inclusion, and someone who deeply believes in the power of kindness and community. She sees people for who they are and strives to elevate, encourage, and empower them to recognise their own strengths. Her personal story fuels her mission: to ensure that no student slips through the cracks and that every young person is seen, supported, and given the opportunities they deserve. Her superpower? Using her lived experience to help others uncover theirs.
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Dr. Neil Hawkes
D. Phil (Oxford), MEd, BA, FRSA — Values-based Education
Neil Hawkes is a doctoral graduate of Kellogg College, Oxford University. He is well known worldwide as an inspirational speaker, educator, broadcaster, author and social commentator. He is a popular TEDx presenter. Neil’s thinking is having a profound influence on education globally. Neil first gained international recognition when, after a successful career as a Chief Education Adviser, he returned to being a Headteacher in Oxfordshire, UK. Here he conducted research, with the support of Oxford University, to devise and implement a transformational model of education, which would give pupils an ethical vocabulary, based on universal human values such as respect, tolerance, humility and justice. The school community found that pupils were empowered to embody ethical intelligence, the ability to ethically self- regulate their thinking and behaviour. Pupils developed the capacity to be ethical leaders of themselves and others displaying excellent behaviour and good character. The quality of their schoolwork was enhanced too because they took responsibility for their learning and had time for inner reflection. School staff modelled the school’s values and reported that Values-based Education (VbE) had created a harmonious school community, which fostered wellbeing.
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Gavin McCormack
Montessori Educator & Co-founder, Upschool.co
Hello! I am Gavin McCormack, a co-founder of Upschool.co, a platform that empowers students to learn real entrepreneurship skills that have real impact. With over 20 years of experience as a Montessori-trained teacher, I have taught in multiple countries and developed a passion for innovative educational practices that foster essential skills in students from an early age. I am also the Montessori Australia Ambassador and a TEDx speaker on how education can change the world. I have built several schools and several libraries and run three teacher training centres in Nepal. I am a best-selling author of children's books and a book on Montessori education for parents. I have been recognized as one of the top ten most influential global educators in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 and a nominee for Australian of the Year in 2018. You can learn more about my personal pedagogy and educational philosophy at www.gavinmccormack.com.au. I am always open to collaborating with schools and educators worldwide to share my expertise on programming, classroom management, and pedagogy. Feel free to connect with me to learn more about how we can work together to bring about positive change in the education sector. 'In the ideal classroom, love is the silent lesson always being taught. It is not spoken of as much as it is shown, felt, and understood. It is the light that guides children on their path to finding their voice, and once found, to using it with the surety that comes from knowing they are loved, without conditions, without pause.'
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Dr Phil Lambert
Education Expert — Former General Manager, ACARA
Dr Phil Lambert is an internationally acclaimed education expert. He has extensive experience in education as a principal;inspector;Regional Director (Sydney) and General Manager of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority where he led the development of Australia’s first national curriculum. He has led major reviews and reforms, presented a number of papers and keynotes at national and international conferences, had a number of articles and occasional papers published in journals, and authored three books, the most recent being, ‘The Knowing and Caring Profession’. Phil has received a number of honours and awards. In the 2012 Queen’s Birthday Honours he was awarded the Public Service Medal for his outstanding contribution to education and leadership in programs aimed at eliminating violence against women and girls. In 2013 he was the recipient of the Australian College of Educators’ prestigious award, the Sir Harold Wyndham Medal and in 2020 he was the recipient of the NSW Teachers Guild’s Phyllis Evans Medal. He was recently appointed Patron of the Professional Teachers Council in Australia. Phil is Adjunct Professor at the University of Sydney. He supports education reform efforts globally as expert advisor and researcher. He is a Curriculum Expert to the OECD Education 2030 initiative and has been engaged by education ministries in several countries including Japan, The Netherlands, Qatar, Kazakhstan, the UAE, Brazil, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Lithuania and Vietnam to guide and support their respective reforms. Phil contributes to the community in various ways. He is Chair (previously CEO) of Together For Humanity, the Attorney General’s appointee on the NSW Children’s Court Advisory Committee and was recently appointed as a member of the NSW Parliament’s Education Advisory Group.
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