Tom Bennett
Founder and Director of researchED
Tom has been teaching in the East End of London for thirteen years. He is the founder of researchED, a grass-roots, teacher-led project that aims to make teachers research-literate and pseudo-science proof. Since 2013, researchED has grown from a tweet to an international conference movement that, so far, has spanned three continents and six countries.
In 2009, Tom was made a Teacher Fellow of Corpus Christi College, Cambridge University. From 2008 to 2016 he wrote a weekly column for the TES and TES Online and is the author of four books on teacher-training, behaviour management and educational research. In 2015, Tom was long-listed for the GEMS Global Teacher Prize, and in that year was listed as one of the Huffington Post’s ‘Top Ten Global Education Bloggers’.
Tom recently chaired the Behaviour Management Group for the UK Department of Education and is currently their Independent Behaviour Advisor. He coaches teachers and schools internationally in all aspects of behaviour management and research integration.
Tom Sherrington
Teacher, Education Consultant, Author, Teacherhead Consulting
With over 30 years’ experience as a teacher and headteacher in the UK and Indonesia, Tom now shares his expertise through his education consultancy, Teacherhead Consulting and as Director of Teaching Walkthrus. He works closely with teachers and school leaders, guiding them to explore and implement contemporary educational strategies to elevate teaching and build great classroom practice.
A highly regarded speaker, Tom is frequently invited to present at conferences and CPD events on the international circuit and in Australia.
In 2014, Tom published his first book, Teach Now! Science: The Joy of Teaching Science and has since authored several more including the Teaching Walkthrus series and The Learning Rainforest. He is a founding trustee of the National Baccalaureate Trust, driving educational reform by seeking to establish a broader means of recognising student achievement.
Dr Lorraine Hammond CF AM
Dr Lorraine Hammond CF AM
Associate Professor at School of Education, Edith Cowan University
Lorraine’s expansive career has revolutionised reading education in Australian schools and universities. Specifically, Lorraine has worked and researched early literacy and high-impact instructional strategies with a focus on learning difficulties.
Lorraine completed a Master’s and PhD on the prevention of reading and spelling difficulties and, in 2002, was awarded a Churchill Fellowship (CF). In 2019, Lorraine received an Order of Australia (AM) for her contribution to tertiary education and the community.
Since 2017, Lorraine has developed and presented professional learning on evidence-based literacy strategies for the Kimberley Schools Project, which supports 23 remote community schools in the north of WA.
Lorraine has applied her extensive expertise from the Catholic Education Canberra Goulburn Catalyst program to provide invaluable support to Catholic Education Tasmania in implementing Insight into Learning.
Lyn Stone
Lyn Stone
Linguist & Author and Founder of Lifelong Literacy
Lyn is an educational linguist, author and owner of the consultancy and tutoring practice, Lifelong Literacy.
At Lifelong Literacy, Lyn and her team create research-informed professional development seminars for teachers and other education professionals. Her goal is to help teachers awaken linguistic curiosity in their students, using creative, engaging tools and strategies that are based upon scientific consensus as to what constitutes best practice.
Lyn has extensive classroom-teaching experience and provides specialist literacy education for groups of at-risk students as well as training for teachers. Her three best-selling books, Spelling for Life, Language for Life and Reading for Life have been used by teachers for over a decade and have attracted worldwide acclaim.
Saroo Brierley
Saroo Brierley
Businessman and Author
Saroo Brierley brings his inspirational story to our Gala Dinner. After being separated from his family at the age of 5, he was adopted by an Australian family and brought up in Hobart. He spent years trying to track down his old town, relying on his 5-year-old memory and Google Earth. In 2012, after 25 years of separation, he was reunited with his mother.
Saroo’s remarkable story of survival and sheer determination was told in his autobiography A Long Way Home and reached a global audience with the film Lion starring Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman.
Saroo’s story is one of hope and resilience; a reminder of the power of perseverance and the human spirit’s capacity to overcome extraordinary challenges.
Dr Nathaniel Swain
Dr Nathaniel Swain
Teacher, Instructional Coach, Researcher and Writer
Nathaniel is a teacher, instructional coach, researcher and writer. Currently, Nathaniel works as a Senior Lecturer of Learning Sciences & Learner Engagement at La Trobe University. Originally educated as a linguist and speech-language pathologist, Nathaniel became a classroom teacher to pursue his lifelong dream of assisting every child to achieve their best.
Nathaniel has worked with a range of educators in schools and universities to ensure that students learn in an effective and engaging manner. He is the founder of Think Forward Educators – a community committed to promoting social equity in education using the Science of Learning, which boasts a membership of over 25,000 teaching professionals from around Australia. Most recently, Nathaniel published a book on his learnings titled: Harnessing the Science of Learning: Success Stories to Kickstart Your School Improvement.
Jordan O’Sullivan
Jordan O’Sullivan
Director, Shaping Minds Australia
Jordan is a teacher, school leader and a director of Shaping Minds Australia, an organisation that enables teachers and school leaders to thrive by providing evidence-based professional learning, instructional coaching, curriculum expertise and customised teaching resources. Their evidence-based practices, vetted by extensive research, have created a significant and lasting impact on the organisations they have worked with, not to mention the hundreds of schools they have also visited for demonstration and coaching.
With an interest in cognitive science and research in education, as well as over a decade in teaching and school leadership, Jordan has successfully led curriculum changes and instructional innovations throughout his career.
Pamela Snow
Pamela Snow
Registered Psychologist & Speech-Language Pathologist
Pamela Snow is a registered psychologist whose career began in the field of speech-language pathology. Pamela is widely recognised for her groundbreaking research on language disorders in vulnerable children and adolescents, exploring its significant impact on academic success and overall well-being. Pamela’s work has influenced speech-language pathology practices and shaped policies within the education and justice systems, both nationally and internationally.
Currently, Pamela works as a Professor of Clinical Psychology and Co-Director of the Science of Language and Reading (SOLAR) Lab in the School of Education at La Trobe University. The SOLAR Lab, established by Pamela and her colleague, is a platform for research, teaching, advocacy and postgraduate supervision focusing on strategies to promote literacy success in reading, writing, and spelling in educational settings.
With over 200 published works, Pamela continues to contribute significantly to the field. Her upcoming co-authored book, Evidence-Based Support for Children and Young People with Additional Needs: The Roadmap, is set to be released later this year.
Brooke Wardana OAM
Brooke Wardana OAM
Early Years Educator & Consultant
Brooke has made a profound impact on early childhood education in Australia. She is a Level 3 classroom teacher with a proven track record of improving student outcomes in disadvantaged schools.
Brooke has extensive expertise as an instructional coach and her authentic, engaging and pragmatic approach has inspired educators across Australia. Her advocacy for evidence-based practices has been instrumental in transforming literacy outcomes for students in diverse communities, supporting organisations such as the Fogarty Foundation’s EDvance and the Kimberley Schools Project.
In recognition of her outstanding contribution to early childhood education, Brooke was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) earlier this year.
Jared Bussell
Jared Bussell
Director, Shaping Minds Australia
Jared Bussell is a Level 3 classroom teacher, school leader, and Director of Shaping Minds Australia, an organisation dedicated to delivering evidence-based professional learning, instructional coaching, curriculum expertise, and tailored teaching resources to educators and school leaders.
With extensive experience as both a teacher and a school administrator in diverse and challenging contexts, Jared has led successful school improvement initiatives across a broad range of settings. He excels in translating research into practical application, bridging the gap between educational theory and classroom practice. Through his dynamic approach, Jared shares exemplary teaching resources through live demonstration in classrooms all over Australia, empowering educators to elevate practice and improve student outcomes.
Toni Hatten-Roberts
Toni Hatten-Roberts
Mastery Schools Australia, COGlearn
Toni Hatten-Roberts is a leader in the Science of Learning, dedicated to bridging the gap between educational theory and classroom practice. She specialises in explicit and direct instruction, focusing on curriculum development and instructional design. With an extensive career in education, Toni was recently honoured with the Schools Plus Teacher of the Year Award for the 2022 Teaching Fellows.
In 2016, she received the prestigious Educator of the Year award from the National Institute for Direct Instruction in the United States. Toni holds an Honours degree in Cognitive Psychology, with her research on the impact of verbal rehearsal presented internationally in London in 2018.
As an author, Toni penned the Centre for Independent Studies publication, The Need for Speed: Why Fluency Counts for Maths Learning (2023), and is a contributing author to Harnessing the Science of Learning: Success Stories to Help Kickstart Your School Improvement (2024), by Nathaniel Swain.
Toni is also a co-founder of Mastery Schools Australia, directs COGlearn, and is part of the team behind the development of the Explicit Mathematics Program, advancing innovative educational practices in mathematics for all students.
Michael Roberts
Michael Roberts
Mastery Schools Australia, COGlearn
Michael is the Executive Director of COGlearn, a pioneering consultancy focused on improving student learning and teacher practice. He also serves as the Executive Principal of the Arcadia Group of schools, which is dedicated to supporting disengaged youth. With an extensive career in education, Michael has been a principal across ten Queensland schools and has been influential in transforming student outcomes. His extensive expertise led him to South East Asia, advising on and establishing quality assurance practices and supporting the integration of the Singapore and Australian curricula, to the benefit of international and Vietnamese students.
In 2017, Michael was invited by the Federal Minister for Education to serve as one of two school principals and eight experts on the Gonski Panel – Review to Achieve Educational Excellence in Australian Schools. The review culminated in a report issued in April 2018, which is expected to be highly influential in determining education policy and practice over the next decade.
Holding an honours degree in psychological science, Michael integrates cutting-edge, research-based principles into his work, leveraging his expertise to enhance student learning and drive exceptional staff performance.
Glenn Fahey
Glenn Fahey
Director – Education Program, The Centre for Independent Studies (CIS)
Glenn is the Director of the Education program at CIS, with a particular focus on education finance and accountability. Prior to joining the CIS, Glenn has held both policy- and research-intensive positions at the Centre for Educational Research and Innovation (OECD), Institute for Public Policy and Governance (University of Technology Sydney), and the Australian Treasury.
Most recently, Glenn’s work has included conceptual development of an accountability framework to support strategic governance of education systems across OECD countries. Glenn’s work has been published in academic journals including: Policy and Politics, Public Administration Quarterly, and Public Finance and Management, as well as in the OECD Education Working Paper Series.
Glenn has been awarded a Master of Economics from the University of New England and a Master of International Relations, Bachelor of Economics and Bachelor of Social Science from the University of New South Wales.
Bruno Reddy, OBE
Bruno Reddy, OBE
CEO and Founder of Maths Circle
Bruno is a passionate advocate for maths-confident children. As the CEO and Founder of Maths Circle, a globally respected EdTech company, he has developed a series of award-winning programmes, including Times Tables Rock Stars and Numbots, which leverage the power of gamification and innovative design to help children acquire fundamental numeracy skills.
After teacher training through Teach First, Bruno co-founded King Solomon Academy in London, one of the highest-performing secondary schools in England. He has a keen interest in positive classroom culture and maths teacher effectiveness, particularly in modelling and questioning.
Bruno has advised policymakers at the Department for Education (UK), providing guidance on the development of mathematics curriculum and teaching methodologies and in 2024, was awarded an OBE for ‘Services to Education’.
Marilyn Fleer, PhD, FASSA
Marilyn Fleer, PhD, FASSA
Emeritus Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor
Laureate Professor Marilyn Fleer is an Emeritus Sir John Monash Distinguished Professor, at Monash University, Australia. She was awarded the 2018 Kathleen Fitzpatrick Laureate Fellowship by the Australian Research Council and was a former President of the International Society of Cultural-historical Activity Research (ISCAR).
Marilyn holds the positions of an honorary Research Fellow in the Department of Education, University of Oxford, was a second professor position in the KINDKNOW Centre, Western Norway University of Applied Sciences from 2018 to 2023, and has been bestowed the title of Honorary professor at the Danish School of Education, Aarhus University, Denmark.
She was presented with the 2019 Ashley Goldsworthy Award for Outstanding leadership in university-business collaboration, elected as a fellow of the Australian Academy of Social Sciences, and inducted into the Honour Roll of Women in Victoria as a change agent.