INVITED SPEAKERS AND MASTER OF CEREMONIES

Pasi Sahlberg

Pasi Sahlberg is professor of Educational Leadership at the University of Melbourne. His previous career includes mathematics and science teacher in Helsinki, teacher-educator at the University of Helsinki, director general at Finland’s Ministry of Education, senior education specialist at the World Bank in Washington DC, and the European Commission in Torino, and visiting professor at Harvard University. Pasi’s latest books include ‘Let the Children Play: How More Play Will Save Our Schools and Help Children Thrive’ (2019), and ‘Finnish Lessons 3.0: What Can the World Learn from Educational Change in Finland’ (2021). He is a recipient of the 2012 Education Award in Finland, the 2013 Grawemeyer Award in the U.S., the 2014 Robert Owen Award in Scotland, the 2016 Lego Prize in Denmark, and the 2021 Dr. Paul Brock Memorial Medal and the 2021 Hedley Beare Award in Australia. Pasi lives with his family in South Melbourne.

Louka Parry

Louka Parry. Idea Curator. Learning Futurist. Global Strategist. Believer that the future belongs to those who constantly and rapidly unlearn and relearn in their daily work and life.

As one of Australia's top innovators Louka Parry speaks on futures, leadership, education, and transformation; having worked with thousands of leaders and educators from diverse contexts across the world, including in high-level policy fora such as the OECD, UNESCO, the European Commission, and with all Australian States and Territories.

An award-winning educator, speaker, facilitator, and adventurer, Louka’s powerful ability to communicate ideas with clarity allows him to guide thinking about learning, leadership, and life to new places, earning him a place in 2022 as a Top 100 Innovator for Australia.
As CEO + Founder of The Learning Future, Louka is committed to transforming learning structures, systems and societies that further empower individuals to develop the key human capabilities that matter most now and into the future. At a time in history when converging technologies are rapidly changing the realities of workplaces and schools, Louka is passionate about exploring the connection point between learning and the era of AI, through powerful provocations. How do we in this age enable human-centred education supported with life-centred design principles and aspire to nurture thriving ‘humans’ who grow and connect in a healthy environment.

Louka also co-leads the non-profit Karanga: The Global Alliance for Social Emotional Learning and Life Skills, which connects the global education community at the forefront of the future of education and social-emotional learning to empower children, educators, and communities across the globe.

A rapid learner, Louka speaks five languages, has visited over 80 countries, holds two Masters degrees, completed executive studies at Harvard and a residency at the d.school at Stanford University. As an education leader, Louka was promoted to Principal at only 27 years old and was named South Australian Inspirational Public Secondary Teacher of the Year.

Craig Foster

Craig Foster AM is the 2023 NSW Australian of the Year, a former athlete, member of the Australian Multicultural Council and Co-Chair of the Australian Republic Movement. With 29 caps for the Socceroos including as Captain, Craig was also Captain and Club Captain of Crystal Palace FC in England, followed by a 20+ year broadcast career with SBS television, part of the triple Logie winning SBS football coverage and now with Stan Australia. Well known for his human rights advocacy, his high-profile campaigns include the rescue of a young Bahraini refugee from the Thai Government captured in the book 'Fighting for Hakeem' and a new documentary film, 'The Defenders' on Amazon Prime Video which won most popular audience award at this year's Sydney Film Festival. Craig helped many Afghan women and girls to flee the Taliban in 2021 including the Afghan women’s National football team and a group of 15 young girls which is captured in the online, award-winning film, 'Die or Die Trying: Escaping the Taliban' and led the successful ‘Game Over’ campaign to free hundreds of refugees offshore. He is the face of various anti-racism campaigns, is an author, speaker, human rights activist and holds a Masters in Sport and a law degree.

Joe Brumm

Joe Brumm is the creator of Bluey, an animated pre-school series that made Rolling Stone's top 100 sitcoms of all time.

It’s won numerous awards including 2 Logies, an Emmy, and a Bafta. Ostensibly written for 4-6 year olds, the show has reached beyond this demographic to include a passionate base of parents grandparents and 20 year olds, with and without children.

It counts among its fans the likes of Lin Manuel Miranda and Natalie Portman (both who have guest starred) Elijah Wood, Rose Byrne, Joel Edgerton and many more.

It's broken all ABC iview viewership records and was the 7th most streamed show (of any genre) in 2022. It was the most streamed show on Disney Plus.

Yet it was all created and made under the one roof in Brisbane by a crew made up mostly of recent graduates, with next to no consideration to change language or content for an international audience.

Joe worked as an animator for 20 years before starting Bluey.

Melissa Neighbour

Melissa is an environmental town planner, community builder and sustainability specialist. She is the Owner of Sky Town Planning, a purpose-driven town planning consultancy based in Sydney. She has developed and implemented award-winning sustainable development projects across Australia, and is on a mission to activate sustainable forms of living in urban spaces of the future. She is a founding member of the World Economic Forum Sydney Shaper Hub, and was the National Convener for the United National Association of Australia Young Professionals Network.

Dr Ehssan Sakhaee

Dr. Ehssan Sakhaee is the founder of Inspirational Management Australia, a leadership consultancy that helps organizations innovate new models of leadership to support the sustainable wellbeing of people and the planet. Over the past decade, Ehssan has worked with Fortune 500 companies such as 3M and NTT Japan, as well as academic institutions around the world, to amplify the human skills we need to navigate a rapidly changing world. Ehssan holds a PhD in Engineering, an Executive Certificate in Positive Psychology Coaching, and is an unparalleled master of moves and grooves on the dance floor.

Dave Faulkner

CEO, EC by Go1
Dave has worked in K-12 education for over two decades as a teacher, principal, system leader and thought leader. His education leadership journey began when he became a principal at age 24, with further principal tenures at primary and secondary schools over the next decade as well as a three-year period as a Regional Director. As the co-founder of EC Premium (ec.inc) - the world’s largest K-12 online professional learning library - he is at the forefront of staff and school improvement and speaks on the world’s largest education stages on this theme (including BETT, ASCD and EduTech). Dave is the co-author of the K-12 books Dream Team (ASCD) and Edupreneur (Wiley) and has led PL programs for state and national governments and organisations across the globe.

Maddie Scott-Jones

CLO, EC by Go1
Maddie is the Chief Learning Officer at EC by Go1. An experienced facilitator, professional learning designer and strategic planner, Maddie draws on her experience in the classroom and working with systems to foster vibrant cultures of learning. She holds three Masters degrees with distinction in education from the University of Melbourne and Australian Catholic University and works with experts in the field to lead on the development of EC’s online learning library. Maddie also supports EC’s learning design team to work alongside schools and education organisations as partners in learning. As a passionate environmentalist, she loves living with her young family in Aotearoa, New Zealand.