Overview

MC - Ms Margot Foster PSM

Margot Foster has been a champion for the development of educational leaders in a highly strategic way for almost 40 years. She has consistently supported educational leaders to see leadership of student learning and the development of student agency at the core of their work. Margot brings together evidence-informed principles with the experience and expertise of educational leaders and a sophisticated understanding of the need for system and school-leaders to be able to respond to increasingly complex school and pre-school contexts. Her most important contribution to educational leadership is the way in which she has shaped the culture, conventions and expectations of educational leaders.

Australian Council of Educational Leaders, 2019 (citation excerpt)

Hon Blair Boyer MP

Minister Blair Boyer is particularly passionate about education and believes that a strong, affordable and accessible public education system is the key to equality. He believes that meaningful, dignified, work is the bedrock of our society and should be available to all South Australians, regardless of their means or background.

Minister Boyer lives in the North East of Adelaide with his family. When he has time he enjoys playing basketball, watching the footy, listening to music, taking the kids bike riding and spending time on the family farm. He is also a volunteer with the Salisbury SES Unit.

Christine Morgan

Ms Christine Morgan is the CEO of the National Mental Health Commission and National Suicide Prevention Adviser to the Prime Minister. She is a passionate leader in mental health and suicide prevention reform, committed to listening and responding to the voice and needs of those with lived experience.

Following a career in the corporate sector, Christine moved into the not-for-profit sector with a focus on community services and working with vulnerable populations. Prior to joining the Commission, she was CEO of the Butterfly Foundation for eating disorders and Director of the National Eating Disorders Collaboration. Since joining the Commission, Christine has played a strong leadership role in national mental health reform. She regularly provides advice to the Australian Government, serves on numerous advisory groups and has become a key spokesperson on mental health and suicide prevention.

Christine brings connection and compassion to mental health reform, built on the networks she established in the corporate world, her broad legal expertise, her extensive not-for-profit and philanthropy experience, and her strong ability to demonstrate to people how their contribution can make a real difference.

Dr Helen Street

Dr Helen Street is an applied social psychologist who has a passion for education and improving the mental health of Australians, young and old.

Known as an agitator, she challenges the norms and the zeitgeist of our social world in hope of building a better future.

Helen Street’s work exploring the wellbeing, engagement and motivation of young people has been presented internationally. She presents at schools, colleges and educational events; and writes regularly for educational publications including Western Teacher magazine and The Positive Times (www.positivetimes.com.au).

Arranged through Celebrity Speakers – www.celebrityspeakers.com.au

Associate Professor Mathew White

Mathew A. White, Ph.D., is Deputy Head of the School of Education and Associate Professor of Education at the University of Adelaide.

After a 20-year career teaching senior secondary English, French and senior leadership experience in schools, Mathew moved to academia, where he is the Interim Head of the School of Education and an Associate Professor of Education at the University of Adelaide. He is also the Program Director for the Master of Education and a principal fellow in the Melbourne Graduate School of Education at the University of Melbourne.

He has published widely and Mathew’s next co-authored book with Professor Faye McCallum, Wellbeing Education and Professional Practice, will be published by Springer in 2022. Recent publications include Wellbeing and Resilience Education: COVID-19 and Its Impact on Education (with Faye McCallum, Routledge, 2021), Critical Perspectives on Teaching, Learning and Leadership: Enhancing Educational Outcomes (with Faye McCallum, Springer, 2020), Future Directions in Wellbeing: Education, Organisations and Policy (with Gavin Slemp and Simon Murray, Springer, 2017).

In 2021 Mathew was conferred Fellowship of the International Positive Psychology Association and, in 2020, a Distinguished Contribution to Research in Educational Leadership Award by the Australian Council for Educational Leaders South Australian Branch.

Professor Jim Watterston

From his first job as a teacher in a rural Indigenous classroom in his home state of Western Australia to his appointment as the Dean of the Melbourne Graduate School of Education at the University of Melbourne, Professor Jim Watterston brings more than 39 years of successful experience across a diverse range of educational roles and sectors.

Jim spent his first ten years in the profession as a teacher before being promoted to the position of principal in a range of primary and secondary schools. He then progressed to the role of Regional Director in WA and Victoria before he was appointed as the Deputy Secretary of the Victorian Education Department, and Director General of both the ACT and, most recently, Queensland Departments of Education and Training. Jim was awarded a Doctorate in Education at the University of WA in 2004.

In addition to appointments to many educationally related Boards, Professor Watterston has previously served for six years as the National President for the Australian Council for Education Leaders, and is recognised as an influential advocate for the education sector. His contribution to education has been acknowledged both nationally and internationally with awards from a number of professional bodies and educational institutions including the highly prestigious Order of the Palmes Académiques (Chevalier) by the French Government in 2014 for a distinguished contribution to education.

Tanya Hosch

Tanya Hosch is the General Manager of Inclusion and Social Policy at the AFL.

Ms. Hosch has a long and distinguished history in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander policy, advocacy, governance and fundraising.

Before joining the AFL as the first ever Indigenous person and 2^nd woman in their Executive ranks in August 2016, Tanya was the Joint Campaign director of the Recognise movement for constitutional recognition.

At the AFL Tanya’s portfolios include – Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander issues, Gender Equality, Sexuality and Gender Diversity, racism and sexism.  Tanya is tasked with the implementation of the AFL’s enhanced Indigenous strategy, advising the AFL Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Advisory Council, maintenance of the Respect and Responsibility Policy, 2017, the AFL’s Gender Action Plan and the Gender Diversity Policy.

Tanya is a member of the Indigenous Advisory Group of the NAB and is a Board Director of Circus Oz, and the Australian Film, Television and Radio School and was a member of the Referendum Council that led the process and final recommendation that resulted in The Statement from the Heart in May 2017.  A career highlight was contributing as a Consultant on the ABC drama, Total Control.

Kristen Douglas

Kristen Douglas is the Head of headspace Schools (the National Youth Mental Health Foundation) Schools. She is a highly respected and sought presenter nationally and internationally on the topics of youth mental health and wellbeing, suicide prevention and postvention, school improvement strategies, Principal, School Staff self-care and wellbeing.

Kristen has significantly contributed to the synergy between education and youth mental health, combining her experience as an educator and principal, with her passion and experience in education and mental health and wellbeing, from government policy to leading national reform initiatives. Kristen has also lead headspace School Support (suicide postvention support for Australian schools), a service that has contributed to the national and international evidence best practice in working with suicide in school communities.

As head of headspace Schools, Kristen continues to lead a multi-disciplinary national team of mental health and education consultants to support primary and secondary schools across Australia to support mental health and wellbeing from promotion, prevention, early intervention to postvention.

headspace Schools works across Australia with school staff, school communities, school leaders, and education sectors to enhance and strengthen mental health literacy, self-care, resilience, and help seeking. headspace (along with Early Childhood Australia) are key delivery partners to beyondblue’s Be You national initiative.