Overview

Summer Howarth

Summer Howarth is a learning experience designer and facilitator with expertise in educational innovation, policy & practice across Australia, focusing on systemic reform and student empowerment from schools to systems.

Her collaborative efforts span all Australian education jurisdictions, notably contributing to key projects with the NT, NSW, and SA Education Departments. In her role as Director of The Eventful Learning Co, she plays a crucial role in designing student perspectives into decision-making processes, significantly through her facilitation work with the National Student Voice Council and conversations with Education Ministers and Department Leads.

Internationally, Summer represents Australia on the Global Education Leaders Partnership, works with international school networks and organisations such as Google for Education & Centre for Strategic Education (CSE).

Summer’s work has been recognised with Premier’s/Chief Minister’s awards in NSW & the NT and she holds a Paul Harris Fellowship for services to Girls Education. When she’s not working on education endeavours, Summer enjoys life between watching a sunset in Darwin and pickling veggies with the CWA at her home in the Adelaide Hills.

Dr Amanda McKay

Dr Amanda McKay (formerly Heffernan) is an expert in educational leadership at Griffith University. Her research focuses on the contemporary challenges of principals’ work, and what that means for how we can better attract, support, and keep school leaders within the profession.

She has a particular interest in leadership in complex school settings, including those in rural and remote areas, and the skills and knowledges that are needed to successfully lead those schools.

Amanda is a former public-school principal who now works with future and current leaders, policymakers, and international researchers to highlight the important and complex work of educational leadership today.

Dr Selena Fisk

Dr Selena Fisk is a data storyteller and grounded researcher who works with corporates, NFPs and school systems to develop data-informed strategies that lead to action and benefit the organisation. She advocates for having data champions in all organisations and believes that data can, and should be, used to create positive change and impact… but we need people who see the value of data to lead the change in their sphere of influence.

Her work is based on the notions of data literacy, data visualisation and data storytelling. She helps people understand, communicate and act on data effectively and ethically, using storytelling techniques and visualisations.

The Honourable Blair Boyer MP

Blair lives in the North Eastern suburbs of Adelaide with his wife and three daughters.  He grew up on the family farm in rural South West Victoria, not far from Mount Gambier.

He was elected to represent the State electorate of Wright in 2018 and was appointed Minister for Education Training and Skills in March 2022.

Blair is passionate about education and believes that a strong, affordable and accessible public education system is the key to equality.