Speakers and workshops

Professor Theo Farrell commenced as Vice-Chancellor and President of La Trobe University in February 2024. He previously held leadership roles at the University of Wollongong, City University of London, and King’s College London. Professor Farrell is Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences (UK) and past President of the British International Studies Association. He believes passionately in the mission of universities to build a better world through research, education, industry partnerships, and civic engagement. Professor Farrell’s own research focuses on defence innovation and contemporary armed conflict. He has acted as strategic advisor to the UK government and US-led command in Afghanistan.

The changing face of education and impact on leadership 

Learners are entering a world that is changing faster than at any time in history. Students are interacting with myriad digital technologies in all aspects of their lives, and they are being more demanding of their education institutions (university or school). They also have less visibility and certainty about what their future job role might look like, or whether their chosen vocation will even exist when they enter the workforce. AI is the latest of those technologies, and perhaps the most powerful yet. This backdrop is creating extreme challenges for institutions in terms of how, where and what they teach, but also opportunities to re-imagine what relevant education needs to look like.

Vice-Chancellor, La Trobe University

Josh has over 20 years of experience in education and is currently a Managing Director with SEEK Investments, a company that invests in the Future of Learning and Work, managing c.$2BN worth of technology-related investments. Prior to SEEK Investments, Josh led Education for SEEK Ltd, the ASX-listed online employment company, where he worked for 17 years. His expertise is truly global, having invested in and worked with Education-related organisations across the US, Europe, Latin America, India, Asia and Australia. The goal of most of these organisations is to prepare their graduates for fulfilling careers, which aligns with Josh’s passion for helping people with their careers.

Josh is a serving Board Member at Online Education Services (Australia), UTEL University (Latin America) and Univo Education (India). Until recently he served on the Victorian International Education Advisory Board and continues to serve on the Advisory Board to ‘The Huddle’, a youth focused social enterprise between the North Melbourne Football Club and Scanlon Foundation. Josh holds a Bachelor of Commerce (International Business and Japanese) from the University of Tasmania.

Where will our students end up: the future of jobs and the labour market

The objective of Independent schools is to provide students with a supportive environment that prepares them for life and work. But what does that life look like, and what jobs will today’s students be prepared for? As the former MD of Seek — a company that places millions of Australians into jobs and has a unique perspective into what employers are (and aren’t) looking for — Josh Nester will offer insights into the changing labour market and the current notion of careers. 

SEEK Investments

James Field is a seasoned entrepreneur, lawyer and governance expert with over 30 years of experience in the legal, education, and technology sectors. As the founder and former CEO of CompliSpace, James has spearheaded digital solutions that revolutionised regulatory and operational processes across diverse sectors, including K-12 education.  

James has now founded a new company, DecisionLine, that focuses solely on AI Governance and Leadership in the K-12 school sector. DecisionLine works closely with the Association of School Business Administrators (ASBA), as its AI Governance Content Partner and is at the forefront of generative AI transformation, guiding school leaders to develop and implement AI strategies and governance frameworks, enabling responsible innovation and sustainable growth.

James is a lawyer, an advisory council member with EduGrowth (the EdTech Industry Association), a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and a member of its AI Governance Expert Advisory Panel.  

Our People - DecisionLine - James Field

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 forums 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.

A rapid learner, Louka speaks 5 languages, has visited over 80 countries, holds 2 Masters degrees, has completed studies at Harvard and a residency at the d.school at Stanford and became a Principal at 27 years old.

Louka Parry

Ray Fleming lives at the intersection between education, technology and AI. He’s an industry expert who covers topics around AI, organisational adoption and change. He has over 30 years’ industry experience including as Global Education Solutions Lead at Google Cloud, Higher Education Lead at Microsoft Australia and Chief AI Officer at InnovateGPT.

Ray co-hosts the AI in Education podcast, and is a regular speaker on AI in Education. Having spoken on a global stage for both Microsoft and Google, Ray brings a rich knowledge and a vast selection of case studies to educate and challenge any audience. In Australia, he has delivered presentations and keynotes for an array of organisations’ conferences including CAUDIT, CAUL, AHIEA and the LH Martin Institute.

Ray offers a unique approach, providing informative and entertaining keynotes that challenge the audience’s thinking. This ensures they are well-received by both technical and non-technical audiences. Many organisations have invited him to kick off their strategic planning or leadership conferences to help bring the challenge of digital transformation to life.

Ray’s been a columnist for the Times Education Supplement, an award-winning blogger, and has featured on BBC TV. As a professional comedy Improv performer, you’ll also find Ray on stage at Comedy & Fringe Festivals around the country.

linkedin.com/in/rayfleming

Derek Scott was appointed CEO | Principal of Haileybury in December 2007.

Haileybury is one of Australia’s leading schools. Haileybury has 4 campuses in Melbourne with 5,100 students, Haileybury Pangea online school and Haileybury Rendall School, Darwin which has 1,050 students including a large Indigenous boarding house for students from remote communities.

In his role as CEO he oversees Haileybury operations across Australia and in Asia. He is on the Board of Haileybury Rendall School, Darwin.  He is a director of Haileybury International and is the Chairman of the joint venture company which operates Haileybury Senior School in Tianjin and The Haileybury Elite School in China (opened in 2013).  Haileybury also delivers the Victorian Certificate of Education in 7 partner schools in China, 2 partner schools in Indonesia and has programs in Timor-Leste, Vanuatu and Papua New Guinea.

Derek is one of Australia’s most highly regarded education leaders. He is the Chair of the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority and is an Expert Member of the Australian Council for International Education. Derek was awarded the Australian Principal of Year at the 2019 Australian Education Awards. 

Adrian is the 12th Principal of Trinity Grammar School in its 122-year history. Prior to his appointment to Trinity he was Principal of Cathedral College Wangaratta for 7 years.

Adrian had extensive experience as an educational leader in Independent schools. He worked in leadership during his 7 years at Penleigh and Essendon Grammar School (PEGS), and spent 9 years at Camberwell Grammar School, largely as Head of Middle School. Adrian is a long-term member of the national committee of management for Anglican Schools Australia, as the Victorian Representative. He has also served on AHISA (Australia Heads of Independent Schools Victorian C.O.M.) for 8 years. He sits on the board of the AGSV (Associated Grammar Schools of Victoria).

Ashleigh Martin is the 10th Principal of Caulfield Grammar School, one of Australia’s leading Independent co-educational schools. A strong advocate for values-based leadership and student-led learning, Ashleigh believes education should empower young people beyond academic achievement, preparing them to shape their own futures with confidence and purpose. Since joining Caulfield Grammar in 2012, he has held senior leadership roles including Head of Middle School, Director of Teaching and Learning, and Vice Principal, before being appointed Principal in 2018. He has since led the development of the School’s 2019–2031 Strategic Plan, which is grounded in heritage yet focused on innovation, wellbeing, and future-focused learning. 

Dr. Jodi Richardson is a renowned speaker, author, and wellbeing expert, specialising in empowering students, educators, parents, and school leaders to manage anxiety, reduce stress, and enhance wellbeing. A former secondary teacher, Dr. Jodi  brings a deep understanding of the challenges facing school communities, including student anxiety and educator burnout. Her warm, compassionate, and engaging approach is rooted in research and complemented by her clinical work and personal experiences.  

Dr. Jodi is the bestselling author of Anxious Kids and Anxious Mums, creator of the top-ranked, award-winning podcast Well, Hello Anxiety and a regular media commentator. 

Workshop: Anxiety and burnout: Red flags, guard rails and recalibration 

In this workshop, Dr Jodi Richardson takes school leaders on a clear, relatable journey into the workings of the nervous system. She’ll explain  why anxiety and burnout show up and how to shift between nervous system states. Throughout the session, Jodi uses humour, personal stories, and memorable visuals to bring complex ideas to life. 

She shines a light on the red flags of anxiety and burnout, helping leaders recognise what to watch for in themselves and others. Jodi then introduces the concept of guard rails: practical, real-world ways to set and hold boundaries that protect wellbeing, and shares a memorable acronym for recalibration. She’ll also offer simple, science-backed strategies to move away from anxiety and burnout. 

School leaders will leave feeling seen, supported, and empowered with real-life skills they can use to look after themselves and their staff.

Dr. Jodi Richardson

James Field is a seasoned entrepreneur, lawyer and governance expert with over 30 years of experience in the legal, education, and technology sectors. As the founder and former CEO of CompliSpace, James has spearheaded digital solutions that revolutionised regulatory and operational processes across diverse sectors, including K-12 education.  

James has now founded a new company, DecisionLine, that focuses solely on AI Governance and Leadership in the K-12 school sector.  DecisionLine works closely with the Association of School Business Administrators (ASBA), as its AI Governance Content Partner and is at the forefront of generative AI transformation. This guides school leaders to develop and implement AI strategies and governance frameworks, enabling responsible innovation and sustainable growth in an AI-driven world.

James is a lawyer, an advisory council member with EduGrowth (the EdTech Industry Association), a Fellow of the Governance Institute of Australia and a member of its AI Governance Expert Advisory Panel.  

Workshop: AI strategy and governance in schools 

Future-Proofing Schools: Practical AI Strategies by James Field, explores ways to demystify AI and provide a practical roadmap for adoption of AI. Attendees will also get access to a copy of the AI Governance Framework for Schools, plus other materials including A Guide to Starting Your Personal AI Learning Journey and sample AI use cases to use back in school. 

www.decisionline.com.au 

Mark Rickinson is a Professor in the Faculty of Education at Monash University. His work focuses on supporting the quality use of research and evidence in education practice and policy. He is currently Co-Director of the Monash Q Lab.  

Workshop: Using research well to drive improvement

Research evidence is a powerful resource but only if it used well. This session will focus on how principals can use research effectively to specify, implement and sustain improvement. Based on the award-winning Monash Q Project, it will highlight practices to adopt, pitfalls to avoid and tools to use for improved research use in your school.

Monash Q Lab

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. He has worked with thousands of leaders and educators from diverse contexts across the world, including in high-level policy forums 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.

A rapid learner, Louka speaks 5 languages, has visited over 80 countries, holds 2 Masters degrees, has completed studies at Harvard and a residency at the d.school at Stanford and became a Principal at 27 years old.

Workshop: Setting students up for success: the future of education

Today the primary role of a principal is to lead a learning culture, one that maximises the learning experiences and workplace environments that contribute to a thriving school. We know more than ever about how we create cultures that deliver deep engagement, learning outcomes and professional fulfilment.

In this workshop, Louka will share the emerging insights and design approaches that integrate the science of belonging, flow and performance. These human-centred leadership practices reinforce learning and work through positioning curiosity, connection and courage at their heart and are based on the TLF Leadership Intelligence Model. In a tech-enabled AI future, as principals you’ll use key tools to help you create space for that deeply human work, and to pay attention to your team's uniquely human software and hardware their psycho-physiology. As we begin to increasingly offload low level cognitive tasks, our focus must remain steadfastly on how to lead schools into an unknown future. Framing yourself as a culture architect helps you validate and challenge the choices you make towards a thriving school where learning and work are challenging and joyful for all.

Louka Parry

Workshop: Leadership excellence in action: applying the Academy Leadership Excellence Framework

Join us for a thought-provoking session led by Academy Principals in Residence, exploring how the Academy Leadership Excellence Framework can support independent school principals to elevate their leadership practice. Participants will discover how to apply the framework to drive leadership excellence in their schools, assess their own leadership strengths, and foster leadership growth within their teams.