Professor Anne Castles (Chair)

Australian Catholic University Anne Castles – ACU Researcher

Professor Anne Castles is a leading Australian cognitive scientist renowned for her research in reading development and dyslexia. She is an ARC Laureate Professor at the Australian Catholic University (ACU) and a key figure at the Australian Centre for the Advancement of Literacy (ACAL).

She completed her Honours degree at the Australian National University and her PhD at Macquarie University. Her career includes roles at the University of Melbourne and Macquarie University.

Professor Castles' research focuses on reading and dyslexia, developing assessments like the Castles and Coltheart 2 (CC2) test. In 2022, she was awarded the ARC Laureate Fellowship to improve literacy outcomes for disadvantaged students.

A Fellow of the Academy of Social Sciences in Australia, she has served on editorial boards and was President of Learning Difficulties Australia.

Professor Andrew Martin

University of NSW Scientia Professor Andrew Martin

Scientia Professor Andrew J. Martin is a leading expert in educational psychology at the University of New South Wales (UNSW) in Sydney, Australia. He chairs the Educational Psychology Research Group and focuses on student motivation, engagement, learning, and achievement using quantitative methods.

He is an Honorary Research Fellow at the University of Oxford and was named the global field leader in Educational Psychology and Counselling by The Australian’s Research 2020 magazine.

Professor Martin is a Fellow of organisations including the American Psychological Association and the Academy of the Social Sciences in Australia. He is also a Registered Psychologist with the Psychology Board of Australia.

Belinda Bristol

Principal, Windsor South Public School

Belinda Bristol is a dedicated educator and the Principal of Windsor South Public School, with nearly 30 years of experience in public education. She is passionate about creating high-impact learning environments grounded in evidence-based teaching and the Science of Learning, while also ensuring strong, trauma-informed supports for students and families.
Belinda’s leadership extends beyond her school through her work with Science of Learning Alliance (SoLA) and the Explicit and Systematic Teaching (EAST) network, where she collaborates with leaders and teachers across a large network of schools to drive system-level improvement in explicit and systematic teaching practices.

Under her leadership, Windsor South Public School has experienced significant growth and transformation, with a strong focus on improving student outcomes, strengthening wellbeing, and building a culture of belonging and high expectations. Belinda is recognised for her practical, research-informed approach to school improvement, her commitment to developing leaders and teachers, and her unwavering focus on equity and excellence for every student.

Professor Mark Carter

InSpEd | Academy for the Science of Instruction
Dr Mark Carter | InSpEd | Institute of Special Educators Australia

Professor Mark Carter is a distinguished Australian academic in special education. He is the Dean of the Academy for the Science of Instruction at MultiLit and a Senior Research Fellow at the MultiLit Research Unit. He also holds an honorary appointment at the University of Wollongong.

Dr Carter's academic background includes a Bachelor of Applied Science in Occupational Therapy, a Master of Arts in Special Education, and a Ph.D. His work focuses on improving educational outcomes for students with disabilities through evidence-based practices.

Dr Carter's research interests include evidence-based practice, effective instruction, and autism spectrum disorder. He has published studies on Social Stories™ and communication interventions for individuals with severe disabilities.

Dr Carter has served on editorial boards for several journals and is a member of the Expert Panel of the Institute of Special Educators (InSpEd). He has been involved in teaching and mentoring future educators and researchers, providing practical tools for instructional strategies tailored to diverse learning needs.

Professor Scott Eacott

University of NSW Sydney Professor Scott Eacott | UNSW Research

Professor Eacott leads the Housing Affordability and the Teacher Shortage (HATS) Lab in the School of Education at UNSW Sydney. The HATS Lab has been conducting groundbreaking work on the impact of housing affordability and commuting on the teacher workforce. This interdisciplinary research program is centrally concerned with the question of How do you get the right qualified teachers where they are most needed across the system? Work from the HATS Lab has demonstrated that many teaching positions are in areas where it is unaffordable for teachers (especially early career) to live. To address this issue, Professor Eacott and his team seek to develop tools for government, stakeholders, and systems to better understand how best to meet legal, social, and cultural expectations in the provision of education.

Professor Eacott has previously held appointments at the University of Newcastle, Australian Catholic University, and an Adjunct Professorship in the Department of Educational Administration at the University of Saskatchewan. Prior to academia, Professor Eacott worked as a teacher and school leader in the NSW Department of Education.

Associate Professor Amy Gullickson

The University of Melbourne
A/Prof Amy Gullickson: The University of Melbourne

Associate Professor Amy Gullickson is a distinguished expert in evaluation, currently serving as the Director of the Centre for Program Evaluation at the University of Melbourne. She is also an Associate Professor in the Melbourne Graduate School of Education. Her work focuses on enhancing the understanding and practice of evaluation, emphasising its importance in assessing programs and policies.

She earned her PhD from Western Michigan University in 2010, focusing on integrating evaluation into Advanced Technological Education (ATE) centres. Since joining the University of Melbourne in 2012, she has led evaluation and capacity-building projects, including developing the online Master of Evaluation and Graduate Certificate programs.

Professor Gullickson is the Chair of the International Society for Evaluation Education and has contributed to the Australian Evaluation Society. Her research interests include evaluation capacity building, organisational evaluation use, and developing evaluation competencies.

Professor Leslie Loble

University of Technology Sydney
Leslie Loble Profile | University of Technology Sydney

Professor Leslie Loble, Member of the Order of Australia (AM) is an Industry Professor at the University of Technology Sydney (UTS), affiliated with the Centre for Social Justice & Inclusion, focusing on educational technology and AI to address disparities and enhance learning outcomes for disadvantaged students.

Before her tenure in Australia, she held senior roles in the U.S. Department of Labor during President Bill Clinton's administration. In Australia, she served as Deputy Secretary in the NSW Department of Education, leading strategy, innovation, and delivery across various educational sectors.

At UTS, she chairs the Australian Network for Quality Digital Education and has authored influential reports on educational technology. Her research emphasises the ethical and effective use of AI and digital tools in education.

In recognition of her contributions, she was appointed AM in 2022. She holds governance roles at the Australian Education Research Organisation and the Copyright Agency and serves on various government advisory panels.

Amy Quilty

Budgewoi Public School

Amy Quilty played a pivotal role in driving significant improvements at Blue Haven Public School and is now leading with evidence-based initiatives to improve teaching and learning at Budgewoi Public School.

While at Blue Haven Public School, she conducted a review of all school systems and processes and implemented an evidence-based approach to teaching and learning, leadership, professional development, and wellbeing throughout the school. These efforts contributed to the transformation at Blue Haven, reflected in the NSW-based institution making it to the top 10% of value-added schools in 2018 and winning the Australian Primary School of the Year – Government in 2019.

At Budgewoi Public School, Amy was instrumental in the improvements that led to the school being featured in the Grattan Institute report The Maths Guarantee. At both Blue Haven and Budgewoi, Amy has been a key member of the Explicit and Systematic Teaching (EaST) network of schools, a highly influential community of practice in NSW public schools.

Nathan Towney

University of Newcastle
Mr Nathan Towney / Staff Profile / The University of Newcastle, Australia

Mr Nathan Towney is a distinguished Australian education leader and proud Wiradjuri man from Wellington, New South Wales. He currently serves as the Interim Deputy Vice-Chancellor for Engagement and Equity and Pro Vice-Chancellor for Indigenous Strategy and Leadership at the University of Newcastle (UoN).

An alumnus of UoN, Mr Towney earned a Bachelor of Teaching and a Bachelor of Health and Physical Education. His career began through UoN’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Admissions Scheme.

Before higher education leadership, Mr Towney was the first Indigenous principal of Newcastle High School and held various roles in the New South Wales Department of Education. Since 2019, he has led the development of UoN’s Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Education and Research Framework.

Under his leadership, UoN launched initiatives like the 'Stretch' Reconciliation Action Plan and community events such as Ngarrama. He also coordinates Indigenous health research in the region.

He serves as Deputy Chair of the NSW Education Standards Authority and is a member of the Australian Rugby League Indigenous Council.

Professor Marc de Rosnay

University of Wollongong
Marc de Rosnay Profile | University of Wollongong

Professor Marc de Rosnay is a leading figure in developmental psychology and early childhood education at the University of Wollongong (UOW). He directs the Early Start initiative, enhancing opportunities for young children, especially in vulnerable communities.

He earned his Doctorate of Philosophy from Oxford University and was awarded a Churchill College Fellowship at Cambridge. He joined UOW in 2014 after roles at the University of Sydney.

His research focuses on emotional development in early childhood, including the Early Years Toolbox assessments. He serves on advisory boards like Australian Children's Education & Care Quality Authority (ACECQA) and the NSW Department of Education and supervises research students.

Professor Veena Sahajwalla

University of NSW
Scientia Professor Veena Sahajwalla | UNSW Research

Professor Veena Sahajwalla AO FAA FTSE HonFIEAust CPEng is a renowned materials scientist and engineer at the University of New South Wales (UNSW). She directs the Centre for Sustainable Materials Research and Technology (SMaRT@UNSW).

She earned her master's at the University of British Columbia and her PhD at the University of Michigan. She joined UNSW in the mid-1990s and became a Scientia Professor in 2009.

Professor Sahajwalla developed 'Green Steel,' using waste rubber and plastics in steelmaking to reduce emissions. She launched the first e-waste MICROfactorie™ in 2018, promoting a circular economy.

Her accolades include Officer of the Order of Australia (2025) and 2022 NSW Australian of the Year. She engages the public on science and sustainability through media appearances.

Professor Jim Tognolini

University of Sydney
James Tognolini | About | The University of Sydney

Professor Jim Tognolini is a distinguished expert in educational measurement and assessment, currently serving as the Director of the Centre for Educational Measurement and Assessment (CEMA) at the University of Sydney. He also holds honorary positions at the University of Wollongong and the University of Western Australia.

His career includes roles as Senior Vice President at Pearson's Assessment Centre and Professor at the University of Oxford. At the University of Sydney, he leads Centre for Educational Measurement and Assessment (CEMA) and manages JT Educational Consulting Pty Ltd.

Professor Tognolini's research focuses on educational assessment, measurement models, and data use to improve teaching quality. He has developed professional learning programs to enhance teachers' assessment literacy and leads initiatives to measure graduate qualities at universities.

Beyond academia, he collaborates with educational organisations to advance assessment practices, offering free assessment literacy courses for teachers.