Lorraine has worked and researched in the area of early literacy, high impact instructional strategies, including explicit teaching and learning difficulties since 1990. Lorraine completed her Masters and PhD on the prevention of reading and spelling difficulties and in 2002 was awarded a Churchill Fellowship. In 2016, Lorraine was recognised by the Australian Government with a University Teaching Award for outstanding tertiary teaching and in 2017 the Australian Council for Educational Leadership recognised her work in schools promoting high impact instruction. In 2019, Lorraine received an Order of Australia (AM) for her significant contribution to tertiary education and the community. Since 2017, Lorraine has developed and presented professional learning on evidence-based literacy strategies for the Kimberley Schools Project in the north of WA in remote community schools. In 2021, she commenced work with Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn.
Peter Aldenhoven is a descendant of the peoples of Quandamooka – more particularly, the Nughi clan from Moorgumpin (Moreton Island, Queensland). He is currently Chief Executive Officer of Willum Warrain Aboriginal Association, an Aboriginal gathering place on the Mornington Peninsula. Previously, Peter was the Executive Officer of Victoria’s first Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Community-led philanthropic fund called ‘Koondee Wonga-gat Toor-rong’. He has spoken at national and international philanthropic conferences on investing effectively in First Nations’ communities. He has also been an Indigenous educator and ran exchange programs for a decade to four remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory.
Emina McLean is an Australian language and literacy expert with over fifteen years of experience across primary, secondary, and tertiary education. She holds qualifications in speech pathology, adolescent counselling, youth mental health(psychiatry), public health, and education, and she is currently completing her PhD (Education).Emina is a lecturer, researcher, English and literacy leader, instructional coach, professional learning provider and education consultant. She works closely with the Tasmanian and Victorian state education systems, key sector stakeholders such as the Australian Education Research Organisation and the Victorian Curriculum Assessment Authority, schools, leaders, and teachers to develop ambitious and rigorous assessment, curriculum and instruction practices in English and literacy. In 2022Emina was named one of 52 Australian newsmakers by The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age for her contributions to Education and she won the Learning Difficulties Australia Mona Tobias Award for her research and practice contributions in the literacy domain. Emina is currently leading several small-and large-scale implementation projects across Australia, focused on building sustainable systems for quality literacy education delivery within schools. .
Dr. Joanne Blannin is an academic, educator, and leader in the field of digital learning, with a rich background in teaching and school leadership spanning four countries over more than 20 years. Holding a Ph.D. in Education, she focuses her research on the intersection of technology and classroom teaching, aiming to enhance educational experiences. Dr. Blannin's international experience informs her approach to integrating digital tools in diverse educational settings. She has authored academic papers, books and book chapters, sharing her insights into effective digital learning practices. Known for her dynamic teaching methods, Dr. Blannin has taught at several universities and is committed to supporting educators globally. Her significant contributions to digital education are grounded in her practical experience and academic research, making her a highly respected figure in both academic and educational circles..
