Held on Monday 30 September 2024
We’re proud to announce the program for the Annual 2024 STEM Education and Industry Forum live at the Novotel Sydney Parramatta, 350 Church Street Parramatta.
We look forward to an open dialogue amongst the education sector’s stakeholders as we connect Australia’s most eminent STEM educators on our topic Excellence in STEM Learning
Hon Paul Fletcher MP - Paul Fletcher has been the Member for Bradfield since 2009. From 2013 to 2022 he was successively a Parliamentary Secretary, Minister and Cabinet Minister. Apart from nine months as Minister for Social Services, Paul’s front bench service was largely in communications and infrastructure.
He was Minister for Communications, Urban Infrastructure, Cities and the Arts in the Morrison Government.
Paul is now Shadow Minister for Science and the Arts, and Shadow Minister for Government Services and the Digital Economy.
Before politics Paul’s extensive private sector experience included eight years on the Senior Management Team at Optus.
Paul has dual first class honours degrees in law and economics from Sydney University and an MBA from Columbia University in New York where he was a Fulbright Scholar. Back to top
Professor Scott Sleap - Professor Scott Sleap, STEM Enrichment Coordinator for the NSW Department of Education, leads their new STEM Enrichment team. He established significant education programs in NSW including the STEM Industry School Partnership program, Academies of STEM Excellence and is the Principal of the NSW Virtual STEM Academy. Professor Sleap has earned major accolades such as the Prime Minister's Prize for Excellence in Secondary Teaching and the University of Newcastle Alumni National Leadership Award. He is a Commonwealth Bank Teaching Fellow, Winston Churchill Fellow, and an Honorary Fellow of the Teacher’s Guild of NSW. His was previously the Director of a Defence-funded workforce development program which was recognised by the OECD as the world's best practice. Back to top
Associate Professor Joanne Jamie - Associate Professor Joanne Jamie uses chemistry and STEM engagement to provide transformative opportunities for university students and communities. As a natural product and medicinal chemist at Macquarie University, she has worked in respectful partnership with Aboriginal Elders of Yaegl Country for over 20 years. Together they have preserved rich cultural knowledge on medicinal plants and gained a deeper understanding of the scientific basis of their medicinal properties, and they have increased recognition of the importance of Australian Aboriginal STEM knowledge through co-authored publications and public events, including the highly acclaimed Indigenous Science Experience @ Redfern.
As a best ethical practice extension to this research, Joanne and the Yaegl Elders established the National Indigenous Science Education Program (NISEP), which uses Western and Indigenous STEM to enhance educational outcomes for Indigenous youth. Joanne provides university students with the capacity to contribute to NISEP and other STEM engagement programs for rural, refugee and Indigenous youth. In 2019, the NISEP team received the inaugural Australian Museum Eureka Prize for STEM Inclusion.
Joanne is committed to sustainably growing NISEP and building partnerships so more youth across Australia can reach their full potential. She also wishes to inspire others to use chemistry to make tangible positive differences within the community. Joanne invites you to partner with her to use chemistry and STEM education as an equaliser and enabler. Back to top
Broderick Matthews - Broderick Matthews is currently the Senior Manager Education Programs at Questacon - The National Science and Technology Centre. He is excited about enabling educators across the country to build their confidence and capacity in STEM and inspire the next generation to build the skills needed to solve future challenges.
Broderick began his science at Flinders University shining lasers on ink, but was lured into the world of science communication. He joined Questacon and began catapulting cream pies and running on slime, all in the name of science.
Since then, Broderick has worked at the Australian National University and Department of Defence playing a key role in many STEM initiatives including the Questacon Science Circus, STEM X Academy and the Defence STEM Council.
In his spare time Broderick enjoys presenting a science show on community radio and cycling to playgrounds with his two kids. Back to top
Professor Manjula Devi Sharma - Manjula Sharma completed her early studies at the University of the South Pacific followed by a PhD in physical optics and MEd research methods at The University of Sydney. She is a Professor of Science Education at The University of Sydney, Director of the STEM Teacher Enrichment Academy and is serving as Vice Chair of IUPAP Commission C14 on Physics Education. Nationally, she has led several substantive Government funded projects and has co-founded the premier Australian Conference on Science and Mathematics Education (ACSME) and the International Journal of Innovation in Science and Mathematics Education (IJISME). She has over 100 peer-reviewed publications and has supervised influential PhD students. Her contributions have been recognised through the 2012 Australian Institute for Physics Education Medal and 2013 Australian Learning and Teaching Fellowship. Professor Sharma is a Principal Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy and Fellow of the Australian Institute of Physics. Back to top
Sophie Poisel - Sophie Poisel is the Head of the Lang Walker Family Academy at Powerhouse Parramatta, opening in 2025. She is an award winning innovative learning specialist with experience in Department of Education and independent schools in NSW. Sophie is an advocate of learning opportunities that foster student agency, skill development and a close connection to our world. Back to top
Ehab Gerges - Ehab Gerges is a dedicated educator currently pursuing a Master of STEM Education at the University of Canberra. With diverse qualifications in Business Management and Electrical Engineering, alongside teaching certifications, he is accredited by the Department of Education to teach Science, Chemistry, and Physics. Ehab's commitment to professional growth is highlighted through achievements like being accredited as a STEM Educational Instructor by STEM.Org USA, becoming a Microsoft Global Certified Educator, and receiving the Toyota Community Trust & Public Education Foundation STEM Teachers Scholarship in 2023. His dynamic career includes roles as STEM Coordinator and Senior Science Teacher at James Cook Boys’ Technology High School, with notable contributions to sustainability projects. With 11 years of experience in the selective schooling system, Ehab gained extensive insight into the educational landscape of HPGE in coeducational settings, further enriching his teaching approach, Ehab embodies excellence in education. Back to top
Kirsty O’Sullivan - Kirsty is the Generation STEM Team Leader in CSIRO’s Education and Outreach team. With 15 years of experience working across the government, not for profit and corporate sectors, she is passionate about using innovative and evidence-based solutions to improve education and employment outcomes for young people.
Generation STEM is 10-year STEM education initiative made possible through an endowment from the NSW government to the Science and Industry Endowment Fund (SIEF) to attract, support, retain and train NSW students in STEM and school, into further education and into employment.
Kirsty leads the largest program under the Generation STEM banner; the STEM Community Partnerships Program, now in its sixth year. This program provides a range of activities for Stage 4 and 5 students to develop STEM and 21st century skills while highlighting local STEM careers and opportunities. Back to top
Dr Ken Silburn - Dr Ken Silburn is a science educator, communicator, Certified Google Trainer, and passionate about teaching 21st Century Skills and increasing the educational opportunities of students on a global scale. In 2017 he received the prestigious Dr Paul Brock Medal from the Australian College of Educators and was recognised as one of the top ten teachers in the world, from over 23 000 nominations, through the Varkey Global Teacher Prize. Ken is a committee member of LAZSTA (Metropolitan South West Science Teachers Association) and Coordinator and founder of the iSTEM project delivering science enrichment programs for Australian high school science students and the LAZSTA US Space Academy Program. He is internationally renowned in science education, especially in the area of Environmental and Space Science. He is a strong advocate for engaging students in STEM careers and is a volunteer presenter for the Australian Conservation Foundation, Climate Reality Project. Back to top
Dr Shaila Akhter - Dr Shaila Akhter is an astrophysicist, educator, and advocate for STEM outreach and inclusivity. Holding an MPhil from the Australian National University and a PhD from UNSW, Sydney, she specializes in star formation and Galactic dynamics. Previously, she worked as a telecommunications engineer in Canberra, leveraging degrees in Electrical and Electronic Engineering and Systems Engineering. Currently, Dr Akhter lectures in Astrophysics at the University of Wollongong and pioneers teaching Astrophysics at WEA Sydney. With over a decade of teaching experience at UNSW Sydney, she inspires students with her engaging style. Dr Akhter's outreach efforts span diverse audiences in Sydney and rural Australia, including her role as an international podcaster for Astronomy on the "365 Days of Astronomy Podcast." Actively engaged in the scientific community, she contributes as a committee member of the Australian Institute of Physics and the Teachers Guild of NSW. Her dedication to promoting inclusivity and empowerment in STEM marks her as a true leader in the field. Back to top
Jason Milner - Starting his career as a Classroom Teacher and then progressing to become an ICT integrator Jason Milner is now an Assistant Head of Junior School at Hills Grammar School. Within this role, he concentrates on three different facets including student wellbeing, operations, and curriculum. Jason focuses on working with educators and students to create authentic, creative, and innovative practices which centre on the development of future learning skills. Jason’s passions lay within teacher professional development and curriculum design, pedagogy, and technology. His vision is to empower both staff and students in their learning and teaching journey and to provide the absolute best opportunities for future generations. During this time, he has reached many achievements including the completion of his Master of Education in Educational Research, becoming a Google Certified Educator, a Microsoft Innovative Educator Expert, and an Apple Distinguished Educator. Back to top
Associate Professor Alice Motion - Alice Motion is Associate Professor and Deputy Head of School in the School of Chemistry at the University of Sydney where they lead the Science Communication, Outreach, Participation and Education (SCOPE) research group. The overarching theme of Alice’s research and practice is to connect people with science. The SCOPE research group are exploring ways to share science with new and diverse audiences through arts-based collaborations and school partnerships, and the democratisation of science through citizen science and open science. Alice was awarded the Eureka Prize for Promoting Understanding of Science in 2020. Alice is the creator of Live from The Lab, founder of the Breaking Good citizen science initiative, host of the ABC Weekend Breakfast segment ‘Science in Motion’ and writes a monthly column ‘Citizen Chem’ for Chemistry World Magazine. Back to top
Margaret Shepherd - Margaret is the current President of the Australian Science Teachers Association after seven years as the STANSW president. She is a passionate science educator and works with and in schools and science faculties to support both preservice and qualified teachers in their professional learning journey. She advocates for stronger public support of teachers and all the great work they do in the area of STEM. She is currently working at tertiary level to enthuse and engage our future science educators in this ever changing stage. Back to top
Rod Dowler - Rod Dowler is the National Education and Engagement Manager for ANSTO. Rod specialises in brand management and marketing communications having worked with large Australian corporates and main events.
Rod manages the ANSTO Discovery Centre which has built a comprehensive national education program over the last ten years. Rod believes that is critical for the nuclear industry to apply marketing principles and to better understand its stakeholders when creating education and outreach programs. Doing so has led ANSTO to be promote nuclear through the use of creative and innovative formats. Back to top
Camilla Gazzana - Camilla is the Outreach Coordinator for the ARC Centre of Excellence for Transformative Meta-Optical Systems (TMOS), a Centre spanning five nodes across Australia including ANU, UTS, UoM, RMIT and UWA. She completed her BSc in Forensic Science in Applied Chemistry at UTS, before commencing postgraduate studies in nano-biotechnology.
During her postgraduate studies, Camilla undertook a wide range of undergraduate teaching roles, where her passion for teaching and mentoring led to her current role in TMOS, leading Outreach.
Since joining the TMOS team, Camilla has overseen the development and implementation of 3 primary school light-based physics workshops with hands-on demonstrations, several public outreach workshops and the implementation of a pilot Senior STEM Engagement Program – aimed at senior physics students from low SES schools into university labs. Camilla has also continued the Centre’s collaboration with Questacon to upskill the TMOS team in science communication skills and to work towards developing an educational device. Back to top
Arfin Muhammad - Arfin, Muhammad, has led multi-year federally-funded projects in the technology sector, collaborating with partners such as the Australian Space Agency and NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory on Robotics and AI.
Arfin applies a background in Aerospace Engineering (Hons) and Finance to take technologies from technology readiness level (TRL) 1 to TRL 7-8, including natural language processing, computer vision, and generative AI. His projects in the technology sector have placed a strong emphasis on their capacity as Australian dual-use capabilities, bridging between Defence, Research and Commercial use cases. He is currently the Program Director for Robotics at Akin AI, and Partner in Othr Labs producing “The Last Human. Back to top
Frankie Louise - Frankie Louise is a multi-disciplinary creative director, performance artist and political scientist currently exploring the accelerating augmentation of the human and its impact on art, philosophy and psychology. As co-founder of L.A based art & research lab OTHERR, Frankie is committed to projects that awaken the experience of being outside the 'program'. Her mission is to direct, connect and fund disruptors in the exploration of non-human consciousness and to amplify conversations around how artists must lead the way towards peak co-evolution with technology. In 2023, OTHERR, created and staged a live algorithmic performance ‘The Last Human’, an innovative crucible where man and machine collaborate on stage, inviting you to consider the current existential predicament we face as humans. As we embrace the rise of artificial intelligence and the ascent of the technocracy, conscious creators are our best chaperones into the unknown. Back to top
Anne Roze - Anne Roze, CEO and Founder of the Social Enterprise BeSEED.org, has an extensive 30-year career in business management, marketing, training, and mentoring. Transitioning from an engineer to a business owner and author, she has dedicated her career, using internships and business mentoring, to helping individuals find and utilise their passion and reach their potential. She has a focus on delivering research-based information and knowledge across different industries, to provide professional mentorship. Through the Seasonal Warriors children's book series, which has grown into interactive theatre productions and workshops, she has taught children essential life skills focussed on sustainability and wellbeing. Through the internships and mentoring programmes undertaken by students from institutions across the world, she has empowered young adults to grow positively personally and professionally. Her dedication to the professional and personal development of young people is evident in her work with SMEs, corporate entities, and individuals, focusing on life skills acquisition through internships, training, and innovation. Back to top
Professor Miroslav Filipovic - Professor Miroslav D. Filipovic is a scientist, philosopher and philanthropist with over 30 years of experience in astronomy. Astronomy, science, philosophy and computing are his profession, hobby, interest and passion. Research in astronomy has been a source of fascination for him since the early 1980s. Since May 2002, Professor Filipovic has been affiliated with Western Sydney University (WSU), and has been responsible for the development of various programs at WSU. Between 1997 and 2000, he held full-time research positions at the Max-Planck-Institut fur extraterrestrische Physik (MPE; Germany). He is Chair of the largest public Observatory in Australia (WSU's Penrith Observatory) and has over 300 refereed publications and three books. Under my supervision 22 PhD, 10 MSc and 16 Honours students completed their degrees. One of the scientific highlights of Professor Filipovic's professional career is flying onboard NASA's SOFIA science mission in June 2018. He is a fellow of the Astronomical Society of Australia, Australian Institute of Physics, a Fellow of the Royal Society of NSW, an editorial board member of the SAJ and a member of the International Astronomical Union. He lives in Sydney with his family. At present, he is a chair of the WSU Professoriate Leadership Group. Back to top
Dr Frederick Osman - Dr Frederick Osman has over 30 years’ experience in education and management at the tertiary and secondary levels. He has managed and undertaken projects independently and cross functionally across the education, community, and industry sectors. Recognised as Fellow and President of the Australian College of Educators and Fellow of the Royal Society of New South Wales for outstanding leadership in the tertiary and secondary education sectors. Dr Osman has also been NSW Chair of the Australian Institute of Physics and contributed to physics roles for the past 23 years including Scientific Meeting Organiser from 2001, Chair from 2008-2010 and 2018-2019, Secretary from 2011-2017 and 2020-2024. Currently serving as Chair of NSW Training Awards from 2017 and President and Fellow of the Teachers’ Guild of New South Wales from 2016. Dr Osman is currently managing the development and operation of the academic and internship responsibilities for ensuring the effective operation of all programs as the Associate Director (Academic) with Boston University Study Abroad Sydney Program. Back to top
Thank you to our event sponsors
To find out more about the sponsorship & exhibition opportunities the we have available for this event, please contact:
Dr Frederick Osman
President, Teachers’ Guild of New South Wales
T: +61 418 318 418
E: president@teachersguild.nsw.edu.au
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