Forty Years of
Curriculum Leadership

Dr Deborah Price (PhD, MEd, MEd Stud, GradCert MthEd, BEd, DipT), is Research Degrees Coordinator and Senior Lecturer Inclusive Education and Wellbeing at the University of South Australia (UniSA): Education Futures. She is an Executive member of the UniSA Centre for Research in Educational and Social Inclusion (CRESI) and currently President of the Australian Curriculum Studies Association (ACSA). Her educational research focuses on: Inclusive Education; Disability; Educator and Learner Wellbeing; Social Justice; Culturally and Religiously Responsive Pedagogy; Curriculum; Teacher Education; Bullying, Persistent Bullying and Cyberbullying; Youth Studies and Voice; Capabilities and Strengths-Based approaches; and Inquiry, Participatory Design and Action Research methodologies. Deborah is currently on the University of South Australia Generative Artificial Intelligence Working Group. View bio

Dr Helen Schiele is a Principal Consultant, Senior Early Childhood Specialist, at Independent Schools Victoria. She works at a national and state level in the curriculum space with the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), the Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority (VCAA), and Department of Education (DE) at a state and federal level, advocating on behalf for the early childhood sector.

Serving both locally and abroad, Jonathan has held various leadership positions whilst working in five schools, across three sectors, in Australia and Indonesia. Throughout his 19 years in education, he has taught students from Years 5 - 12. Additional Bio

Dr Alison Bedford is a Senior Lecturer in Curriculum and Pedagogy at the University of Southern Queensland. Her research focuses on the development of both history curricula and pedagogies over time, with a particular focus on student-centred and inquiry approaches. Dr Bedford is also interested in how history teachers perceive their work in relation to the formation of democratic dispositions in young people. Her other research interests include English literature teaching and text selection and representations of diverse groups in children's literature.

Jennifer is a rural principal who is passionately invested in the Big Picture design of learning. She has made a lifelong career of improving the learning and life outcomes of rural students, especially those who need more support than others, and she is committed to creating equity for our young people. She has undertaken doctoral studies with the University of NSW, with her research centring on how the design can support rural and remote learning in Australia.

Andrew Oberthur Andrew Oberthur has been a teacher for over thirty years and a primary school principal for more than twenty of these. Andrew has written a book entitled ‘Are you ready for Primary School this year?’ which aims to help parents understand how best to navigate the world of school, with practical advice, communication tips and insights into how schools operate. Andrew is also a popular speaker, MC, mediator, consultant and facilitator of workshops on ‘creating a culture of trust, collaboration and enquiry between teachers and parents.’

Dr Rebecca Cairns is a senior lecturer in the School of Education at Deakin University. Her curriculum inquiry research investigates how we make and do curriculum, with a focus on history education, studies of Asia and decolonising approaches. Rebecca co-convenes the Transforming Curriculum, Assessment and Pedagogy Research Group at Deakin and is an Associate Editor of Curriculum Perspectives.

Ms Narelle Morris is a member of the AAMT (Australian Association of Mathematics Teachers) Council, and has held various roles within the QCAA (Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority). She has been part of the QAMT (Queensland Association of Mathematics Teachers) executive for many years, and facilitates the QAMT Senior Teachers Supporting Teachers program. Narelle has taught in Victoria, London and Queensland, and has attended the inaugural AAMT Exchange program to Singapore. Narelle is a Mathematics teacher with 35 years’ experience. She has a passion for supporting teachers, especially in regional areas.

Alex Wharton (BA, B Ed (Hons), M Ed, M Ed Lead) has extensive teaching and school leadership experience across P-12 schools in both metropolitan and country NSW, including roles as Head Teacher, Head of Middle School and School Principal. He has been appointed as a curriculum writer and is regularly approached by government and not-for-profit organisations to design relevant and engaging curriculum materials for broad audiences. Alex has been a recipient of a NSW Premier’s Teaching Scholarship, a Commonwealth Bank Schools Plus Teaching Fellowship and numerous other awards for his work around English curriculum and literacy education. He is PhD candidate at Western Sydney University researching media literacy education.

Olivia comes to us with 20 years’ experience in primary education across state and independent schools. She has held a variety of positions including Head of Teaching and Learning, Curriculum Coordinator, Learning Support Coordinator, Literacy Coach, classroom teacher, and specialist teacher. She is currently Assistant Head of Junior School - Academic Programs at Somerville House. Additional Bio

Anna Ritzema has over 20 years experience in the education sector, both here in Australia and internationally. She has a MEd in Educational Leadership from the University of Western Australia, and her recent role was as a Principal. She has extensive experience in Program and Project Management, and was part of the Formative Assessment team at ACARA. Anna is a passionate advocate for Women in STEM and ran the STEM programs for the Polly Farmer Foundation for many years enjoying many wonderful trips in rural and remote Australia. She is the proud recipient of the Australia Schools Teaching Fellowship in 2021, a finalist for the Director General's Women of Achievement Award and The West Australian Science Teacher of the Year in 2020.

Jasmine has completed a Bachelor of Business Innovation and Entrepreneurship. She has experience in business development and operation, and has a personal interest in marketing. This ACSA role is a fantastic stepping stone for Jasmine to launch her long term career aspirations in HR. She's as excited to join us at ACSA as we are to have her!

Mr Darren Cossens (CPA, Public Practice Certificate, BBus(Accy)), is an accounting and business professional with 42 years’ experience in finance. The last 20 years he worked as a Business Manager of a secondary college in South Australia. He has extensive experience in business development, project management and grant application preparation. He has served as a member of a number of Boards (Primary and Secondary Schools), and at State Association level. Darren has also previously held roles as a Senior Accountant, CPA Sole Practitioner, and worked in the bank as a Investigating Accountant and Relationship Lending Manager.