Joanne Blannin has taught in France, England, America and Australia and has developed an in-depth understanding of learning styles and how to cater for individual needs within a classroom. Joanne speaks several languages and this has fuelled her passion for literacy education. Using learning technologies, and her experiences with Outdoor Education, Joanne provides students with engaging opportunties to learn. Currently Joanne is a team leader at Caulfield Grammar School. As a staff trainer, Joanne focuses on the use of Interactive Whiteboards and software that enhance learning and teaching for the primary and middle years.

Liam Buckley has worked in all levels of primary and secondary education in the UK and is currently teaching at a primary school in Melbourne. He has over ten years experience working with Interactive Whiteboards and has provided many professional development workshops for individual teachers and staff groups. Liam continues to develop sessions based on the current pedagogy and aims to increase the engagement of students in classrooms by the effective use of interactive technology. Liam has designed activities that link to and support the VELS and will be a sure-fire hit in the classroom.

Rod Cameron is the Drouin Cluster Educator and has worked previously with the Faculty of Education at Monash University and with teachers in New York. He currently works with over 35 classes and their teachers to create and maintain an online community of 800 students from Years 2 to 8. Rod focuses on the centrality of literacy in all areas of learning, and the integration of Mathematics, ICT and interdisciplinary learning such as design and creativity.

Paulene Closter holds a Diploma of Teaching (Primary) and a Graduate Diploma in Arts Education (Performing and Visual). Paulene currently teaches Prep - 6 Music and Senior School Art at Bellfield Primary School. She has coordinated annual school concerts, school based instrumental/choir/drama performances and liaises with Banksia/Latrobe Secondary College for their annual productions. Paulene has also ran and presented seminars on the Music Upbeat program and the performance arts program - 'Winterarts' through the VCA.

David Hornsby has extensive experience as a teacher, school principal and curriculum consultant. David spent 28 years working with the Ministry of Education and has completed lecture tours of the United States and United Kingdom. He has worked with teachers in Indonesia, New Zealand and Singapore and has written several books; his latest, A Closer Look at Guided Reading, won the 2001 Australian Award for Excellence in Educational Publishing—Teacher Reference category.

Fiona Jackson is an experienced classroom teacher who currently works as a regional literacy consultant. Fiona has taught at all levels of primary school education and has spent some time in educational publishing. She has completed the Early Years Tutor Training course for Prep–Year 2 and Teaching Readers in Years 3 and 4. Fiona has received excellent feedback from previous professional development sessions. Fiona is currently co-authoring a teacher's resource book of practical literacy ideas for P–8 classrooms.

Phil is one of Australia’s most popular children’s authors. His books include the Toocool and Boyz Rule series. These books have been instrumental in getting boys into reading. Phil’s professional development sessions are aimed at assisting teachers to get even the most reluctant of readers excited about books and writing. Phil brings a wealth of experience to these sessions.

David is an experienced primary teacher. He has written several Science books designed to support literacy through Science in a primary classroom. David has also written several teacher resource texts and has lectured for primary teachers in training as well as presenting at Science and Early Years conferences. David is thoroughly enjoying this current role as Science Educator at Balnarring Primary and Mount Eliza Primary School. Through teaching and learning about Science David believes that we can overcome gravity in our classrooms yet still keep our feet on the ground!

Sandra Knox has been a primary and special education teacher and has worked on the Early Years Numeracy Project for Victoria, both as a writer and presenter. She has been the director of the Family Maths Project of Australia since 1992 and was an Early Years Project Officer in Victoria. Sandra also works as a maths consultant in Australia and New York.

Trish Leigh is an experienced primary teacher who has taught across all primary levels. She has been actively involved in curriculum development, and has worked extensively as an educational consultant, particularly in the areas of Mathematics and ICT. Trish has conducted numerous professional development sessions, assisting teachers to cater for individual differences in the Maths classroom and to develop practical Maths activities that enhance student understandings. Co-author and publisher of Maths Tracks for Victoria, Trish brings a wealth of knowledge to the sessions.

Toby McIlrath is a leading teacher and has experience with both government and independant school systems. Currently, he works as a classroom and IT enrichment teacher. He has being developing digital story-telling and film-making programs to be implemented into Innovation and Excellence Clusters. Digital Stories, animation and film are firmly entrenched into his classroom practice to enhance curriculum based learning programs.

Louise Park: Managing director and publisher, Louise began her 25 year long career as a classroom teacher and progressed to literacy advisor and seminar presenter. Louise has written well over 50 books of fiction and non-fiction across a wide range of genres, notably teaching and learning and children’s literature. As a publisher Louise has published an extensive list of titles across Literacy, Society and Environment, Science and Technology, Values Education and Health and Wellbeing. Her most recent education program, Whole Child, was designed to support schools in the explicit teaching of Social and Emotional Wellbeing.

Marcella Reiter is an experienced teacher, educational consultant and psychologist who has taught in primary, secondary and tertiary settings both in Australia and overseas. For the past ten years, she has worked as a Curriculum Adviser with the Catholic Education Office and is the author of the bestselling M100W—Magic 100 Words literacy resources.

Michael Richards’ recent roles include Middle Years Consultant with the Victorian Department of Education and Training, and Mathematics Consultant with the New York City Board of Education. He has also been Education Officer with the Mathematical Association of Victoria (MAV). In schools he has held leadership positions in Mathematics, Science, middle years, curriculum, and professional development, and taught Mathematics up to Year 12.

Dr. Sue Roffey was a teacher for 17 years, mostly working with students who had a range of behavioural difficulties. She then became an educational psychologist involved not only with students, but also with families and schools. Since 2002 she has been lecturing on the school counsellor training course at the University of Western Sydney and working in schools around Australia. Sue’s extensive publications are not only based on research but on direct and indirect experiences of what works in creating supportive communities and maximising pro-social behaviour. This includes a focus on the wellbeing of teachers.

Rosemary Sandstrom has been Program Director of the Bachelor of Education (JP&P) at the University of South Australia for 15 years. Her teaching includes English curriculum studies and primary methodology, including practicum supervision where she has worked extensively with student teachers and their mentors. She is the current President of the Council of Education Associations of SA (CEASA), providing leadership for teacher professional associations. Her knowledge and understanding of the South Australian context is well-recognised within the teaching profession across all sectors.

Julie Shepherd is an independent educational consultant. She has taught at all primary levels and also as a library teacher. Julie has lectured for both student and postgraduate teachers, and has presented at many national conferences. Julie has conducted professional development sessions in all Australian states and in Singapore.

Having held IT education leadership roles in both the UK and Australian schools, Paul Smith has an in-depth knowledge of how to use technology to enhance learning. Before joining the education system Paul worked in the IT industry for 10 years. He has experience in the Catholic, State and Independent systems and currently holds a team leader position at Caulfield Grammar School. Having successfully implemented Interactive Whiteboards across the school, Paul now trains staff at primary and secondary levels in the effective use of learning technologies in the classroom.

Sue Stevenson is an experienced educator and trainer. Originally trained as a secondary Science and Geography teacher, Sue has also worked in the corporate environment teaching skills based courses to adults. For the past two years she had been working with teachers in incorporating technology, in particular interactive whiteboards, into their classrooms. During this time, Sue has had the opportunity to teach grades Prep to Year 10 using interactive whiteboards, has run numerous workshops, reviewed pedagogy and provided one-on-one coaching sessions for staff throughout Victoria and Tasmania. Her workshops are practical, hands on, interactive and fun.

Deborah Vietri is a primary school teacher with 25 years experience and has taught all grades. She is currently an independant consultant for professional development and is associated with the Catholic Education Office Melbourne. She has a strong background in Victoria in helping schools implement the new VELS. Deborah has had several articles published in Learning Matters magazine and is the author of The Essentials - a series for enhancing an integrated curriculum.