ASVAC 2026 
Humble Strength

Phil is the Head of Hyflex Learning and Design at Deploy Learning. In this role, he develops engaging online courses, delivers workshops, collaborates on global events and designs resources to help educators transform their classrooms. He has over 15 years of experience in schools, including senior leadership and teaching VCE Media. Phil specialises in leveraging Google Workspace and Google’s AI tools, such as Gemini and NotebookLM, to reduce teacher workload and spark creativity.

He has contributed to significant industry events, including the Google Innovator Academy in Tokyo and Seoul (where he was the Design Thinking Facilitator), the Google Champions Symposium in Singapore and Sydney, and EduTech Australia. Phil is passionate about supporting educators to use technology in meaningful, purposeful and impactful ways to enhance student learning outcomes. He loves travelling, film and television, and, of course, Google Classroom.

With ten years of experience as a psychologist across Australia and New Zealand, Stewart is passionate about psychological assessment and working closely with young people (ages 6-16+), their families/carers, and their schools to come to a shared understanding of how to best support the struggling learner.

Stewart also loves working closely with schools to design and deliver Professional Learning for teachers and special educators who want to learn more about screening, assessing, and intervening for young people at risk. This process keeps the young person in the safe space of school as concerns and differences are explored by educators, encourages data-driven informed referrals to be built, and, importantly, reduces panic-referrals to clinicians.

Vicky Gemmell is a member of the Education and School Operations Team at Independent Schools Victoria. She brings extensive experience across a range of educational settings both in Australia and internationally, having held roles including classroom teacher (from Kindergarten to post‑graduate), Wellbeing Coordinator, Head of Junior School, and Head of Student Enrichment and Support in both Government and Independent sectors. Vicky holds a Master of Inclusive Education and a Graduate Certificate in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, and is the author of Unsaid Things, a collection of stories from parents whose children face behavioural or emotional challenges. She works closely with educators to help them meet the diverse needs of their students, with a particular focus on wellbeing, inclusion, and diversity.

Meggan James is the Principal at Nunawading Christian College and a globally experienced educator with a career spanning three decades and five continents. Beginning their teaching journey in Prague, Meggan has since accumulated over a decade of specialized experience in teaching across the UK, Australia (Sydney and Melbourne), Brazil, China, and Rwanda. Additionally, they have designed and delivered targeted professional development programs for educators in South Korea, Hong Kong, and Vanuatu. Drawing on a rich, international perspective, Meggan is deeply passionate about coaching, mentoring, and leadership development, dedicated to empowering the next generation of educational leaders.

Caitlin Mason is an experienced Education and Care Consultant with a demonstrated history of working in the professional training & coaching industry. Caitlin has consulted with a range of education and care services including early childhood and school aged care under the Commonwealth Inclusion Support Program for over 10 years and before that was an Educator in Long Day Care and OSHC for 9 years. Caitlin has an extensive understanding of the inclusion of diverse cultures into education and care services. For the last 5 years, Caitlin has been working as a professional support consultant with ITAV on a range of projects including professional development and consultancy/ She specialises in Critical Reflection, Community Relationships, Inclusive Programming, and Supporting Children's Behaviour. Skilled in Coaching, Facilitation, Leadership, Workforce Planning, and Team Leadership with a Diploma in Children's Services, Bachelor of Social Science, Graduate Diploma Psychology and registered Circle of Security Classroom Facilitator.

Mary McEvilly Butler draws upon over 20 years of pedagogical leadership and classroom expertise to cultivate a culture of empowerment, leadership, and lifelong learning. As a Digital Transformation Manager supporting Google for Education, Mary serves as a strategic partner to schools and systems nationwide, driving meaningful impact through the purposeful integration of Google Workspace and AI.

A recognised Google Certified Innovator and Trainer, Mary is dedicated to maximising capacity by championing the intentional use of educational technology. She is an advocate for digital innovation that prioritises problem-solving, critical thinking, and learner agency, ensuring technology serves as a practical bridge to deeper engagement and growth for both students and teachers.

With over 20 years of experience speaking within primary schools, secondary schools, TAFE and universities, as well as community and sporting environments, Ray is known for connecting with students from diverse cultural and generational backgrounds. His approachable style, practical insights and authentic storytelling make his sessions both relatable and impactful.

Based in Brisbane QLD, Ray currently serves as a chaplain within the Australian Defence Force (army) and elite sport (NRL Dolphins, Netball Queensland), supporting individuals in high-performance and high-pressure environments with a strong focus on wellbeing, character development and resilience.He holds degrees in Theology, Ministry, Teaching and diplomas of Youth Work, Juvenile Justice and Clinical Pastoral Education, equipping him with both academic knowledge and real-world experience to support young people holistically.

Anthony Morris joined ITAV in early 2025, bringing nearly 20 years of experience in the Early Childhood sector. His background includes roles such as Educator, Room Leader, Educational Leader, Assistant Director, and most recently, Director of a community-based non-profit children's centre. Anthony is an ardent advocate for children's play, social justice, and fostering connections with the natural environment. Over the past decade, he has been actively involved in organising and volunteering for nature-based play and bush kinder initiatives. During his time with ITAV, Anthony has led and contributed to projects in collaboration with both local councils and various service providers, focusing on operational excellence, workplace relations, community relationships, curriculum development, leadership and governance, advocacy, planning and documentation, and critical reflection.

Jennifer is an experienced educator and Learning Specialist who has worked across diverse educational settings worldwide, from Early Learning Centres to Secondary schools. Passionate about explicit teaching and responsive classroom practice, she works collaboratively with teachers and leaders to create student-centred learning environments that support every learner to thrive. She is the organiser of the Sharing Best Practice Conference in Queensland and has presented nationally on instructional coaching and effective teaching practices. Currently the Primary Learning and Teaching Coordinator at Heritage College, she is also a certified Steplab Coach.

Greta Shillig is the ICT Support Technician for Adventist Schools Australia. With more than a decade of IT customer service experience, Greta is passionate about helping people, creativity and weaving environmental care into her work.

Jim is a former high school teacher who enjoys a great story and loves inspiring people to tell theirs. Using his industry experience, he created an award-winning video production program in California, USA. By involving students in real-world video projects, they garnered awards and recognition at the local, state and national levels. His passion for creating authentic learning experiences for students and teachers has led him to work with teachers on all seven continents. Today, Jim lives outside of Melbourne on the traditional lands of the Wurrunjeri people and works with schools across Asia Pacific to support the adoption of technology to support teaching and learning.

Luke is a passionate Google Champion, Digital Coach, and Chemistry educator based in South Australia. Luke empowers people to strategically implement digital tools that amplify learning and administrative environments. A Google Certified Innovator from the inaugural virtual cohort, Luke is deeply invested in innovative learning design and maximizing digital tools to create opportunities for teachers, students and support staff. He has a passion for developing learning activities that foster the transfer of understanding to new contexts and are represented in ways that reduce barriers to learning for all students. Luke's dedication extends beyond the classroom, as he actively shares his expertise to help others discover the transformative potential of technology in education and beyond.

Brad Skinner is a Partner in People Risk at Howden, known for turning complex psychosocial obligations into practical, energising actions that teams can actually use. For more than a decade, Brad has worked with Adventist schools across Australia—supporting leaders, teachers, school teams and support staff to build cultures where safety, respect and trust become everyday habits. Brad brings a rare blend of warmth, clarity and humour, making challenging topics feel accessible, human and deeply relevant to the realities of school life. He is widely regarded for his ability to translate the complex legislation of safety and risk into simple, empowering behaviours that uplift staff agency and protect whole school communities. Whether working with a Principal, surgeon, front-line first responder or teams at the coal face of service deliver, Brad’s mission is the same: to help every person understand their influence and feel equipped to create safer, stronger and more connected workplaces.