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The Sydney Morning Herald Schools Summit
A premier gathering of Australia’s foremost educators, thought leaders, and policymakers for insightful conversations.
5 March 2025 | ICC Sydney
Sydney Morning Herald Schools Summit 2025: Uniting Australia’s Leading Educators
The Sydney Morning Herald Schools Summit is back on March 5, 2025, at the ICC Sydney, inviting Australia’s top educators, school leaders, policymakers, and education professionals. This premier event for Australian education will feature insightful discussions on challenges in today’s classrooms and proven strategies for enhancing student learning and teaching practices across the nation.
The SMH Schools Summit 2025 is designed for teachers, school principals, and education sector leaders to explore cutting-edge policies and evidence-based approaches. Discover new insights to address student engagement, teacher support, and academic performance through actionable policy and innovative grassroots solutions.
Register your interest to receive registration link when it opens, early bird access and the official agenda release!
2024 Speakers
The Hon Prue Car MP
Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning
Murat Dizdar PSM
Secretary,
NSW Department of Education
Carey Wright
Interim State Superintendent of Education, Maryland, USA
The Hon Jason Clare MP
Minister for Education
Paul Martin
CEO,
NESA
Dallas McInerney
Chief Executive Officer, Catholic Schools NSW
Margery Evans
Chief Executive, Association of Independent Schools of NSW
Eddie Woo
Leader, Mathematics Growth, NSW Department of Education
Kerrie McDiarmid
Principal, St Mary’s Cathedral College
Phillip Heath AM
Head, Barker College
Scott Dinham
Principal, Grafton High School
Jeanie Brown
Principal, Riverbank Public School
Paul Sheather
Principal,
Balgowlah Boys
Iris Nastasi
Principal,
Rosebank College
Belinda Bristol
Principal, Windsor South Public School
Lubna Sayed
Principal, Australian International Academy of Education
Henry Rajendra
President,
NSW Teachers Federation
Dr Sarah Golsby-Smith
Head of Learning & Teaching,
PLC Sydney
Matthew Esterman
Director Innovation and Partnerships, Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta
Dr Tim McDonnald
CEO, the Y WA; Subject Matter Expert, The Engaged Classroom Initiative, AERO
Prof David de Carvalho
Executive Dean, Faculty of Education, Philosophy and Theology, The University of Notre Dame Australia
Joanne Jarvis
Director, School Leadership Institute, NSW Department of Education
Darryl Buchanan
Associate Chief Executive: Leadership and Learning, Association of Independent Schools of NSW
Dr Joanne Hack
Head of curriculum and assessment Catholic Schools NSW, Member of NESA curriculum and assessment committee, Former Deputy principal of St Mary’s star of the sea College, Wollongong for 10 years
Ross Fox
Director of Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn
Dr Jordana Hunter
Education Program Director, Grattan Institute
Dr Sandra Nissen
Director Strategic Implementation and Educational Performance, Queensland
Dr Paul Wood PSM
Executive Director,
NSW Department of Education
Mike Hennessy
Chief Research & Insights Officer, PeopleBench
Glenn Fahey
Director, Education Program, The Centre for Independent Studies
Dr Kerry Elliott
Senior Research Fellow, Australian Council for Educational Research
Prof Matt Bower
Professor of Educational Technology, Macquarie School of Education
Bevan Shields
Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald
Lucy Carroll
Education Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald
Christopher Harris
Education Reporter, The Sydney Morning Herald
Lee Ursino
Teacher and Teaching and Learning Projects Officer, St Gregory’s College Campbelltown
2024 Agenda
Thursday 14 March 2024
7:50
Registration and Morning Coffee
8:20
OPENING | Opening remarks from the Chair
Prof David de Carvalho, Executive Dean, Faculty of Education, Philosophy and Theology, The University of Notre Dame Australia
THE FUTURE OF SCHOOLING IN NEW SOUTH WALES
8:30
State Government Address and Fireside chat |
The Hon Prue Car MP, Deputy Premier and Minister for Education and Early Childhood Learning, NSW
In Conversation with Bevan Shields, Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald
9:00
Departmental address |
Murat Dizdar PSM, Secretary, NSW Department of Education
9:20
International Keynote Address | Mississippi’s incredible school turnaround program
- How Mississippi became one of the fastest improving states in both literacy and numeracy whilst also closing the racial achievement gap
- Changing the culture and raising expectations
- Creating the strategic plan to take Mississippi from the worst performing state in the USA
- Settling on 6 achievement goals
- Proficiency growth
- Graduating students from high school
- Early-childhood education
- Capacity building for teachers and leaders
- World-class data systems
- Making every school and district meet a basic bar
- Effective communication of the goals and supporting districts to achieve them
- Using data for continual improvement
- Focussing on the social and emotional well-being of teachers, leaders and students
Carey Wright, Interim State Superintendent of Education, Maryland, USA
9:50
Panel Discussion | Principals’ Panel – Addressing the key challenges in running a school today.
- Addressing teacher supply issues
- Adapting to the new curriculum and a changing world
- Engagement, Wellbeing, and behavioural management issues
- Appeasing the parents
Kerrie McDiarmid, Principal, St Mary’s Cathedral College
Phillip Heath AM, Head, Barker College
Scott Dinham, Principal, Grafton High School
Jeanie Brown, Principal, Riverbank Public School
Moderator: Lucy Carroll, Education Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald
10:20
Morning tea
10:50
Keynote Address | The future of school success
- How best do we measure and report on success within the legislative framework?
- What does transparency mean and what is its purpose?
Paul Martin, CEO, NESA
11:20
Panel Discussion | Sector response to the NSRA and other major reviews
- Ensuring the transparency and accountability of school funding
- Improving outcomes for equity groups
- Attracting and retaining teachers
- The use of data and targets to enhance student outcomes.
Henry Rajendra, President, NSW Teachers Federation
Margery Evans, Chief Executive, Association of Independent Schools of NSW
Dallas McInerney, Chief Executive Officer, Catholic Schools NSW
Dr Jordana Hunter, Education Program Director, Grattan Institute
Moderator: Prof David de Carvalho, Executive Dean, Faculty of Education, Philosophy and Theology, The University of Notre Dame Australia
BEHAVIOUR MANAGEMENT AND SCHOOL TURNAROUND
11:50
Keynote Address | An evidence-based approach to classroom management
- The engaged classroom initiative
- De-escalating misbehaviour and conflict
- Maximising students’ learning time
Dr Tim McDonald, CEO, the Y WA; Subject Matter Expert, The Engaged Classroom Initiative, AERO
12:10
Panel Discussion| School improvement and turnaround
- What were we trying to address and how did we go about it?
- Generating teacher, student, and parent buy-in
- What we learnt along the way
- Plans to maintain this success and for further elevation.
Ross Fox, Director of Catholic Education, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn
Paul Sheather, Principal, Balgowlah Boys
Belinda Bristol, Principal, Windsor South Public School
Iris Nastasi, Principal, Rosebank College
Moderated by Glenn Fahey, Director, Education Program, The Centre for Independent Studies
12:40
Fireside chat | The Hon Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education
in conversation with Lucy Carroll, Education Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald
13:10
Lunch
14:10
Panel Discussion | The Future of Teaching
- Exploring the evolving role of the teacher
- Equipping teachers will the skills and resources to prepare future generations
- The future of Initial Teacher Education
- Solving the supply issue
- What can we do to improve retention rates?
Matthew Esterman, Director Innovation and Partnerships, Our Lady of Mercy College Parramatta
Dr Joanne Hack, Head of curriculum and assessment Catholic Schools NSW, Member of NESA curriculum and assessment committee, Former Deputy principal of St Mary’s star of the sea College, Wollongong for 10 years
Eddie Woo, Leader, Mathematics Growth, NSW Department of Education
Lubna Sayed, Principal, Australian International Academy of Education
Moderator: Christopher Harris, Education Reporter, The Sydney Morning Herald
AI IN EDUCATION
14:40
Panel Discussion | Generative AI and its role in the future of learning and teaching
- Creating a framework for the responsible use of generative AI in the classroom
- How can AI help reduce the admin burden for teachers?
- How are students currently using generative AI and the implications for assessments?
- Implementing practical policies to enhance the learning experience
Dr Paul Wood PSM, Executive Director, NSW Department of Education
Dr Sarah Golsby-Smith, Head of Learning & Teaching, PLC Sydney
Prof Matt Bower, Professor of Educational Technology, Macquarie School of Education
Lee Ursino, Teacher and Teaching and Learning Projects Officer, St Gregory’s College Campbelltown
Moderator: Prof David de Carvalho, Executive Dean, Faculty of Education, Philosophy and Theology, The University of Notre Dame Australia
15:10
Panel Discussion | Where are our future Principals coming from?
- Assessing the evolving role, challenges, and competences of middle leaders in today’s schools
- How sustainable is the leadership pipeline?
- Achieving diversity in educational leadership
- Successfully identifying and supporting aspiring middle leaders
- How the Queensland middle leadership trial is progressing
Mike Hennessy, Chief Research & Insights Officer, PeopleBench
Joanne Jarvis, Director, School Leadership Institute, NSW Department of Education
Darryl Buchanan, Associate Chief Executive: Leadership and Learning, Association of Independent Schools of NSW
Dr Sandra Nissen, Director Strategic Implementation and Educational Performance, Queensland
Moderated by Dr Kerry Elliott, Senior Research Fellow, Australian Council for Educational Research
15:40
Closing remarks from the chair and networking drinks
2025 Exhibitors
Sponsorship & exhibition opportunities
The Sydney Morning Herald Schools Summit, exhibition, and networking functions offer unparalleled opportunities to reach key industry stakeholders, senior decision-makers, and customers within the education sector.
Don’t miss the opportunity to share your expertise and showcase your products, services, and solutions at this highly regarded event. Forge new business relationships, share your experiences and position yourself as a leader in the education field.
Contact Andrew Sinkovich for a copy of the sponsorship & exhibition prospectus today!
Andrew Sinkovich
+61 2 9080 4308
Andrew.Sinkovich@informa.com.au
Testimonials
Event Images
2024 Updates
Blog
Read exclusive interviews with our expert speakers.
Maths marvel Eddie Woo on the future of teaching
Prof Eddie Woo – an award winning maths teacher whose YouTube tutorials have earned him global fame and a dedicated fan-base of almost 2 million followers – believes the world of teaching as we know it is about to become radically different. Read more >>
The structure of Australian schooling needs to change – Prof. Adrian Piccoli
Former NSW Education Minister and Director of the Gonski Institute for Education, Professor Adrian Piccoli, is challenging the status quo of Australia’s school system, in a bid to achieve greater equity for students.
Piccoli believes the existing structure, funding model, and underlying regulatory framework is doing a disservice to low socio-economic status (SES) students… Read more >>
Major curriculum overhaul looking likely
Professor Geoff Masters, the person behind a proposed curriculum overhaul for New South Wales has so far racked up “considerable support” from teachers for his suggested redesign, which is due for finalisation this year. Since the release of his interim report in October last year, Masters has received more than 700 submissions providing feedback on his recommended reforms…. Read more >>
Teachers need more training to help students with special educational needs
Special education’ is a broad term and requires an equally broad set of skills, providers and strategies – not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach – says academic expert, Dr. Kathleen Tait. “Included within a typical education classroom one could find students with a range of intellectual, social and emotional difficulties; children who are gifted and talented; and/or children with learning difficulties… Read more >>
Normalising mental health protocols and intervention in Australian schools
When it comes to physical health, we’re not short of nationally-endorsed protocols that support our wellbeing. From hand-railings on public stairways, to mandatory vaccinations, to the highly-publicised “slip slop slap” sunscreen campaign. The same also applies in school settings. When a child is injured, they’ll receive first aid from an appointed, trained first aider. There will be rules in place to help avoid… Read more >>
Student Engagement & Technology in the Classroom: Igniting the Fire in Young Learners with Eddie Woo
Technology is rapidly transforming the way students learn and teachers teach, a study found that Australia is one of the highest users of technology in schools in the OECD – so how can technology benefit Australian students and what are the costs? What can it do and what can’t it do? Wootube is a prime… Read more >>
Student well-being at Wenona School
Adolescence is a difficult time for most people, but for a growing subset of young Australians, it is more than just an “uncomfortable phase”. Statistics show that one in five 13-18 years-olds will experience a severe mental health disorder; and more than half of people with a lifetime mental health diagnosis will encounter their first… Read more >>
Small group tutoring in NSW – why the need and how will it work?
Next year, students in New South Wales (NSW) will have access to free tutoring for the first time, thanks to a $337 million program as part of the state’s 2020-21 Budget. Under the scheme, an additional 5,500 staff will be employed to deliver small group teaching sessions to all eligible students… Read more >>
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Venue
ICC Sydney
14 Darling Dr,
Sydney NSW 2000
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