Friday 25th March 2022

Professor of Education Policy, UNSW’s Gonski Institute

Pasi Sahlberg is a professor of education policy at the UNSW Sydney. He is a Finnish educator and author who has worked as schoolteacher, teacher educator, researcher, and policy advisor in Finland and has studied education systems, analysed education policies, and advised education reforms around the world. Professor Sahlberg is an inspirational speaker, lecturer and trainer. His passion is to advice and work with schools, communities, and nations to reimagining teaching and learning, school education, and system-wide efforts to improve equity and quality of education. He has gained working knowledge in over 60 countries around the world as a former senior education specialist at the World Bank in Washington DC, the European Commission in Torino, and director general of the Ministry of Education in Finland. His recent books include His recent books include “FinnishED Leadership: Four Big, Inexpensive Ideas to Transform Education” (2018), “Let the Children Play: Why More Play Will Save Our Schools and Help Children Thrive” (2019 with William Doyle), “Finnish Lessons 3.0: What can the world learn from educational change in Finland” (2021) and “In Teacher We Trust: The Finnish way to world- class schools” (2021 with Tim Walker). More in Twitter @pasi_sahlberg.

Learning Design Consultant

Margot Foster was a Director working in the South Australian Department for Education.  She was a teacher and leader in complex and disadvantaged public schools across SA, but learned her teaching craft in Elizabeth.

“She has a commitment to quality learning and teaching for all students, particularly those from disadvantaged communities and is an advocate for the voice of children and young people in education.  Her inspirational leadership, vision and exceptional level of service to public education have made a significant difference to the South Australian teaching profession and the learning experience of children and young people”