Sr Nathalie Becquart xmcj
Undersecretary for the General Secretariat of the Synod, Vatican

Sr Nathalie Becquart, is a Xaviere sister, Missionary of Christ-Jesus, a French Ignatian-inspired order. She holds a Masters in Entrepreneurship, a double canonical Baccalaureate degree in Philosophy and Theology, and specialised in Ecclesiology researching Synodality at the Boston College School of Theology and Ministry. For 25 years, Sr Nathalie was involved in youth ministry serving as Director of the National Service for the Evangelisation of Youth and Vocations of the French Bishops' Conference. She was an observer at the Synod on Youth (2018), became consultor to the General Secretariat of the Synod of Bishops (2019), and was appointed by Pope Francis as Undersecretary of the Synod of Bishops as well as a member of the Dicastery for Communication in 2021. A renowned lecturer and speaker, she is the author of numerous publications on synodality, youth ministry, vocations, the Church and mission.

Sr Nathalie will present the Opening Keynote for the conference.

Prof Dylan Wiliam
Emeritus Professor of Educational Assessment at the UCL Institute of Education

Prof Dylan Wiliam is Emeritus Professor of Educational Assessment at the UCL Institute of Education. In a varied career, he has taught in urban public schools, directed a large-scale testing program, served a number of roles in university administration, including Dean of a School of Education, and pursued a research program focused on supporting teachers to develop their use of assessment in support of learning.

Dylan will present a keynote on an equitable approach to educational improvement, as well as two 90 minute masterclasses on school accountability measures and developing teacher mastery. On the final day of the conference (22 August), Dylan will lead a full day workshop on the topic of Assessment of, for and as learning. This workshop will be limited to 200 participants and can be added onto your conference ticket or participants can register as a standalone event. See the registration portal for details.

Dr Simon Breakspear
Educational expert and Founder of Strategic Schools

Dr Simon Breakspear is a researcher, advisor, author and speaker on educational leadership, policy, and change. As founder of Strategic Schools, he develops frameworks, tools and programs that make evidence-based ideas actionable and easy to understand, and has worked with over 100,000 educators globally. He is an Adjunct Senior Lecturer in the School of Education at UNSW, advisor to the NSW Department of Education and sits on the expert steering committee for the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership (AITSL).

Simon will lead two 90 minute masterclasses on how strategic subtraction can unlock surprising progress and how the Teaching Sprints approach can help overload educators to enhance their craft.

Simon will also present the Closing Keynote.

Philippa McDonald
Master of Ceremonies

Philippa McDonald is a 30-year veteran of ABC News and one of the most recognised, respected, and trusted faces in Australian journalism. Her journalism has taken her all over Australia and the world. Philippa's interest in international affairs includes a fellowship at the University of Oxford's Reuters Institute of Journalism. Philippa also previously chaired the Walkley Foundation's Board of Trustees.

Philippa is now focused on conducting journalism masterclasses for women journalists throughout the Pacific, consulting to a major philanthropic foundation, MCing and presenting webinars and podcasts on Elder Abuse and conducting presentation training for the legal, academic, and medical profession as well as the cultural sector. Most recently, Philippa moderated a Roundtable of international journalists on Press Freedom at a conference on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly in New York.