Matt Atkinson
Matt Atkinson has taught at Brisbane Boys' College for five years. He is particularly interested in boys' literacy. He has attended Carolyn Coil's seminars on Differentiation and Assessment and is keen to implement this knowledge into the classrooms at BBC.
Margaret Bishop
Margaret Bishop, director of Bishop Education Services & Training Pty Ltd, has been an educator for over 35 years and is still a committed 'learning revolutionary'. As author, presenter and consultant, both in Australia and overseas, Margaret focuses on the importance of understanding and making explicit the teaching/learning connection by modelling productive thinking and learning strategies.
Nicole Bowers
Nicole has been involved in education for 18 years. Her interest in Gifted Education began in the mid 1990's when she began to seek out professional development/higher education opportunities in this area. This led to her completing a Masters in Educational Studies through the University of Queensland, with Gifted Education as the focus of her studies. Nicole began working in State Education and has been working in the Private Education Sector for the last 11 years. Having been a classroom teacher before moving into the role of Gifted and Talented teacher, Nicole is aware of the demands and difficulties faced by teachers today. She has a number of successful and manageable concepts which she looks forward to sharing with others interested in providing for this special group of students.
Pat Burgess
Pat has been a member of QAGTC since 1984 when her youngest son was in Grade 5, and in desperate need of help. She has since studied in the area of Gifted Education finishing the Certificate of Gifted Education from UNSW in 2000. She spent 16 years on the Executive of QAGTC including two as President, and has since been joint President of West Branch for four years. She has been the convenor of a number of QAGTC State Conferences and organised the first ever Children's Conference in July 2006. This was a resounding success, and will be repeated in July 2007 with Sue Stevens as convenor. Pat also attends many of the Parent Support Group meetings, and is available to start one in a new area if requested.
Matthew J. Capp
Matthew Capp has six-years experience working as a teaching professional. He is currently the SOSE Coordinator at Mt. Maria College. Throughout his teaching experience he has demonstrated a particular interest in working with gifted visual-spatial learners.
Leanne Crane
Leanne has been involved with gifted education at a grassroots level across three states (New South Wales, Western Australia and Queensland) for nearly 15 years. She currently works part -time as a Learning Support teacher at the School of Distance Education. She voluntarily gives time to grow gifted education in Charters Towers. She has a Masters in Education, majoring in special education with studies in giftedness and two gifted children, a daughter aged 14 and a son aged eight. She is a foundation member of ACTSS Gifted and Talented committee and acts in an advisory capacity supporting gifted education with district office in the Northern region.
Tracy Corsbie
Tracy Corsbie has recently taken up the newly formed position of Director of Senior Schooling and Innovation, which aligns to the office of Strategy and Performance within Education Queensland. She was Principal of Tullawong State High School, a large and complex secondary school in the Sunshine Coast South District. Her career has taken her across the primary-secondary juncture and she has a personal vision that every student can be engaged in learning.
Lisa De Leon
Lisa De Leon is the mother of two highly gifted children, and first became involved with QAGTC through a need to better understand their giftedness. She co-ordinates a Gifted and Talented Parent Network at her child's school, has presented at conferences and information nights, and is currently the President of the Brisbane South Branch of QAGTC. Lisa holds Parent Support Group meetings at her home, gives assistance to families seeking early entry, and speaks on request to parent groups about advocacy in schools. She works part-time in Microbiology at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, is a part-time artist, and a full-time advocate for her gifted children.
Kay Distel
Kay is a Psychotherapist, Trainer and Consultant using leading edge Tomatis Method and other listening therapies. She works privately with individuals with learning and behavioural issues. Her special interest is in visual spatial learners and has specialist training in sensory approaches to understand learning style. She presented an interactive workshop at QAGTC children's workshops last year and it was well received for its practical help.
Jillian Fox
Jillian Fox is a higher degree research student currently undertaking doctorate studies at the Centre for Learning Innovation, Queensland University of Technology. She is an experienced Early Childhood teacher and her interests include: (a) Education and young gifted children, (b) o Early childhood mathematics and (c) Digital-numeracy practices in early childhood . Jill teaches undergraduate and postgraduate students from the Schools of Early Childhood and Mathematics, Science, and Technology. Publications can be viewed at: eprints.qut.edu.au/view/person/Fox,_Jillian.html
Jack Goodman
Jack is the founder and managing director of Tutoring Australasia. He has a B.A. (magna cum laude) from Princeton University and an M.Phil. in 17th and 18th century British and American political theory from Jesus College, Cambridge where he was a Marshall Scholar.
Suzanne Hall
Suzanne is an experienced educator and presenter, working in educational communities as director in Child Care, teacher in Pre-School, Primary and TAFE, Assistant Principal, Support Teacher Inclusive Education and Educational Consultant. She has worked over all levels of education from early childhood through to adult education and is a sought after presenter at conferences and teacher professional learning days. Suzanne holds a Master degree in Education [Educational Psychology], a Bachelor degree in Education [Early Childhood] and a Diploma of Teaching. She is currently undertaking doctoral studies in education, with her research focus being the prevention of reading difficulties through a whole school framework. She has a particular passion with regard to meeting the diverse needs of all learners so they might reach their potential.
Jan Heffernan
Janet Heffernan BEd, DipSpEd (Griffith) MEd, DipT (QUT) is the Curriculum Co-ordinator and Support Teacher at Brisbane Boys' College Junior, Queensland. During her 32 year teaching career, Jan has worked at the Queensland School for the Deaf as a classroom teacher and teacher librarian, a Visiting Teacher for the Deaf, classroom teacher and support teacher. Currently she is responsible for developing and co-ordinating the delivery of a differentiated curriculum for boys in the primary setting. Also she works individually with primary and secondary students with learning difficulties. Jan has always been interested in supporting students to achieve their goals. This interest led her to become the inaugural Referral Officer for Queensland, in September 2002. In addition, Jan has been the Independent Schools Association representative on the Opti-Minds State Council and a Chief Judge for both the Language Literature and Spontaneous Challenges.
Judith Hewton
Judith is the President of the Australian Association for the Education of the Gifted and Talented and a past president of the Queensland Association. She managed the gifted education program for Education Queensland, setting up the Focus Schools in the 1990s, as well as working across independent and catholic sectors to implement the nationally funded gifted education programs Zig Zag and Unicorn. Judith maintains information flow for QAGTC via publications, telephone and email, particularly for parents concerned about gifted children.
John Jose
John Jose is Principal of the Queensland Academy for Creative Industries. John commenced his teaching career at Innisfail State High School in 1987 as a teacher of science and mathematics. In 1993 he was appointed Head of Department- Mathematics at Isis District State High School. After three years in this role he moved to Gin Gin State High School as Deputy Principal and in 2000 became Principal of this school. In September 2006 he was invited to be the foundation Principal of the Queensland Academy for Creative Industries. John has a passion for public education and providing all students with pathways and avenues that fulfil their aspirations. It was this passion and a desire to develop a differentiated pathway and choice for students with outstanding academic and creative abilities within a new environment for learning and teaching that brought him to the Academies project.
Michele Juratowitch
Michele Juratowitch is Director of Clearing Skies and provides counselling, consulting and project management. She has experience working with students, parents and teachers in schools and through a number of GERRIC programs. Michele has qualifications in Social Work and Gifted Education and was awarded a Churchill Fellowship to study the counselling and intervention needs of gifted children, adolescents and families.
Damien Kee
Damien Kee obtained his degree in Electrical Engineering from UQ in 2001 and is currently completing his PhD in Robotics. He has been teaching robotics, engineering and fundamental software concepts to students and teachers throughout Queensland for over 5 years. Damien is currently the Chair of the organising committee for the 2007 RoboCup Junior Australian Championships as well as the Australian representative on the International Committee.
Lynne Kelly
Lynne Kelly has worked with gifted primary and secondary aged students for over 20 years. She specialises in curriculum development for mathematics, science, writing and cross curricular themes. The author of 13 books and the Enrichment Units for the Middle Years (EUMY) suite, she has established online enrichment programs used in six countries.
John Kennedy
John Kennedy has experience teaching children and young people around the world. He has taught in schools for Vietnamese Children and Young Adults in closed refugee camps in Hong Kong. He has worked extensively with sick and disabled children in London, has been an educator with the Life Education program and is now teaching at Kimberley Park State School. He is co-author of his school's Thinking Curriculum and is a widely sought after presenter of Thinking Skills workshops. He has also guest lectured at Griffith University on teaching gifted and talented students. John is passionate about providing equal learning opportunities for all abilities and was responsible for establishing Kimberley Park State School's first enrichment program and class - a multi-age 4, 5, 6 and 7 class.
Tracey Lenarduzzi
Tracey Lenarduzzi - primary school teacher in Brisbane for 11 years, currently working at Villanova College, Coorparoo as a Learning Enrichment Teacher. Tracey's passion is enriching the experiences of bright and talented youngsters, and she has coordinated several programs at Villanova, with teams experiencing National success in both Tournament of Minds and Macquarie Bank Future Problem Solving Program. Tracey recently completed her Masters of Education in Special Education, and took on the State Directorship for Tournament of Minds (Qld) in 2006.
Stephen Loggie
Stephen Loggie is Principal of the Queensland Academy for Science Mathematics and Technology. Prior to taking up appointment at QASMT Stephen was the founding Principal at Clover Hill State School on the Gold Coast. He is passionate about science and is committed to reinvigorating science education at all levels of schooling and is revelling in the challenge of creating a new approach to education to cater for some of the State's best and brightest students.
Pamela Lyons
Pam Lyons is the coordinator of La Trobe University's Able Learners' Enrichment Program, Committee member of the VAGTC and Victorian Director of the AAEGT. She has been involved with the ALEP since its beginning in 2000 and coordinated the program since 2001. Pam has worked with parents and teachers of the gifted for nine years.
Sandra Lummis
Sandra Lummis B Ed, Grad Dip Special Education, M Ed (Hon), Grad Dip Religious Education, coordinated the Department of Learning Support and Enrichment at All Hallows' School from 1988 to 2001. An educator with over 25 years experience, she has worked as a project officer for underachieving gifted students for the Department of Employment Education and Training "Unicorn Project". In addition she worked as a member of the team responsible for reviewing Education Queensland's Policy Statement on the Education of Gifted Students. Sandra has been a sessional lecturer and tutor in the School of Education at the Australian Catholic University for over five years. Currently she is Head of Curriculum Enrichment at Brisbane Boys' College.
Cliff Mallett
Dr Cliff Mallett was a former secondary school teacher and three-time Olympic coach, who now works as an academic and psychologist. He has drawn on his successful experiences in coaching Olympic athletes with his research in psychology to understand what drives talented youth to pursue excellence and how adult leadership can foster talent development.
Jen McVeity
Smart, spirited and successful, Jen McVeity has written over 20 books and her novel Dreamcatcher is a popular Year 7/8 text. (It's also the most stolen book in Hawaii's state library!) A Churchill Fellow, National Literacy Champion, ex-chair of the largest writing organisation in the world, AND a circus trapeze flyer, Jen has presented keynotes in over six countries and nine USA states. The creator of the highly effective Seven Steps to Writing Success programs, Jen has trained over 5000 teachers in the program. She claims all of them have survived!
Fiona Meyer
Fiona Meyer is the Opti-MINDS director, and a challenge writer, judge, international presenter and artist. She has been a director of such programs for 13 years and is a veteran of workshop presentations throughout Australia, New Zealand and Singapore. Her insightful knowledge of the nuts and bolts of The Opti-MINDS Challenge process, thinking skills and brain functioning; combined with her expansive experience as a workshop leader makes Fiona's workshop sessions events not to be missed.
Roger Moltzen
Professor Roger Moltzen is Foundation Chair of the Department of Human Development and Counselling at the University of Waikato, New Zealand. He is sought after as a visiting professor internationally, and has researched and published extensively in the field of giftedness and gifted education. Roger is an adviser to education systems and government. He directs and coordinates undergraduate and postgraduate studies and has a particular interest in developing talent across the lifespan.
Robyn MalaxEtxebarria
Robyn's story has been tracked through QAGTC's Mindscape magazine as she continues her legal battle to have the education department acknowledge and cater for her gifted daughter. Robyn and her family are courageous trail blazers whose case for acceleration has reached the Supreme Court and is now scheduled for reconsideration following her successful appeal. Although a family of restricted income, Robyn travels many hundreds of kilometres each week at great expense to secure her daughter's accelerated placement in a supportive school environment.
Jennifer Parker
Jennifer Parker is in the final stage of a PhD at the Faculty of Education, University of Southern Queensland. Through a DEST grant, she has recently graduated with High Distinction in the Certificate of Gifted Education at GERRIC, UNSW. As an active academic member, she holds the positions of Vice President and Treasurer in the QAGTC (Darling Downs & Western Regions branch).
Annette Smith
Annette currently teaches a year 4/5/6 class at Middle Park State School. She is a Gifted Education Mentor and her classroom is used as a showcase class for gifted education and differentiation strategies amongst staff. Annette has been teaching for nine years, with three of them spent in the United Kingdom. Annette has always strived to add her 'own spin' to ideas and strategies to make them her own.
Greg Smith
Greg is an experienced enrichment teacher and has been a coordinator of gifted programs in three major schools. His masters in gifted education focused on thinking skills and socio-emotional support for gifted students. He has a special interest in philosophy with children. The paper summarises his chapter in a forthcoming US book on gifted education.
Anthony, Susan and Benjamin Stevens
Anthony is the President of the Queensland Association for Gifted and Talented Children and is Network Coordinator at Mt Maria College. He has been a high school teacher for twenty-six years, specialising in Computing, Mathematics and Music.
Susan has a Masters degree in Gifted Education, Certificate of Gifted Education, and is also a high school teacher.
Benjamin is enrolled as a Year 11 student this year.
Susan Stevens
Susan has a Masters degree in Gifted Education, Certificate of Gifted Education, and is also a high school teacher.
Lesley Sutherland
Lesley Sutherland is the Director of the Wyvern Centre for Extended Learning at Wesley College focussing on gifted students K-12. Previously, Lesley has been a PEAC teacher, Curriculum Officer and D/Principal. She is currently President of Pro-APT( Professional Association for parents and Teachers of Gifted Students in WA),and GATCA (Gifted & Talented Children's Association) and WA State Convenor for the Future Problem Solving Program.
Fiona Torzsa
Fiona Torzsa has been teaching for over 20 years, and is currently teaching at Holy Spirit School, Bray Park. She has a Graduate Diploma in Special Education (majoring in Gifted Education) and is currently undertaking a Masters of Education (Research) at QUT. Her particular interests include catering for gifted children within regular classrooms.
Wilma Vialle
Wilma Vialle is Director of Graduate Teaching, Faculty of Education, and Associate Professor of Educational Psychology, at the University of Wollongong, Wilma is the 2006 Eminent Australian Award recipient in the field of gifted education. She lectures in Educational Psychology and Gifted Education and her major research interests lie in the identification and education of gifted students, particularly those who are culturally diverse, and the qualities of effective teachers of the gifted. Wilma has published her work in refereed journals, books, and conference proceedings, and is currently the editor of the Australasian Journal of Gifted Education.
Robyn Yared
Robyn Yared is currently working as a Gifted Education Project Officer and Coordinator for Education Queensland. She has been involved in gifted education for 10 years and has gained firsthand experience with the complexities surrounding the education of the gifted through her work with students, parents and educators. Her particular areas of passion are the social emotional needs of students, underachievement and designing curriculum that challenges and promotes autonomous learning.
Gail Young
Gail has completed a Masters Degree in Special Education specialising in Gifted and Talented Learners. Gail participated in the 2006 GEM's program for schools in Brisbane South region. She acknowledges and facilitates quality whole school educational programs for gifted students that support and celebrate their unique needs, interests, advanced cognitive abilities and learning styles. Gail is prepared to accept challenge and positively supports her colleagues in providing programs that differentiate curriculum for gifted and talented amongst parents, students, teachers and administrators for the best possible outcomes and advocacy for gifted students. Gail is a committee member of the QAGTC Inc Management Committee and an information volunteer for QAGTC Inc.