COMMITTEE OF MANAGEMENT 2023-2024

JO BLANIN - PRESIDENT

As a sought-after international leader in digital pedagogies and STEM education, Dr Jo Blannin offers a 20+ year career in educational innovation and change leadership. Her current role at Monash University is as Senior Lecturer, Digital Transformations. Her previous roles include leadership positions in schools, education systems, banking, business, outdoor education and private consultancy.

Her background in education and teaching in three countries and in two languages means she consistently brings research and evidence-based practices into her work to the benefit of her students, research partners and her colleagues.

Matthew Harrison - CO-VICE PRESIDENT

Dr Matthew Harrison is an experienced educator, researcher and digital creator with a keen passion for utilising technology to enhance children's social learning and inclusion. He has taught in Australia, South Korea and the United Kingdom at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Matthew is currently coordinating the Autism Intervention program and facilitating the digital Access and Inclusion Hub at the University of Melbourne Graduate School of Education. His research primarily focuses on inclusive education and the effective use of digital technologies as teaching and learning tools. As a gamer, he has a particular interest in digital games-based learning and intervention.

Catherine Newington - CO-VICE PRESIDENT

Catherine is the ICT Educator Specialist at Australian Computing Society. She leads the ACS national program to support schools to implement the Digital Technologies Curriculum. Working with schools she creates resources that target the curriculum and support content knowledge growth. Lessons promote skills such as authentic learning, global connections, critical and creative thinking, collaboration and student driven learning. These resources are available for free via the ACS ICT Educators Community of Practice.

Catherine is a registered teacher with over 12 years’ experience in the classroom including 5 years as learning and teaching leader. She holds a postgraduate degree specialising in Education Technologies. This has tightened her knowledge of how pedagogical practices influence the potential of technology in education

BEN GALLAGHER - SECRETARY

Ben has been a teacher at Meredith Primary School since 2003 and has a passion for integrating technology into the curriculum. In 2010, he developed the Digital Sandpit, a start to the day which sees the students completely immersed in the latest technology, such as iPads, iPods, Nintendo DSi, Xbox Kinect and the Wii. In 2011, Ben completed his Masters in Educational Leadership and has a real passion for Student Directed and Project Based Learning.

Clark Burt - Treasurer

Clark is a special education teacher and former lecturer and tutor at The University of Melbourne and RMIT. He is currently the Digital Technologies teacher at Ashwood School and is running intervention studies at schools around Victoria. He is also a committee member of the Australian Association of Special Education (AASE) Victorian Chapter and has worked with the Department of Education developing the Digital Technologies curriculum for levels A – D.

PAULA CHRISTOPHERSEN

Paula is a passionate supporter of subject associations, is a lifetime member of DLTV and its patron. Prior to retirement from full-time work, Paula was the Digital Technologies Curriculum Manager at the VCAA. She has been actively involved in the design of the original Australian Digital Technologies Curriculum, as well as the ICT (and now Digital Literacy) general capability, and their updates. Paula has worked on a range of local, state and national projects since retiring from full-time work, and is enthusiastic about providing digital technologies learning opportunities for all students and teachers.

JANELLE DIXON

Janelle is a passionate educator and lifelong learner. She is currently the CEO of Robogals Global and a research student at the University of Melbourne investigating Augmented Reality and Game-Based Learning having completed a Bachelor of Science and graduate certificates in STEM Education. Her previous roles included developing and publishing iOS apps, leading various educational outreach programs for schools and serving on the boards of NFPs.

NATASHA DWYER

Ian Fernee

Ian is a secondary school computing teacher at St. Patrick’s College Ballarat and has a zeal for teaching students to code and develop their computational thinking capabilities. In his role as the Head of Computing, Ian seeks to be innovative and creative in developing a rich Digital Technologies curriculum that encourages students to be resilient problem-solvers.

As the eLearning Coordinator at St. Patrick’s College, Ian wants to inspire and empower teachers to use technology in their curriculum areas to develop resonant learning experiences for their students. Ian is a Microsoft Innovative Educator (MIE) Expert and in 2018 was selected to go to the Microsoft E2 Conference in Singapore.

Roland Gesthuizen

Roland is a STEM Method Lecturer at Monash University, Melbourne. Secretary for Mag-Net association for STEM Educators, Journal Editor for the DLTV, ACCELN Cohost and Group Leader for 1st The Basin Scouts. Enjoys tinkering in Makerspaces, challenging thinking and learning new things. Many years ago Roland worked as a research scientist with the Orica, explosives division. Internet pioneer; first email from a US President and first to help built a website for an Australian public utility. Whovian, Trekkie & Space Science Geek; ran an EarthDial used with the NASA Mars Rovers for Planetary Society. Social media guru; most ever popular twitter post celebrated #TowelDay.

CRISTINA GUARRELLA

Cristina is an experienced kindergarten teacher, currently undertaking research on early childhood science and lecturing in early chilldhod and primary courses at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education. She strives to make the link between research and practice accessible for all educators and is a co-author of the Northern Territory Preschool STEM Games. Cristina’s doctoral research investigates teachers’ enactment of playful science games in metropolitan and regional early childhood settings, with a specific focus on teachers’ assessment practices and classroom quality. Her ongoing research interests include early childhood and primary STEM education, the role of social media in teacher professional learning, and measuring the impact of STEM interventions on children’s learning outcomes.

Robert Maalouf

Robert Maalouf is an experienced IT, maths, and physics teacher. He brings a passion for collaboration and innovation using digital technologies and design thinking. Robert is currently the digital technologies learning area leader at Wellington Secondary College.  He is working on the establishment of STEM and the integration of robotics and Arduino programming throughout the digital technologies curriculum at Wellington Secondary College. Robert is  always looking at innovative and engaging ways to use technology to motivate, engage and inspire students and staff to create an exciting learning environment

JACQUELINE MANSON

THEMBI MASON

CRAIG NICHOLLS

Craig is a passionate educator with over 25 years of classroom experience across the state and independent sectors. He has been a generalist primary teacher and P - 10 Digital Technologies specialist. He has held several leadership positions, focused on developing the effective use of technology across the curriculum by staff and students. 

As Director of Digital Learning at Melbourne Girls Grammar, Craig works with staff and students across the school to improve their digital capabilities and implement digital projects. Craig is passionate about ensuring that educators and students have the necessary digital skills to meet their potential. 

COBY REYNOLDS

Coby is an international educator with over 10 years teaching and leadership experience in Australia, Dubai and Hong Kong. His most recent position was the Head of Primary Technology at The Independent Schools Foundation Academy in Hong Kong. With a passion for all things learning and digital technology, Coby has implemented 1-to-1 iPad programs in Dubai and Hong Kong and has presented and held workshops on all aspects of digital learning in the U.A.E, Netherlands, Germany, Hong Kong and China. Coby is an Apple Distinguished Educator (Class of 2015) and holds a Master’s Degree in Education, specializing in Information Technology and Leadership (2016).