Speakers

The Hon Maxine McKew MP is the the Member for Bennelong and Parliamentary Secretary for Early Childhood Education and Child Care.
Before making the switch to politics, Maxine spent thirty years as a broadcast and print journalist. She is a Walkley and Logie award winner and through coverage of national and international events, earned a reputation as one of the country’s most authoritative interviewers.

In 2003 Maxine was awarded a Centenary Medal for services to broadcasting. Maxine has always been a strong advocate of opportunities for women, both in her own industry and in the wider workforce.

Maxine's voluntary activities over the past decade have included chairmanship of the Advisory Council to the National Breast Cancer Centre and membership of the University of Sydney’s Research Institute for Asia Pacific. Maxine has also served as Patron of Osteoporosis Australia and as a member of the Sydney Symphony Council.

Maxine was born in Brisbane in 1953, attended All Hallows’ School and studied at the University of Queensland.

Dr Pam Schiller

Pam Schiller is a freelance Early Childhood Consultant and Author.
Dr. Schiller has been a childcare administrator for several years and has also taught in the public schools as a kindergarten teacher. She served as Head of the Early Childhood Department at the University of Houston where she also directed the Lab School.

Dr. Schiller shares her extensive knowledge in workshops, radio and television interviews, and as a popular keynote speaker and author.

She is Senior Author of the DLM Early Childhood Express, a full curriculum for for four year olds, the DLM Early Childhood Program, a full curriculum for Kindergarten and Early Impressions: Start Smart Edition, a full curriculum for infants and toddlers.

Pam is also the author of several children's books, music CD's, DVD's and more than thirty teacher resource books for Gryphon House, Goodyear Books, SRA/McGraw-Hill, and Fearon Teaching Aids.

Books by Pam Schiller:

Adam Spencer

Adam Spencer began his career in radio by winning the Triple J Raw Comedy championship in 1996. From there, Adam became a casual presenter, and eventually took over the coveted breakfast time slot, hosting from 1999 - 2004. A consummate learner, Adam holds a first class honors degree in Pure Mathematics and has an immense interest in science. These passions lead Adam to hosting the ABC program Quantum and FAQ from 1998 to 2001. Prior to this Adam was a regular guest on the Channel Ten’s Good News Week series, ABC's The Fat and continues to be a regular guest on The Glasshouse. In 2003 Adam hosted Hit & Run for the Foxtel’s Comedy Channel and in 2005 Adam hosted Joker Poker for Freehand Group which is currently screening on the Ten Network.

Adam's other outstanding achievements include being voted "Best Speaker in the World" at the World University Debating Championships. Prior to this, Adam was captain of the Australian Debating Team for 3 years. He was winner of the National Championships and Winner of the Australian University Championships. Adam was a regular performer at Belvoir Street Theatre’s "Theatresports" and speaks regularly at science and maths conferences Australia wide.

Adam’s book Little Book of Numbers has been published by Penguin and has been translated into many languages around the world. His next book, More Mind Numbing Maths, was published by Penguin in 2005.
At the end of 2004 Adam and his co presenter on Triple J Wil Anderson toured the nation with The Last Time Tour, which sold out in every capital city and celebrated their time on Triple J. Adam has also toured for the last 3 years with Dr Karl Kruszelnicki in the Sleek Geek Tour, which is held during Science Week and is a hilarious one hour show combining ground breaking science with side breaking comedy.

Adam has had extensive experience on various boards and authorities - he continues to serve on the Senate of the University of Sydney, the NSW Premier's Advisory Committee on Greenhouse and Global Warming and the NSW Health Department's Clinical Ethics Review Committee as well as being an ambassador for the Fred Hollows Foundation and helping out with numerous charities.

Terry Hawkins

Terry Hawkins has established herself as one of the leading presenters in human performance. With 20 years experience as a trainer in a myriad of industries, Terry draws on a vast foundation of knowledge and techniques.

Ask Terry Hawkins what her specialty is and she will tell you simply - PEOPLE.

Whether it be discussing the most cutting edge sales techniques, bringing a team together with focus and drive or changing the patterns of managers, her audiences walk away inspired and motivated, with tools to create outstanding results. Rather than bamboozle the audience with jargon, Terry delivers a message that will be nothing short of spectacular.

After 7 years working in State & National training roles for major companies, Terry established her training company People In Progress in 1988. Her background stems from the coal-face, knowing what it takes to make a business work. People In Progress is now considered one of the most respected and results oriented companies in it's field. Having trained over 100,000 people in the business sector, Terry knows what works and what doesn't work when it comes to learning.

Terry specialises in all areas of people performance including communication, team building, leadership, sales skills, personal styles, conflict resolution, time effectiveness & personal development.

Her fascination with the unconscious mind has led her to studying incessantly about peak performance and the blockages that stop people from succeeding (becoming an NLP practitioner, Hypnotherapist and Time Line Therapist in the process!).

Terry delivers high impact, practical strategies that produce results and her renowned sense of humour ensure everyone has a good time doing it. The polish and pizazz of Terry’s trademark style of presentation, ensures her audiences enjoy a memorable, educational and motivational experience.

Andrew Mackell-Wong
With 22 years of training design, presentation and management experience, Andrew has developed a unique approach to individual and organisational development. A specialist in the field of communications and interpersonal excellence, sales development and stress reduction, his sessions are designed to educate, invigorate and motivate people toward balanced success.

Andrew assists a wide range of industries including IT, finance, insurance, recruitment, communications, travel and hospitality, local and federal government, sporting, media and health groups – presenting approximately 100 training events across Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia, each year.

Aside from his work in the corporate field, Andrew assists students, the long-term unemployed and those with special needs with coaching and mentoring that raises esteem, ability and opportunity.

Andrew is a firm believer that people (and businesses) are only limited by the quality of their ideas, knowledge, behaviours and relationships. He encourages greater responsibility and commitment to planning and chasing down goals that would make delegates happier, wealthier and more balanced people. He promotes service agility, change readiness, leadership excellence and staff resilience as critical keys to success. There must be an equal balance between professional and personal development for a balanced – enjoyable life.

Enjoyment of the learning process is a vital ingredient for success. Every participant is encouraged to have a fun, productive and interactive experience at every MGA training event. The mind is a ‘high maintenance’ machine and quickly tires of the mundane, so each event strives to educate, invigorate and motivate. Having fun is just a better way to learn.

Dr Susan Edwards is a Lecturer in early childhood education at the Centre for Childhood Studies, Monash University, where she specialises in understanding current approaches to early learning. Dr Edwards has conducted research into teacher understandings of curriculum; and with colleagues has also examined children’s, families and caregivers experiences of multiage grouping. Susan has an extensive publication record in the area of early childhood education and care. In 2006, Susan was a recipient of a citation for teaching excellence and innovation, awarded by the Australian Learning and Teaching Council.

Louise has worked for over 20 years in early childhood in a variety of roles. Louise has performed professionally in drama, singing and dance and has extensive management, team-work and communication skills. She is currently teaching at Swinburne University of TAFE and coordinating children's services and family day care in Local Government. Louise works as a trainer across all industry sectors throughout Victoria and interstate.

Her sessions are fun and action packed.

Professor Jennifer Sumsion is Foundation Professor of Early Childhood Education at Charles Sturt University, Bathurst, where she leads the Investigating Quality in Early Childhood Education and Care multidisciplinary research group. She has recently completed a study of early childhood teachers’ perceptions of the impact of regulatory environment governing long day care on their capacity to provide high quality education and care, funded by the Australian Research Council. She has recently begun a new study that is investigating what life is like for babies and toddlers in family day care and long day care. This study is also funded by the Australian Research Council, in conjunction with Family Day Care Australia and KU Children’s Services.

Prior to setting up her own private practice, Bron worked in Family Day Care for 20 years, being passionate about the value of home based childcare and committed to the provision of high quality care. In June 2007 Bron Lowe was awarded Life Membership for her commitment to Family Day Care Australia. She was President of Family Day Care Australia for 6 years from 2001 - 2006, leading the organisation through a period of intense change. For 9 years Bron managed the state-wide Family Day Care program in South Australia, working for the Department for Education and Children’s Services in a senior policy and management role.

An experienced facilitator, trainer and presenter, Bron has chaired meetings, conferences and forums around Australia. No stranger to the Family Day Care community, Bron is looking forward to meeting and working with the delegates at the 2009 national conference in Tasmania.

Anthony Semann
For the past 15 years Anthony has worked as an educator, innovator and advocate with a broad range of government, non-government and private organisations. His skills and expertise has seen him work with organisations across Australia and overseas including Columbia University, New York. What began as a young teachers desire to help individuals transform the quality of their lives, relationships and values, led to Anthony combining his skills and knowledge with Colin Slattery and in 1999 they founded Semann and Slattery. This is a company truly committed to transformative practices and philosophies.

Anthony is one of the most dynamic young professionals in Australia today. He is in demand as a presenter, facilitator and public speaker which has seen him deliver over 45 opening addresses and over 75 conference papers at national and international conferences.

Anthony is an innovative and inspirational trainer and educator. He has delivered over 350 professional development programs. Participants of these programs acknowledge his outstanding ability to empower, transform and assist organisations and people, leading them to excel and be more responsive to their clients. He has an exceptional capacity to challenge organisations and people and have them reflect on how their approaches to communication, leadership, diversity, values, relationships and workplace culture affect their services, businesses and ultimately the community.

Anthony’s achievements have been publicly recognised by his peers and the broader community and he has been awarded the Young Manager of the Year Award and the Inaugural Advocate of the Year Award.

Denise Proud
Denise Proud is a Murri woman born in Wakka-Wakka. She was born in an Aboriginal settlement known as Cherbourg. After her secondary schooling he left her family to take up studying in Brisbane where she completed her qualifications in early childhood. She has worked in range of early childhood settings in Queensland and has been an advisor for many years. Denise has also worked in correctional centres, youth detention centres, women’s centres and universities. She is the author of ‘Fall from Grace? Reflecting on Early Childhood Education while Decolonizing Intercultural Friendships from Kindergarten to University and Prison’

Dr Nadine McCrea
Nadine has worked in early childhood services, as a manager/leader of services and as a university lecturer. Her early childhood education career in Australia has covered working ten years each in Victoria, Queensland and now New South Wales. She is currently Associate Professor of ECE at University of New England in Armidale, NSW. Nadine has a long history of presenting and writing about young children and food learning, as well as early childhood leadership and management. Recent publications include: There’s More to Food Than Eating... (book); Everyday learning about healthy bodies (booklet) and ‘What are your green educational values? Consider: Children as veggie Gardeners’ (Every Child article).

Susan Perrow (M. ED)
Susan has an extensive background (25 years) in storytelling, early childhood teaching and course facilitating. In 1986 she founded the first Steiner Kindergarten in Byron Bay, Australia (‘Periwinkle Children’s Centre’), and in 2000 developed the first course on Storytelling for an Australian University (S.C.U.). and in 2001 she completed her Masters Research on Storytelling in a cross-cultural situation, post-apartheid South Africa.

Over the last fourteen years Susan has worked in Teacher Training and Parent Education in Australia, Africa, Europe and the U.S., specialising in storytelling, therapeutic story writing and creative discipline.

A writer of children’s stories for twenty years, she has several collections published locally. Her resource book on ‘Healing Stories for Challenging Behaviour’ has recently been published by Hawthorn Press in the U.K.

Anne Stonehouse AM
Anne Stonehouse AM works as an early childhood consultant and has had extensive experience in areas related to quality in early learning settings. She has written a number of books, articles and other resources for professionals and families. She was a member of the Charles Sturt consortium that developed the national Early Years Learning Framework. She is also enrolled as a Ph.D. student at Charles Sturt University.