Dr Christopher Blundell is a Senior Lecturer in QUT's School of Teacher Education and Leadership. He is Academic Lead Learning and Teaching, and Master of Education Course Coordinator. Christopher teaches about assessment, digital pedagogies, and leadership across all of QUT’s education degrees. His research focusses on design-based professional learning and the challenges of integrating digital technologies in teacher practice. Christopher also has extensive experience in P-12 schooling, including 26 years classroom teaching and 11 years executive level school leadership.

Kirra Pendergast is the Founder and CEO of the Safe on Social group of companies with offices in Sydney, Brisbane, London, New York and Florence. A sought-after keynote speaker, mentor, thought leader, and respected international media commentator on cyber safety, cyberbullying, social media, and AI risk management, Kirra has worked at the cutting edge of technology since 1991.  Her vast experience in a range of different industries grants her a unique viewpoint on how humans work with technology lending a depth of understanding of the technology landscape that few in the online trust and safety education sector can claim. Kirra is known for her frank, no-fearmongering approach and is admired for combining her lived experience with her empathetic, practical approach, enabling individuals to gain knowledge and skills on how to consume technology rather than letting technology consume them.

Paxton Booth was appointed as the Privacy Commissioner in December 2021.  Prior to his role as the Privacy Commission Mr Booth work in various roles at the Crime and Corruption Commission for 11 years including as the Executive Director, Corruption Strategy, Prevention and Legal. Mr Booth spent 11 years working at the Queensland Police Service (QPS) as a lawyer. Mr Booth provided legal advice on major and organised crime to the QPS. Mr Booth also spent 5 years working at the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions. Mr Booth has maintained a strong interest in regulatory compliance and privacy throughout his career and looks forward to further supporting agencies to identify privacy by design solutions that help build greater trust through transparency, and enable critical outcomes for the community.

Professor Leonie Rowan is the Director of the Griffith Institute for Educational Research. She specializes in research relating to gender diversity, sexual diversity, socioeconomic status, cultural background and the ways each category intersects to create hierarchies of risk and disadvantage). She has led numerous competitive grants in these areas and has also won multiple prestigious teaching awards. 

Professor Rowan has also conducted extensive research into the impact of various technologically mediated activities (including digital games) on student engagement. She is currently leading research that focuses on the transformative potential of AI and is motivated by a desire to find ethical ways to capitalise on the opportunities that are developing. 

Simon is a technology lawyer and Partner at Clayton Utz, with dual qualifications in law and computer science. He advises on technology projects, procurement, intellectual property, privacy, data protection and cyber security. With a special interest in artificial intelligence, Simon leads the firm's legal initiatives on AI.  He has advised governments, universities and corporations on the development and implementation of AI frameworks and solutions.  He also regularly shares his thoughts on AI through speaking engagements, podcasts, articles and the media. He has been involved in many of the firm's own technology initiatives and sits on the firm's national Cyber Security Board.

Jo Butterworth has recently returned to the QCAA as the Executive Director of Curriculum Services. Being part of a dynamic organisation that is leading the development of future-focussed curriculum and assessment is a passion for her and the exciting part of working at the QCAA. Jo brings school leadership experience to this role from her work on the Educational Leadership Teams of two secondary schools and teaching experience across all three sectors. The combined experience of leading the implementation of the new QCE system within the QCAA and in schools has provided Jo with a deeper understanding of how the decisions we make about curriculum and assessment influence our young people and prepare them for pathways beyond school.

Lisa is currently the Digital Technologies Teacher at Mudgeeraba Creek State School. With over 20 years experience in the classroom, in a variety of roles ranging from an ICT Specialist Teacher to a Regional Project Officer, Lisa holds a Masters Degree in Education and recently completed a Graduate Certificate in STEM in Education. Her dedication to integrating technology into the curriculum in engaging and innovative ways has supported and inspired both students and staff over the years. Lisa’s presentations offer practical solutions that can be implemented easily into the daily pedagogical practice of teachers.