Associate Professor Matthew Harrison (he/him) is an experienced teacher, researcher and digital creator who is an advocate for utilising technology to support social capacity building, belonging and inclusion in education. He has taught in Australia, South Korea and the United Kingdom at primary, secondary and tertiary levels. Matthew is currently a member of the Learning Intervention team a founding member of the University of Melbourne Neurodiversity Project, and previously served as the Director of Professional and Continuing Education (PACE) at the University of Melbourne Faculty of Education. He was awarded the Dyason Fellowship in 2020, and both the GEM Scott Teaching Fellowship and the International Society for Technology in Education 'Making IT Happen' award in 2023. In 2025 he co-led the application for the first successful Genesis Pre-Seed Investment in a social enterprise at the University of Melbourne (through University of Melbourne/Breakthrough Victoria).

Claire has 25 years of experience in inclusive education as a teacher, school leader and education consultant in Western Australia, Victoria, and the UK. Her diverse teaching background spans mainstream Catholic, independent, and government schools, alternative schools and flexible learning options, and universities. Claire has also assessed special examination arrangements for a state curriculum authority.

She has contributed to national projects on the Nationally Consistent Collection of Data on School Students with Disability (NCCD), developing professional learning materials and digital resources for Australian schools. As a learning consultant for Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools, she supported learning diversity teams and school leaders with the NCCD.

In 2023, Claire completed a PhD at Monash University on the effective use of teacher assistants. She continues to facilitate workshops and review school support structures, and is now an Associate Director at Deloitte Access Economics, engaging in inclusive education projects with a large team of economists, policy experts, teachers, and health professionals.

Janeen has journeyed through the growth and awareness of inclusive education, having started her career in the "special education" era of the 90's with qualifications in teaching and psychology.

Commencing as an integration aide in a Melbourne Bayside Independent school, Janeen has spent the last 30 years, building a rich and diverse level of understanding and knowledge to support students, families and educators navigate disability and diversity in schools.

Recently appointed the Head of Inclusion at Beaconhills College, she has cultivated and directed the growth and stability of the college's Individual Programs department over 18 years, seeing the substantial changes in services and supports for students with disabilities and their families.

Janeen continues to be committed to establishing a more thoughtful and sustainable approach to inclusion in schools through building supportive and interconnected strategies and practices that help to reduce barriers to learning and promote capacity for teaching diverse learners.

Louise has a distinguished career spanning three decades as a teacher and curriculum leader. She has consistently advanced staff development, student engagement, and academic achievement through her expertise in English education, technology integration, and her deep commitment to inclusive practice.
Her PhD research examines how students with disability and their schools collaborate to negotiate reasonable adjustments, offering valuable insights into authentic partnerships between teachers, students, and families.

As both a senior educator and a parent of four children, including three neurodiverse sons, Louise brings empathy, nuance, and lived experience to her advocacy for genuine inclusion.
In her session, she will share findings from her research and practical strategies for embedding inclusive approaches in everyday teaching, demonstrating how schools can create learning environments that respect and support every learner.

Leah began her teaching career in 1997 as an English teacher at Lilydale High School, where she spent a decade developing her expertise in education and leadership, including serving as Assistant Year 12 Coordinator.

In 2008, she joined Catholic College Bendigo (now Catherine McAuley College), taking on a range of roles including English Teacher, Head of Junior English, and Martyn Program Coordinator. During this time, she led the development of a unique, project-based learning program for Years 7–9, dynamically written alongside its delivery to meet the diverse needs of students.

Today, as Director of Inclusive Education at Girton Grammar School, Leah leads transformative work in building a multi-tiered system of support (MTSS) that empowers teachers and supports every learner to thrive. Her leadership combines deep pedagogical knowledge with compassion, collaboration, and a steadfast belief in the potential of all students.

Rebecca Ball is a passionate Specialist Educator and Occupational Therapist with over two decades of experience across mainstream and specialist education settings in Australia. Her work centres on inclusive, neuro-affirming practices that support student engagement and wellbeing.

As Director of HopscotchED and Partner at BrainyCo, Rebecca leads the development of resources that capture the student voice and professional learning initiatives that empower educators, families, and allied health professionals to meet the diverse needs of learners.

Her holistic, family-centred approach spans early childhood to secondary education, with a strong focus on collaboration and co-designed solutions. Rebecca is a dedicated facilitator and trainer, known for delivering practical, interactive workshops that inspire inclusive change.