Featured speakers
Keynote speaker
Professor Michael Cowling
Professor Michael Cowling has been a leader in educational technology for over 20 years and was the recipient of the Universities Australia 2020 AAUT Award for Teaching Excellence (Physical Sciences & Related Studies). He is currently an Associate Professor - Information & Communication Technology (ICT) at CQUniversity Australia, but from 5th May will take on the role of Professor – Computing Technologies & Director, Hub for Apple Platform Innovation (HAPI) at RMIT University. He is the President (2023 to 2025) of the Australasian Society for Computers in Learning in Tertiary Education (ASCILITE), where he is also a Community Fellow, as well as the Vice-President of the Open Access Publishing Association (OAPA). He is also a Fellow of the Australian Computer Society (ACS) and a Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy (Advance HE UK). Through his mantra ‘pedagogy before technology’, he fosters thoughtfulness in technology for students, educators and the public.
Featured speakers
Motti Blum
Motti Blum is the Co-Founder of BlueRoom Simulations, a cutting-edge mixed reality company transforming how people prepare for critical situations. BlueRoom’s immersive training platform is now used by defence forces around the world, helping to democratise access to high-quality simulation and improve readiness in high-stakes environments. Before launching BlueRoom, Motti spent over a decade as CEO of Real Response, one of Australia’s leading providers of immersive emergency training. With a background in experiential education, he has long been driven by a belief in the power of preparation to save lives. BlueRoom’s impact has been recognised globally, with awards including the Garmin Health Innovation Award, the Simulation Australasia Program Innovation Award, and the IDEX Innovation Trail.
Associate Professor Kate Tregloan
Associate Professor Kate Tregloan is Assoc Dean (Teaching and Learning), and Director of the Built Environments Learning + Teaching (BEL+T) group, in the Faculty of Architecture Building and Planning. The BEL+T group applies creative problem-solving and design-led approaches, evidence-based research methodologies and project-focused consultancy to improve teaching quality and student engagement in built environment disciplines.
Associate Professor Tess Vawser
Tess has an extensive background in the establishment and management of hi-fidelity simulation education centers, the mentoring, coordination and training of facilitators and clinical education program development across Victoria. Her portfolio also oversees the clinical placements of over 3000 undergraduate students, from 14 education providers, across Epworth hospitals. She has been involved in the design and implementation of national and state health simulation-based training programs along with extensive experience in the development and implementation of team-based clinical skills and simulation programs to all health professionals.
Christie Widiarto
Christie Widiarto is a Lecturer in animation, filmmaker, installation artist and researcher. She works in community arts, working with various community groups to help them tell their story through multimedia. Career highlights include undertaking the Talking Difference Fellowship at the Immigration Museum, creating a stop motion wall mural across an 80 metre wall in Footscray entitled "This is Footscray," and producing the 2021 award winning Fringe Festival show, "Ruthless World," incorporating animation and gaming technology with live performance and poetry, all performed over zoom by Roshelle Fong.