Featured Speakers
Ian Aird
CEO English Australia
Read more >>
Ian Aird
Ian has more than 25 years’ experience in the international education industry. He has experience in every aspect of ELICOS where he started as a teacher, a CELTA trainer, and a DoS before working across sales and marketing, admissions, IT, and then executive management. Ian also ran a consulting firm for five years. The firm offered services ranging across strategy development, mergers and acquisitions, financial performance improvement, research (market analysis and economic impact studies), regulatory reform and compliance, as well as executive and sales coaching. The firm’s clients included federal, state, and local government bodies, industry peak bodies, and education providers from universities to multi-nationals to small family operations. Ian’s corporate governance experience includes previously sitting on the English Australia Board for 6 years, the advisory board of StudyNSW, and serving as non-executive Chair of a not for profit for 5 years.
Ian has a Graduate Diploma in Law and graduated the AICD Company Directors Course with an Order of Merit, an MBA with Distinction, and a Masters in Professional Education. He also completed the CELTA and DELTA.
Christie Anderson
Product Manager in Pearson’s English Language Learning product innovation team
Read more >>
Christie Anderson
Christie Anderson is a Product Manager in Pearson’s English Language Learning product innovation team. She studied languages at the University of Oxford before moving into educational publishing at Oxford University Press and Pearson. With experience teaching English in the classroom and a strong focus on pedagogy, her work focuses on using AI thoughtfully to reimagine English teaching and learning, improve student outcomes, and empower teachers. She is also Deputy Convenor of the English Australia EdTech Special Interest Group, supporting ELICOS teachers upskill in edtech and become more comfortable with using innovative technologies in the classroom.
Bosco Anthony
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for GRG (Global Rev Gen)
Read more >>
Bosco Anthony
Bosco Anthony is the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for GRG (Global Rev Gen), an internationally recognised, progressive, fully integrated marketing collective specialising in digital media buying solutions and consultancy. GRG recently brought to market a world’s first AI technology innovation that empowers intelligent reporting in creative performance media. Bosco is a seasoned digital strategist, disruptive storyteller, marketing futurist and international speaker with a background in corporate leadership, communications and business operational maturity – all fueled by an entrepreneurial spirit.
Jen Bahen
Executive Director, Regulatory Operations TEQSA
Read more >>
Jen Bahen
Jen is the Executive Director, Regulatory Operations for the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency, a role she commenced in January 2025. Most recently, Jen was the Counsellor (Education and Research) to the Australian Embassy, Hanoi, Vietnam, with responsibility to Vietnam and Thailand. Jen has also worked in the sector as the Director for International Education at TAFE Directors Australia, and has a detailed knowledge of Australia’s tertiary education system in domestic and international settings. Jen has previously worked in several positions within the Australian Government, leading policy and program initiatives spanning schools, vocational education and youth engagement. Jen was posted with the Department of Education, Skills and Employment to the Australian Embassies in Beijing and Bangkok, managing the broad bilateral relationship between China and Australia and Thailand and Australia. Jen has also worked in the education sector privately supporting both school and university engagement in China. Jen has lived in Hanoi, Beijing, Shanghai and Bangkok, and is passionate about enabling global engagement and exchange in education. Jen completed a Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) at the University of Melbourne.
Hon. John Brumby AO
Chancellor of La Trobe University
Read more >>
Hon. John Brumby AO
The Hon. John Brumby AO is an experienced company and not-for-profit Board Director and is well known from his former roles as Premier of Victoria from 2007 to 2010 and Treasurer from 2000 to 2007. John began his working life as a Secondary Teacher at Eaglehawk High School in Bendigo and has had a lifelong involvement in education.
John is chair of a number of for-profit and not-for-profit organisations including Private Healthcare Australia, the Victorian International Education Advisory Council, the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Trust and In2science. He was installed as Chancellor of La Trobe University in March 2019 and is also a Professor (Honorary) in the Faculty of Business and Economics at the University of Melbourne.
John was awarded an Order of Australia in 2017 for distinguished service to the Parliament of Victoria, to economic management and medical biotechnology innovation, to improved rural and regional infrastructure, and to the community. John is Fellow of the Australian Institute of Company Directors, a Graduate (Advanced) of the Australian Institute of Superannuation Trustees and the author of a number of books on public policy.
Professor Phill Dawson
Co-Director of the Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE) at Deakin University
Read more >>
Phill Dawson
Professor Phillip (Phill) Dawson is Co-Director of the Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE) at Deakin University. His work focuses on improving assessment while addressing integrity challenges and emerging technologies.
His book Defending Assessment Security in a Digital World (Routledge, 2021), examines academic integrity in a digital age. In 2024, he co-edited the Assessment & Evaluation in Higher Education special issue Challenging Cheating and published the provocative article Validity Matters More Than Cheating. His broader research spans assessment design and feedback.
Caroline Hartnett
Director, Study Melbourne and International Education, State Government of Victoria
Read more >>
Caroline Hartnett
Caroline is Director, Study Melbourne and International Education, in the State Government of Victoria. The team provides a suite of innovative student programs and supports to Victoria’s international student community, supports Victorian education providers to access and expand their global partnerships, and maintains Victoria’s position as a study destination and partner of choice.
Caroline has worked in policy and analytic roles in the Australian and Victorian public service in relation to the education sector for almost two decades. Caroline is passionate about working with stakeholders to ensure that the Victorian education sector is positioned to maximise opportunities, and international students have an outstanding experience studying with Victoria.
Associate Professor Susie Ho
Senior Academic Director, Industry and Immersive Experiences (Rich Experiences)
Read more >>
Associate Professor Susie Ho
Associate Professor Susie Ho is the Senior Academic Director, Industry and Immersive Experiences (Rich Experiences) at Monash University, where she empowers future strategic leaders to create positive impact in society – now and throughout their careers – through transformative, authentic and globally connected education.
This work includes Monash’s Flagship Rich Educational Experiences – future-focused programs that connect students with industry, research, community, and which reach thousands of students each year across four key programs: the Monash Innovation Guarantee (MIG), RED (Research, Experimentation & Discovery), Volunteering in Practice, and the award-winning Global Immersion Guarantee (GIG).
Associate Professor Ho’s leadership advances an integrated, end-to-end approach to career development, entrepreneurship and leadership formation.
With more than 15 years’ experience in higher education, Associate Professor Ho has held numerous senior academic leadership roles. Her research sits at the nexus of sustainability education, employability, and cross-sector collaboration, with a strong emphasis on real-world workforce impact.
Beyond Monash, Associate Professor Ho serves as a Steering Committee Member, UNFCCC RINGO Constituency; Lead Principal Investigator, Youth Environmental Alliance in Higher Education (US National Science Foundation); Editor-in-Chief, Sustainable Earth Reviews (Springer Nature); Executive Member, Global UN MECCE Project; and Lead Coordinating Author, UN Environment Programme Global Environmental Outlook.
Associate Professor Ho has a PhD in Science (Ecology) and a Bachelor of Science (Honours) from Monash University.
Phil Honeywood
CEO IEAA
Read more >>
Phil Honeywood
Phil has been IEAA’s Chief Executive Officer since November 2011. Previously, he was a Member of the Victorian State Parliament (1988–2006), Minister for Tertiary Education, Training and Multicultural Affairs (1996–1999) and Deputy Leader of the Opposition (2002–2006). Since leaving politics, Phil worked at Stott’s Business College and Cambridge International College. Phil is the Co-Convener of the Federal Government’s National Council for International Education, Chairman of the Roundtable of International Education Peak Body CEOs, Deputy Chair of the Tuition Protection Services Board and a member of the Education Visa Consultative Committee. He also sits on the New South Wales and StudyPerth International Education Advisory Boards.
Mike Mayor
Senior Lead | Global Marketing | English Language Learning at Pearson
Read more >>
Mike Mayor
Mike Mayor is Senior Director, Global Scale of English at Pearson. On leaving university, Mike worked as a teacher of English in France before entering the world of publishing as a lexicographer. Mike joined Pearson in 2003 and headed up the Longman dictionaries list until his move to the Global Scale of English in 2013. In this role, Mike works with coursebook and assessment teams to ensure that the Global Scale of English underpins all elements of the Pearson English Journey. Mike has a BA in French Language and Literature and a Masters in English and Applied Linguistics from Cambridge University.
Jarrad Merlo
Product Manager in Pearson’s ELL Accelerator
Read more >>
Jarrad Merlo
Jarrad Merlo is a Product Manager in Pearson’s ELL Accelerator, focused on assessment innovation. He taught English for ten years before founding a test prep company that he grew to more than two million users and three million YouTube subscribers. Jarrad later joined the Cambridge-owned OET, where he worked as a Product Specialist on domain-specific test design. He moved to Pearson two years ago, where he now works on next-generation approaches to language testing, combining advances in AI with contemporary assessment theory.
Aashish Neupane
Board member, Pearson International Student Advisory Board
Read more >>
Aashish Neupane
Aashish Neupane is an award-winning international student leader currently pursuing a Master of Social Work, with a strong passion for advocacy, community impact, and creating meaningful opportunities for students. He has received the NSW International Student of the Year Award, the Western Sydney University Chancellor’s Unsung Hero Award at the ZEST Awards, and Vice-Chancellor’s Excellence Awards for Community Engagement.
Aashish actively contributes to student representation, international education, and community leadership initiatives. He currently serves as an elected Director on the Western Sydney University Student Union (WSUSU) Board, Founding Member of the Pearson International Student Advisory Board (ISAB), Postgraduate Representative with the International Student Representative Council of Australia (ISRC), and Director and Treasurer of Mates From Himalayas (MFH). Through these roles, he advocates for student voices, strengthens community connections, and works towards creating more inclusive and supportive experiences for students across Australia.
Sandra Pitronaci
Global Director of Academic Affairs, ILSC Education Group
Read more >>
Sandra Pitronaci
Sandra has served in the international education sector for 20 years as a teacher, teacher trainer, academic manager and director across private colleges and university-based language centres. She has been with ILSC Education Group for the last 6 years, and is currently leading the Global Academic Affairs Team and supporting academic strategy across ILSC Language Schools, ELS Language Services, and Greystone Colleges.
Sandra has also served in the English Australia Journal Editorial Team since 2019, is a former Convenor of English Australia’s AMSIG, and a current committee member of IATEFL’s LAMSIG.
She holds a BA (Hons), Dip Ed (LOTE/ESL), Grad Cert Higher Ed, Master in Applied Linguistics TESOL, and the IDLTM, and has presented at English Australia, NEAS, UECA, IATEFL, CamTESOL and CLESOL conferences.
Saxon Rice
CEO ASQA
Read more >>
Saxon Rice
CEO Saxon Rice has extensive experience across the VET and employment services sectors as well as the public policy process. Ms Rice previously held a range of senior government, VET and management positions. She was Assistant Minister for Technical and Further Education in the former Queensland Government from 2012 to 2015, and Chair of the then Ministerial Industry Commission responsible for industry engagement.
Ms Rice is a former Director of Global Business Development for an Australian employment services company and was responsible for significant growth into new countries in the European and Asian markets. Ms Rice has also served in a range of Senate Committee Secretariats, including as Acting Secretary and Principal Research Officer to the Senate Foreign Affairs, Defence and Trade Committee. More recently, she was a Member of the Administrative Appeals Tribunal from 2016 to 2018 and is a Member and Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.
Ms Rice commenced as a Commissioner of ASQA on 16 April 2018, before being appointed as Chief Commissioner and CEO (initially Acting) on 7 October 2019. With effect from 1 January 2021. Ms Rice is appointed until 30 June 2027.
