2025 Keynote and Invited Speakers


Dan Aubin
Director, Daring Humans

2025 Keynote Speaker

Dan Aubin is interested in making ideas come alive in ways that create engagement and connection for the greater good. His company Daring Humans helps organisations and individuals develop in the areas of communication, creativity and movement through presentations, workshops, education and coaching.

For the past seven years, Dan was a lecturer at Charles Sturt University in the School of Communication and Creative Industries and worked as the discipline leader of the innovative Theatre/Media program. Dan has a background as an international acrobat, physical theatre performer, director and educator. He developed his foundations at the Olympic Training Centre as a Canadian national gymnast and coach. From 2006-2010 he was the Artistic Director and CEO of the South Australian Circus Centre, home of Cirkidz. 

He now shares his passion and innovative pedagogies as a speaker and consultant for universities, companies and communities. His mission is simple: To dare himself, and those he works with, to think differently as we strive towards growth in business, education, art and life.

Balancing the Shifts -The Acrobatics of Being Change-Ready

The best leaders aren’t those who seek stability—they are those who balance. In an era where life and work shift faster than ever, we often hear we need to “find balance.” But balance isn’t something we achieve—it’s something we engage with. Shifts in industries, communities, and personal lives are constant—our ability to adapt determines our success.

This talk introduces a transformative shift: what if, instead of fearing change, we trained ourselves to engage with shifts like an acrobat—adjusting in real time? Why Adaptability is the Real Key to Resilience – Challenging conventional ideas of stability. Dan’s ability to ignite engagement, challenge perspectives, and create lasting impact sets him apart. Dan doesn’t just talk about adaptability, leadership, and resilience—he embodies them, making complex ideas tangible and memorable through his signature blend of acrobatics, humor, and storytelling.


Lee Barrett
Prompt Engineer and AI Advocacy Project Officer, CEnet

2025 Keynote Speaker

Lee Barrett is an experienced educator and advocate for innovative teaching practices, specialising in the integration of AI in education. As the Prompt Engineer and AI Advocacy Project Officer at CEnet, Lee has helped lead the rollout of the cechat tool, collaborating with educators and tech designers to enhance classroom and organisational practices, with a strong focus on Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles to ensure inclusive access for all learners.

With a Master’s in Educational Leadership and over two decades of global teaching experience, Lee has championed the use of AI and UDL strategies to improve engagement, accessibility, and outcomes for diverse student populations. She has presented at forums like the SMH Schools Summit and the Catholic Schools NSW AI Symposium, offering actionable insights on AI’s evolving role in education.

Passionate about fostering student engagement, equitable access, and teacher success, Lee combines expertise in literacy, AI innovation, and differentiated learning. And yes, Lee absolutely used AI to help her write this bio!

AI with Heart: Co-Designing Inclusive Intelligence for Every Learner

In a world increasingly shaped by artificial intelligence, how can we ensure education remains human, inclusive, and just? In this keynote, we’ll explore how Catholic educators are not just adopting AI tools, but co-creating them to support every learner—particularly those with diverse learning needs.

This isn’t about robots replacing teachers. It’s about reclaiming time, amplifying personalised learning, and reducing administrative burdens so that educators can focus on what matters most—relationships, inclusion, and dignity. Drawing from real-world examples across Australia, this session will showcase how AI agents are being shaped by teacher voice to align with pedagogy, wellbeing, and faith.


Kylie Captain
Founding Director, Dream Big Education Wellbeing & Consulting

2025 Keynote Speaker

Kylie Captain is a proud Gamilaroi woman, best-selling author, and highly respected educator with over two decades of experience in education and community services. She has made a lasting impact through her expertise in delivering transformative professional development and workshops across Australia. 

As President of the Aboriginal Studies Association and Founder of Dream Big Education Wellbeing & Consulting, Kylie leads innovative initiatives that build on leadership, mindset, cultural competency, and Aboriginal educational excellence.

A 2024 finalist for the NSW Aboriginal Woman of the Year Award, Kylie recently launched her third book at the iconic Sydney Opera House, further cementing her influence as a leader in education. Her unwavering commitment to driving positive change stems from both her lived experience and professional expertise. By empowering educators, students, and communities, Kylie strives to make a meaningful difference—one student, one school, and one organisation at a time.

Leading Aboriginal Education with Passion and Purpose

Join Kylie Captain for an inspiring and thought-provoking session that will challenge and uplift your approach to leadership, student engagement, and cultural empowerment in education. Kylie will share practical strategies and real-world examples that demonstrate how high expectations can create meaningful change for all learners. This session will explore how educators can lead with cultural integrity, build inclusive learning environments, and create strong relationships that support student success.

Expect to walk away with actionable insights on embedding culturally responsive practices, strengthening relationships, and creating a school culture where every student is inspired to achieve their full potential. Whether you are a teacher, school leader, or education professional, this session will empower you to embrace the future with optimism and a renewed commitment to making a difference. 


Colin Dobson PSM
Principal, Monash Children's Hospital School

Des English Memorial Lecture Presenter

Colin Dobson PSM, is the inaugural Principal of Monash Children’s Hospital School. He is an excellent role model and his knowledge of education pedagogy, learners as inquirers and authentic enablement of student voice and agency have added value to state and independent education through a range of educational settings. Colin has demonstrated exemplary leadership as an educator, director and principal for over 36 years.

Passionate about children’s education and the vital role teachers and professionals play, Colin’s work has been at the forefront of ground breaking initiatives in education. Colin was previously a teacher, Head of School and the Director of Curriculum for Wesley College as well as Principal at Mount View Primary School, inclusive of the outstanding Deaf Facility.  As Principal of Monash Children’s Hospital School he has incorporated education and health in the one environment. His work has supported education and health colleagues to see the important connection between education, health and recovery.

Colin has a strong capacity to build relationships and is an influential advocate of indigenous culture and its importance in educational settings. He has been a consistent supporter of internationalising education which has included the building of sister school partnerships. Colin was instrumental in introducing international primary year programs to schools in Victoria, Australia, and the Asia Pacific region and was an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Program workshop leader across this region. He was also co-designer of the first postgraduate certificate in Educational Studies (International Baccalaureate) in 2005.

He is an active member of the Department of Education’s Manningham and Monash Network Executive and is chairperson of the HELP Alliance which brings together leaders from Australia and New Zealand Hospital Schools. Colin is a highly esteemed peer and mentor to education and health colleagues.

Colin’s belief that all students have the right to an outstanding education, regardless of their circumstance, has been apparent in every setting he has led, including his current role as Principal of the innovative Monash Children’s Hospital School. Colin personally took responsibility for recruiting staff, developing policies and teaching and learning initiatives, establishing relationships with local schools and hospital schools nationally and internationally. The growth and effective operation of the school under Colin’s stewardship has ensured positive outcomes for some of Victoria's most vulnerable young people and their families.

In 2022, Colin was presented with a Public Service Medal (PSM) in recognition of his outstanding contribution to education.

Colin completed a Bachelor of Educational Studies and Master of Education (Leadership, Policy and Change) at Monash.


Bryan Jeffrey
Director, MOAT Mental Health Services

Keynote Speaker

Bryan Jeffrey is a Registered Psychiatric Nurse, and since 1995 has been employed in a range of senior clinical positions in Child & Adolescent Mental Health Services (CAMHS) and Adult Mental Health in Scotland, and latterly in Melbourne, Australia.

Throughout his career, Bryan saw gaps in mental health literacy, in people who were hungry for knowledge, and decided to focus the attention of MOAT: Mental Health Services on meeting these needs.

Ranging from delivering keynote addresses at national conferences, to providing workshops for small groups of staff and carers – Bryan’s passion is in mental health training.

How the Brain Responds to Stress - Explosive Behaviour and De-escalation

Join Bryan Jeffrey as he shares a very simple framework to clarify the links between stress, escalation, explosive behaviour, and de-escalation. This framework has been informed by Bruce Perry’s trauma-related research and learnings, and can be implemented with great effect in any teaching space, any home, or even in your staff room.

    • What effect does stress have on staff and students' ability to remain cognitive and focused?
    • What are some of the skills that we can learn and teach, to stay calm in a crisis?
    • How should we communicate with people who are escalating?
    • Can we really help people to de-escalate when they have lost control?
    • Why does multi-sensory de-escalation work?
    • How does a person's trauma history affect their ability to regulate?

These questions and more will be explored, with an opportunity for delegates to ask questions following the presentation.


Chris Varney
Founder and Chief Enabling Officer, I CAN Network

Emcee

I CAN Network Ltd is Australia’s largest Autistic-led organisation with 83 Autistic staff and 3,000 young people engaged in its group mentoring programs. Chris was inspired to start I CAN from the support his family, schools and mentors gave him, which he shared in his TEDx ‘Autism – How My Unstoppable Mother Proved the Experts Wrong’.  

Chris has a background in children’s rights. Chris spent 11 years with World Vision Australia and World Vision International where his roles included Youth Ambassador, VGen Co-Director and Manager of Youth Supporters. VGen was instrumental in achieving commitments to fair-trade from big chocolate companies.

In 2009 Chris was Australian Youth Representative to the United Nations. In this role Chris successfully campaigned for the closure of the Magill Training Centre and created Dear Kevin: a book of 789 handwritten letters by children and young people given to then-Prime Minister Kevin Rudd. 

In addition to I CAN, Chris is National Patron of the Australian Association for Special Education and Chair of the Victorian Disability Advisory Council.


KEY DATES

Early Bird Registration Available
Tuesday, 18 February 2025

Early Bird Registration Closes
Friday, 30 May 2025

Standard Registration Available
Saturday, 31 May 2025

Standard Registration Closes
Tuesday, 19 August 2025

CONFERENCE CONVENOR

The Australian Association of Special Education (AASE) is a broad-based non-categorical association concerned with all who have special education needs. 

Host State - AASE Victorian Chapter

CONFERENCE SECRETARIAT

GEMS Event Management Australia 
30 615 654 629

Contact us 
For all registration and accommodation inquiries call
02 9744 5252 or email: registration@gemsevents.com.au

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