In Focus livestream

Prof. Mary Ryan

Professor Mary Ryan is Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education and Arts at ACU and Panel Chair of In Focus: Executive Dean Presents...Advancing Education in Australia. She is President of the New South Wales Council of Deans of Education and Chair of the Education Research Council for Australian Independent Schools New South Wales. She is a Principal Fellow of the UK Higher Education Academy and is the recipient of a national citation for outstanding contributions to student learning. Mary is currently leading Australian Research Council funded projects in classroom writing and preparing reflexive teachers for diverse classrooms. Her research is in the areas of writing pedagogy and assessment, reflective writing, teachers' work and professional learning, the enabling and constraining conditions for graduating students to manage the demands of their profession, and reflexive learning and practice.

Georgia von Guttner

Georgia von Güttner is currently the Executive Branch Manager - Innovation at Canberra Institute of Technology, where she continues her impactful career at the intersection of industry, government, and higher education.

With a strong background in establishing companies and innovation-driven programs across Australia, the UK, Europe, and the USA, Georgia's work focuses on creating and nurturing innovation ecosystems. In her previous role as Director of Innovation Precincts at the University of Melbourne, she led key initiatives in digital futures, infectious disease preparedness, medtech commercialisation, and precision engineering. Georgia's leadership was pivotal in the development of Melbourne Connect, the university's purpose-built innovation hub. Georgia oversaw the creation and activation of collaborative ecosystems, fostering partnerships between industry, academia, and government to tackle complex challenges. Her deep roots in regional Victoria, combined with over 20 years at the University of Melbourne, equipped her with a unique perspective on the importance of inclusive collaboration, which she brings to her role at the Canberra Institute of Technology.

Emeritus Prof. Bruce Chapman

Emeritus Professor Bruce Chapman is an economist with a long career at Australian National University and has extensive public policy experience. He is known for designing the Higher Education Contribution Scheme (HECS), the first national income contingent loan program, and contributing to various government initiatives in Australia and internationally. He has been a consultant to the World Bank and numerous governments on higher education financing. Emeritus Professor Chapman is a prolific writer, having published extensively on income contingent loans, labour markets, crime, and other social and economic issues. In recent years, he has focused on applying the income contingent loan model to diverse areas like disaster relief, criminal fines, and community investment.

Brianna Knox

Brianna Knox is a dedicated student senator at Australian Catholic University (ACU), with her current term extending to 31 December 2024. Now in her second year of a Bachelor of Paramedicine/Bachelor of Nursing at ACU's Canberra Campus, Brianna brings a wealth of experience to her role as a student representative.

Before joining ACU, Brianna completed an Assistant in Nursing Traineeship at a regional hospital in Central West NSW, where she worked alongside multidisciplinary teams, assisting a diverse range of patients in various clinical environments. This early exposure to healthcare equipped her with valuable skills and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by healthcare professionals.

In addition to her studies, Brianna gained further insights into university operations through her role as an IT support assistant at ACU in 2023. Her involvement in campus life extends beyond the classroom, having actively participated in student-resident events and being a part of ACU Canberra's multisport team.

Brianna's diverse experiences, both within and outside the university, provide her with a comprehensive perspective on the student experience. She is committed to ensuring that all students have access to opportunities that enrich both their academic and recreational lives, and she remains approachable for students to voice their needs and concerns.

Prof. Andrew Norton

Andrew Norton is Professor in the Practice of Higher Education Policy at POLIS: The Centre for Social Policy Research as the Australian National University. He was on the ministerial reference group for the Universities Accord in 2023, and previously the Higher Education Program Director at the Grattan Institute, a public policy think-tank.

Andrew is an author and co-author of many publications on higher education topics including Mapping Australian Higher Education 2023 which is an overview of higher education policy and trends. In 2013-14 he was the co-author of a government-commissioned review of the demand driven student funding system.

Dr. Craig Wattam

Dr. Craig Wattam is Principal at St John Paul II College, Canberra. Craig holds post graduate degrees in Theology, Education, and Religious Education. His research interest for his doctoral thesis was on middle leadership in Catholic secondary schools. He is passionate about leadership, evidence-based approaches to learning, and the culture of Catholic education.

Craig undertook his undergraduate music training at Newcastle Conservatorium of Music, graduating with a Bachelor of Music Education and a Diploma of the State Conservatorium of Music in piano performance. Craig has held senior leadership roles in Catholic education for the past two decades and more. In 2011 he was appointed as Assistant Director of Schools in the Maitland-Newcastle Diocese. Craig's desire to return to a school community saw him take up his second principalship at St Patrick's College Strathfield. In 2020, Craig was appointed as Executive Director and CEO of Edmund Rice Education Australia.

When Craig is not at work he enjoys running and cycling. He loves playing music, attending the theatre, reading, travel, dining out, and a nice red.