Keynote Speaker

•  Professor Michael Phillips, Co-Director of the Monash Virtual School & Professor of Digital Transformation, Faculty of Education, Monash University, Australia
• Tara Mannix, Co-Director of the Monash Virtual School

Keynote Topic
Education Revolution: Forging a Digitally Resilient Future for All

Keynote Highlights

• Education & technology disruptions
• Bridging the digital divide
• Innovative teaching and learning practices to equip students with skills impacted by digital and high technology.
• Data-driven education
• Digital literacy and competence
• Opportunity to shape an equitable digital future.

Keynote’s Biodata
Professor Michael Phillips
Mike Phillips is the Professor of Digital Transformation in the Faculty of Education, Monash University. His work aims to enhance teachers' capacities to understand the opportunities and limitations of educational technologies. By enhancing educators' critical perspectives of such technologies, Mike's teaching and research seek to enhance opportunities for all students to receive higher quality educational experiences.
Mike's work has been supported through more than $7,000,000 of funding from organizations including the Department of Education and Training (Victoria), the British Academy, UNESCO, the Australian Office of Learning and Teaching and the Australian Research Council. Mike has authored more than 80 books, book chapters, journal articles and conference presentations with more than 90 colleagues from around the world. Mike has also developed a number of award winning educational programs including the Leading Blended Learning Course for in-service teachers and the internationally recognized Monash Virtual School which provides pre-service teachers with opportunities to enhance their online pedagogical practices while providing opportunities for disadvantaged young people in Australia and for those in conflict zones around the world including in Ukraine and Myanmar. Mike's work has been recognized with a Highly Commended Paper Award from the Australian Council for Computers in Education (ACCE) and the Best Paper Award at the Society for Information Technology and Teacher Education (SITE) conference in 2016 and 2019. Mike has also received the Dean's Award for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (2015), the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Programs that Enhance Learning (2016), the Monash Postgraduate Association Lecturer of the Year Award (2016) the Dean's Award for Outstanding Research by an Early Career Researcher (2017) and the Vice-Chancellor's Award for Industry and Community Education Programs (2022). In 2023, Mike was named the Outstanding Global Educator of the Year by the Association for the Advancement of Computing and Education for his work co-directing the Monash Virtual School.
Prior to joining Monash University in 2013 Michael was a senior teacher for 15 years in secondary schools.

Tara Mannix
Tara Mannix is the Co-Director of the Monash Virtual School and an experienced school leader and educator.
Tara works with Mike to design and develop programs which reflect their values and understanding. Their work reflects their understanding that each program necessitates a distinct and tailored solution which is respectful of specific contextual factors.
Tara provides strategic oversight and support to the implementation and operation of the Monash Virtual School programs along with supporting and mentoring staff involved. She ensures that each initiative aligns with the mission and values while fostering a culture of innovation and growth for all involved. She believes that Monash Virtual School programs should be designed to have intentional benefit for all those involved.