Each Foundation for Learning and Literacy Committee member has significant classroom experience and well-established academic credibility in the field of literacy education.

Co-convenors

Jo Padgham is a former primary school principal and system leader in the public education system in the ACT. She is a past vice president of the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA) and ACT ALEA State Director. Jo has been awarded ALEA Life Membership, ALEA Principal Fellow, Fellow of the Australian College of Educational Leaders, an ACEL Award for Collaborative Practice and is on the ACT Women’s Honour Roll.

Dr Robyn Ewing AM is formerly a primary teacher and is currently Professor Emerita and Co-Director of the Creativity in Research, Engaging the Arts, Transforming Education, Health and Wellbeing (CREATE) Centre, Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, University of Sydney. An educator for 50 years, Robyn is a strong advocate for the role the Arts and creativity can and should play throughout our lives and in becoming deeply literate. A Co-Director of Big Sky Stories in Broken Hill and an ALEA Principal Fellow, she is a also a past president of both the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association and the Primary English Teaching Association Australia.

Annette Woods is a professor in the School of Education at the University of NSW. She researches and teaches in social justice education and school reform; curriculum, pedagogy and assessment; and literacies and digital literacies. Annette is currently involved in research related to socially just education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children and young people; a curriculum project investigating history and science teachers’ engagements with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander content; a design-based project with migrant and refugee young people and their families living in rural contexts and issues of language, curriculum and pedagogy; and investigating young children’s representations of learning with technologies. Annette is the National Research Manager for Culturally Nourishing Schooling.

Dr Kathy Rushton is an experienced TESOL and classroom teacher and provides professional learning for teachers, having worked in primary, secondary and tertiary settings and with adults learning English. She is an Honorary Lecturer in the School of Education and Social Work at the University of Sydney and is interested in the development of language and literacy, especially in culturally and linguistically diverse socio-economically disadvantaged communities. 

Christine Topfer is an experienced early childhood teacher, literacy coach, school leader and published author. She currently works as a literacy consultant. Christine is a past Vice President of the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association. She has been awarded ALEA Life Membership, ALEA Principal Fellow, AITSL’s Excellence in Teaching and School Leadership and an award from Australian Professional Teachers Association’s for Meritorious Contribution to the Profession.

General Committee

Jantiena Batt is an experienced early childhood teacher and Literacy Coach who has worked across diverse settings. She has authored and co-authored several articles and publications on language and literacy and is the Australian Literacy Educators Association (ALEA) ACT State Director. She is also an ALEA Senior Fellow and the recipient of the ALEA Medal.

Wendy Bean has served on the executive and now general committee of the Foundation of Learning and Literacy. She has been an educator for 50 years as a teacher, school executive, literacy consultant and casual university lecturer. Wendy has held positions on ALEA Sydney North Local Council and ALEA National Council. She is an ALEA Principal Fellow and recipient of the ALEA Medal. Wendy has authored and co-authored several articles and publications in the areas of spelling and writing.

Wendy Cave is a Primary School Principal, providing leadership at national and system levels in literacy, curriculum, and teacher quality. She has served on ACARA’s General Capabilities Advisory Committee, is a longstanding member of the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA), and a past Convenor of the Australian Research Alliance for Children and Youth (ARACY). Her leadership has been recognised with awards of Honorary Fellow by the Australian Council for Educational Leaders (ACEL), and Outstanding Contribution by the Australian Government Primary Principals’ Association (AGPPA).

Dr Lynne Bury is a past Victorian State Director of the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association, an ALEA Principal Fellow, and the recipient of the ALEA Medal. She has also been awarded an Outstanding Professional Service Award from the Council of Professional Teaching Associations of Victoria. Lynne has a doctorate in literacy education and has a long career in public education at the primary, secondary, and tertiary levels in Victoria.

Robyn Cox is Professor of Education at the University of Tasmania and has spent several decades as a leader in Initial Teacher Education across the world. Robyn is a Life Member and is past Present of Primary English Teaching Association, ALEA Fellow and currently Editor in Chief of the Australia Journal of Language and Literacy. Robyn is an advocate for the teaching profession and believes that teachers should be actively involved in policy making and system direction of schools.

Carol McCarthy has over forty years’ experience as a secondary classroom teacher, English department head, and researcher and lecturer at UniSC, and CQU in primary, secondary and post graduate contexts. She is a former consultant for Education Queensland, a Reading Recovery tutor, an Assistant Editor of Literacy Learning: The Middle Years, and presenter on literacy intervention and curriculum design. Carol has keen interest in working with students and teachers and administrators in developing the intervention practices required to assist primary and secondary students achieve language and literacy knowledge and skill. She has worked extensively with assessment and curriculum design.

Dr Noella Mackenzie is Associate Professor (adjunct) at Charles Sturt University. She has 40+ years of experience as an educator, and is recipient of a number of teaching and research awards. Noella is an ALEA Senior Fellow and past president of ALEA Riverina. She is an author, and editor of books, research papers and professional articles on literacy education. Noella has a particular interest in writing.

Professor Jessica Mantei is the National Head of School, Education and Acting Executive Dean, Faculty of Education, Philosophy and Theology at the University of Notre Dame Australia. Building on an extended classroom teaching career, Jessica’s research is underpinned by principles of social justice and her belief that education changes lives. She investigates pedagogies for literacy learning, teacher reflective capacities and professional identity, and children as text consumers and producers. Jessica received the ALEA Medal in 2023 and serves as Associate Editor, Australian Journal of Language and Literacy.

Dr Joanne O’Mara is Professor of Education and Chair of Secondary English Curriculum Inquiry units at Deakin University’s School of Education. Jo has taught English and Drama in urban, rural Australian and international schools. She researches all aspects of English curriculum, young people’s creation and usage of texts, innovative pedagogy, curriculum design and teaching practices. She is also investigating the sustainability of the English teaching professional including the conditions of teachers’ work. Jo has a long history of working with professional associations and is currently President of the Victorian Association for the Teaching of English (VATE).

Dr Jan Turbill is currently a Senior Honorary Fellow, University of Wollongong, School of Education. She is a Foundation member of and Treasurer for the Foundation for Learning and Literacy. A past President of the Australian Literacy Educators’ Association, Jan has been awarded ALEA Life Membership and ALEA Principal Fellow. Jan is also a Life Member of the Primary English Teaching Association Australia, a Fellow of the Australian College of Educators and an inducted member of the International Reading Hall of Fame.

Dr Mark Vicars is a Professor in the College of Arts and Education at Victoria University Melbourne, Australia. After 24 years of working in education in several countries in Primary, Secondary, Post-16 contexts, Mark has extensive international, multi-sector experience of teaching and learning in Australia and Asia. Mark's philosophy of praxis is underpinned by principles of social justice. He is also Honorary Adjunct Professor, Research Institute Languages and Cultures of Asia (RILCA) Mahidol University, Thailand, Honorary Adjunct Professor, Department of English, Arts & Commerce, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam, India and Research Fellow in the Institute for Sustainable Industries & Liveable Cities at Victoria University.

Ryan Bartok is a passionate literacy educator and advocate, currently serving as the Learning Specialist at a Victorian government primary school. With extensive experience in literacy leadership, Ryan has worked as the Master Literacy Trainer for the Academy of Teaching and Leadership’s Local Literacy Leaders Program, mentoring educators, and driving impactful literacy initiatives. A lifelong reader and advocate for literacy, Ryan is committed to nurturing a love for reading and writing in students, ensuring they develop the critical skills necessary for success in today’s world.

Dr Kate Halcrow has been a primary teacher, system and school leader and a head of primary in NSW and ACT public, independent and Catholic schools for more than 20 years. She is the founder of a national schools creative writing competition, Pens Against Poverty. Kate completed her PhD at the University of Sydney looking at the connections between writing and music in the classroom and is a lecturer in literacy, arts and curriculum at the University of Canberra.

Julie Shepherd has recently returned to the primary classroom teaching as Year 2 Teacher at at a Melbourne primary school. A former lecturer and literacy consultant, Julie is Vice President of the Australian Literacy Educators Association and is immediate Co-Treasurer and past State Director of ALEA Victoria. Julie has a particular interest in orthography/spelling.

Alex Wharton has a background in education having previously taught K-12 and worked as a school Principal. Alex’s work centres on empowering young people through language. He is currently a PhD candidate at Western Sydney University’s Institute of Culture and Society, with a research focus on family-based media practices in regional NSW. His current project considers the unique media literacy opportunities and challenges experienced by parents/caregivers in these diverse settings. Alex is particularly passionate about understanding the role of education in equipping families with the tools to critically engage with media in an increasingly digital world. He is also an Ambassador for Poetry in Action.