Foundation Members

FOUNDATION MEMBERS

Foundation Patron: Brian Cambourne

Principal Honorary Fellow, University of Wollongong, School of Education

Inducted into Reading Hall of Fame

Former Fullbright Scholar

Former Post-Doctoral Fellow at Harvard University Graduate School of Education

Recipient International Year of Literacy Medal for 'Contributions to Australian Literacy Education'

Recipient Ethel Hayton Award by the University of Wollongong for Services to the Community

Recipient Inaugural Garth Boomer Award of Australian Reading Association

Life member National Council Teachers of English (USA)

Recipient International Reading Association's Gray Citation of Merit

Life Membership Primary English Teaching Association of Australia (PETAA)

Co-chair: Jo Padgham

ALEA Life Member

ALEA Principal Fellow

Honorary Fellow of the Australian Council of Educational Leadership

ACT Women's Honour Roll

Co-chair: Robyn Ewing AM

Professor Emerita, Sydney School of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney

Co-Director of the Creative Research, Engaging the Arts, Transforming Education (CREATE) Centre

Co-Director Big Sky Stories

Honorary Associate, Sydney Theatre Company

Former President of ALEA; Principal Fellow ALEA

Visiting Scholar, Barking Gecko Theatre

Former President of PETAA; Life Member of PETAA

Executive: Chris Topfer

Long career in education as an early childhood teacher, literacy coach, school leader and policy writer

ALEA Past Vice President

Awarded ALEA Life Membership and ALEA Principal Fellow

Recipient of the AITSL Award for Excellence in Teaching and School Leadership and Australian Professional Teachers Association Meritorious Contribution to the Profession Award

Literacy consultant

Executive: Joanne Rossbridge
>   Over 25 years experience in primary and secondary schools as a teacher, EAL/D teacher and consultant
>   Language and Literacy Consultant across Australia
>   Authored and co-authored several articles and publications on language and literacy
>   Experience on professional association boards

Executive: Julie Shepherd

Literacy consultant, nationally and internationally

Author of teacher reference books

ALEA Victorian State Director

Primary teacher

Executive: Kathy Rushton

Honorary Lecturer School of Education and Social Work University of Sydney

An experienced primary and secondary EAL/D teacher

Interested in the impact of professional learning on the development of language and literacy and the development of translanguaging for students learning English as an additional language or dialect

Executive: Kate Halcrow

Over 20 years experience as a head of primary, curriculum leader and classroom teacher in NSW and ACT Independent Anglican, Catholic and public schools

Founder and former director of ‘Pens Against Poverty’ schools writing competition (ACT/ NSW)

Academic lecturer and tutor at the University of Sydney and University of Canberra

ALEA member

Committee: Wendy Bean (founding member)

More than 40 years in education as teacher, school executive, literacy consultant and casual university lecturer

Held positions on ALEA Sydney North local council and ALEA national council

ALEA Principal Fellow

ALEA Principal Fellow and recipient of the ALEA Medal

Authored and co-authored several articles and publications in the areas of spelling and writing

Committee: Jantiena Batt

Experienced early childhood teacher who has worked across settings

Literacy Coach

ALEA Medal recipient

Authored and co-authored several articles and publications on language and literacy

ALEA Senior Fellow

Committee: Kelly Booker

Experienced teacher, Literacy Advisor, Instructional Mentor, school and system leader and currently a Principal of an early childhood school

Presented both nationally and locally in the areas of literacy, engagement and quality play-based learning

Using quality picture books to support learning is a passion, as well as building capability in leaders and teachers

Executive member of an ALEA Local Council

Committee: Robyn Cox

More than 35 years in education as school teacher and as an Initial Teacher Education academic across 4 countries

Held executive committee positions on United Kingdom Literacy Association (UKLA) and Primary English Teacher Association (PETAA)

Immediate past President of PETAA; life member PETAA

Authored, edited and co-authored books and research papers on language and literacy education

Experience in governance at University and school system governing boards

Committee: Annette Woods

Professor in the Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice at Queensland University of Technology

Research interests: literacies; curriculum, pedagogy, assessment, social justice

Chief Investigator on the Australian Research Council Centre for the Digital Child. and school reform

Taught across early childhood, primary and adult literacy contexts

Recently President of Australian Association for Researchers in Educations (2017-2018)

A long history of engaging with professional associations

Committee: Mark Vicars

Associate Professor in Education, Victoria University

Honorary Adjunct Professor, Research Institute for Languages and Cultures of Asia (RILCA) Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Australian Learning and Teaching Council Citation for Outstanding Contributions to Student Learning, Excellence in Teaching

Lead Editor, Qualitative Research Journal Emerald Publishers

Series Editor, Praxis of English Language Teaching, Brill/ Sense.s

Past President International Association of Qualitative Research

Committee: Lynne Bury

Long career in education as a primary teacher, assistant principal, consultant in primary and secondary schools, project officer and policy writer

Author and co-author of articles and teacher reference materials on language and literacy

Former ALEA Victoria State Director

Recipient of the ALEA Medal

Academic lecturer and tutor

Committee: Jan Turbill (founding member)

Senior Honorary Fellow, University of Wollongong, School of Education

Life Member and Principal Fellow ALEA

Life member PETAA

Fellow of Australian College of Educators

Inducted Member Reading Hall of Fame

Member of several Journal Editorial Boards, including Journal of Early Childhood Literacy, Language Arts and Reading Teacher

Committee: Noella Mackenzie

> Associate Professor (adjunct) at Charles Sturt University and Literacy Consultant

> More than forty years in education as a teacher, consultant, academic and researcher

> Author, editor and co-author of books, research papers and professional articles on language and literacy education

> ALEA Senior Fellow and past president of ALEA Riverina Murray

> Joint winner of the UKLA/Wiley Research in Literacy Education Award (2021)

> Recipient of Office of Learning and Teaching (OLT), citation for outstanding contribution to student learning . . . use of contemporary literacies

Committee: Wendy Cave

> Primary School Principal, ACT

> Professional collaborator through membership of the International Confederation of Principals and ALEA ACT

> Immediate Past President of ACT Principals Association, the Australian Government Primary Principals Executive, and APPA National Council

> Honorary Fellow, Australian Council of Educational Leaders

> Co Recipient of Global Service Design Network Award: Systemic Change in Education and author of associated research, for Principals Australia

> Deeply invested in Intergenerational pursuits and the place of the Arts in cultivating general capabilities within active and informed citizens

Committee: Carol McCarthy-Smith

> Over forty years experience as a classroom teacher, researcher and head of department in Queensland Catholic, and state schools.

> Lecturer in Education Language and Literacy at the University of the Sunshine Coast and previously at Central Qld University

> Associate Editor for the Australian Literacy Middle Years Journal (ALEA).

> Author, and co-author of texts, and research articles on English teaching and learning.

> Presenter at local and international schools and universities on language and literacy intervention practices.

> Consultant for Education Qld, Reading Recovery tutor, and presenter on literacy intervention.

> Assistant Chief Examiner Senior English for Education Qld.

Committee: Jessica Mantei

> Associate Professor, Deputy Head of School, School of Education, University of Wollongong

> Researcher and educator in Language and Literacy

> Research interests: pedagogies for literacy learning, teacher reflective capacities and professional identity, children as consumers and producers of text

> Associate Editor, Australian Journal of Language and Literacy

> ALEA Medal Recipient 2023

Committee: Ryan Bartok
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.

Committee: Tamara Bromley
Tamara Bromley has worked for many years in the WA public primary school education system regionally as teacher, education leader in schools and system leader. She is a member of Australian Literacy Educators’ Association (ALEA), Primary English Teaching Association of Australia (PETAA) and Early Childhood Australia (ECA). She has long-held interests in early literacy development and advocates for quality literacy teaching that is research based, particularly in the early years.

Committee: Jee-Hue Kim
Jee Kim is a teacher who is working in the public education system in NSW. She is an educator who is passionate about building teacher capacity in best practice pedagogy, implementing inquiry based teaching practices and enhancing student agency and voice in order to increase student engagement and outcomes. She has a deep interest in the areas of learning, literacy, and strategies that enhance student engagement.

Committee: Jo O’Mara

> Professor, School of Education, Faculty of Arts and Education, Deakin University

> Taught English and Drama in urban, rural Australian and international schools

> Research interests: issues to secondary subject English teaching and teachers’ work;young people’s creation and use of texts; innovative pedagogy and curriculum design; the policies and pedagogies of teachers’ work; new literacies studies and the Arts

> A long history of working with professional associations, currently President of VATE

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