2025 FEATURED SPEAKERS
Noor Azizah
Co-Founder & Director
Rohingya Women’s Network
Presentation
Thursday, Opening Plenary: 10:15 – 11:10 am
Bio
Noor Azizah, a Rohingya refugee, has transformed her lived experiences of statelessness and displacement into a powerful platform for advocacy and education. Fleeing the genocide in Myanmar, Noor resettled in Sydney at the age of eight, navigating immense challenges, including homelessness and hardship.
Today, Noor is the co-founder and director of the Rohingya Maìyafuìnor Collaborative Network, a women-led, Rohingya-led, and refugee-led organisation focused on human rights, gender-based violence, education, and translocal solidarity. She holds a Bachelor of Education (TESOL) and a Master of Peace and Conflict Studies from the University of Sydney.
Her contributions to refugee rights and gender advocacy have earned her multiple accolades, including NSW Young Women of the Year 2024, Global Citizen Youth Leader Award 2024, and recognition as a 2025 NSW Young Australian of the Year finalist. Noor has engaged in global policy discussions, serving as a refugee expert at the 2023 Global Refugee Forum and a delegate at the United Nations in Geneva. She also sits on Australia’s Refugee Advisory Panel and contributes to UNHCR and UN Women initiatives.
A sought-after speaker, Noor has shared the stage with UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador Cate Blanchett, human rights activist Craig Foster, and UN leaders, reinforcing her commitment to systemic change.
Currently, she is an English as a Second Dialect Specialist teacher in Sydney and an advisor across multiple boards. Beyond her work, she enjoys learning languages, traveling, and exploring waterfalls.
Noor’s story is a testament to resilience, leadership, and the power of education in driving change.
Professor Tanya Buchanan
BA(Hons), BSc(Nsg), DipPM, MBA, PhD, GAICD
Chair of the NEAS Board, NEAS Australia
Bio
Prof Buchanan is CEO of Dementia Australia. She has held previous CEO roles with Cancer Council Australia, the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand and Action on Smoking and Health in Wales (UK). In 2022, Prof Buchanan was made an Honorary Professor of Practice in the School of Health and Society (Public Health) at the University of Wollongong.
Professor Buchanan studied Nursing at Curtin University of Technology and an MBA in Health Services at Edith Cowan University. She also holds a PhD and a range of qualifications including governance qualifications from the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD).
Professor Buchanan commenced her career as a Registered Nurse with clinical work in neuroscience, and has worked in health, academia, local government and the voluntary sector.
She is active in public health research and practice.
Presentation
Welcome from the NEAS Board
Thursday, 10:10 – 11:15 am
The Chair of the NEAS Board will officially open the 2025 NEAS Conference by welcoming delegates and acknowledging the ELT community gathered at the UTS Aerial Function Centre.
David Ferguson
Director of International and Accommodation Operations, John Paul College
Bio
David Ferguson has been working in the International Education and Training (IET) industry since 2007, beginning his career as an English as a Second Language teacher. With a wealth of experience both abroad and in Australia, David leads John Paul College’s international operations and John Paul International College.
After joining John Paul College in 2016 managing international study groups, David served as the Deputy Head of International Operations from 2019 to 2022. In 2023, David was appointed as Director, John Paul International College.
Presentation
School Accommodation: Rethinking Homestay
Friday, 9:25 – 10:00 am
Over the years, I have heard the same pain points and challenges raised about homestay programs. These come from agents, parents, students and the staff charged with administering this important accommodation option. Homestay experiences are quintessentially unique for each student, which is what makes them such special experiences. But, it is these variables that can cause challenges.
A sense of belonging and safety is constantly ranked amongst the highest concerns and needs of Overseas Students and their parents. During a time of increasing costs of doing business, implementing wellbeing and belonging initiatives outside of class hours is challenging. Providers who can genuinely deliver on this are successful, and accommodation is the key to success.
This presentation will share how John Paul College chose to rethink homestay to deliver excellent accommodation operations, creating a culture of belonging across a linguistically, culturally and age-diverse student population.
Melinda Hatton
Director, Tuition Protection Service (TPS)
Bio
The Tuition Protection Service Director is a statutory position created under the Commonwealth legislation. Melinda is responsible for the delivery and maintenance of the long-term sustainability of the Tuition Protection Service.
Melinda has held several senior roles in the Department of Employment, Skills, Small and Family Business, with extensive knowledge in operational policy and program management in employment services.
Melinda has also worked across a broad range of public policy issues, including regional skills policy, implementation of the National Quality Framework for early childhood education, and the implementation of the National Economic Stimulus Plan Primary Schools for the 21st Century.
Presentation
Panel: Government Voices
Thursday, 4:00 – 4:45 pm
Megan Huber
Assistant Head of Faculty Diverse Learning (EAL/D)/Subject Coordinator English for EAL Learners, St Laurence’s College
Bio
Megan Huber is the current Assistant Head of Faculty for Diverse Learning specialising in EAL/D Case Management and the Subject Coordinator for English for EAL Learners at St Laurence’s College in South Brisbane. She is also the current Chief Confirmer and Subject Matter Expert for English for EAL Learners for the Queensland Curriculum Assessment Authority as well as a Lead Trainer Marker for the External English Exams.
Megan started her teacher career in London and Essex and has been teaching in a variety of state, private and catholic schools in Brisbane specialising in EAL/D practices for over 18 years. Megan has held positions such as Head of International Students at St Laurence’s College and Academic Manager of ELICOS (HSP Programs) at Canterbury College. Megan has a passion for applied linguistics, English language curriculum design and assessment as well as quality assurance across these domains.
For Megan, collaboration is key when it comes to the advocacy of young English language learners in our Australian curriculum.
Presentation
Professional Learning Teams – Creating a Supportive Community with ELT and Mainstream Teachers of EAL/D Students
Friday, 9:25 – 10:00 am
Within the hectic and ever transforming world of teaching and learning, supporting immerging ELT teachers as well as mainstream Australian curriculum teachers with EAL/D students in their classrooms can be problematic and the fear of the ‘one size fits all’ model continues. EAL/D teachers, directors, and advocates in schools rarely get the time and space to assist emerging teachers in this space as well as mainstream teachers in the way they would like, and the ongoing frustrations continue. In my current school context, we developed a way to address these issues through the use of Professional Learning Teams (PLT) to:
- enhance teacher capabilities within EAL/D practices
- allow ownership with EAL/D strategies being developed by mainstream staff
- providing practical and visual models provided to staff to allow the support to be recognised and certainly not forgotten
- engage students in reflective practice and to provide opportunities for them to lead staff development
My presentation will explore the project work of the ‘EAL/D PLT’ in our schooling context and explore how the meetings process, trail resources, lesson observations and reflections have increased EAL/D student performance in the classroom and how mainstream teachers are taking over as the advocates and promoting excellent practice in classrooms. I will explore how educators can establish a PLT in their school or language learning institute through an inquiry focus – creating a PLT action plan that states the student-centered goal, the strategies that will be implemented to attain the goal and the evidence that will be collected to help the team measure the impact and evaluate progress.
Adam Kilburn
Chief Executive Officer, NEAS Australia
Bio
Adam Kilburn, CEO of NEAS Australia, brings over 30 years of experience in the English Language Teaching (ELT) sector.
Adam has held management roles across academic, marketing, and general operations, including managing a CELTA centre and overseeing a multi-campus operation in Vietnam.
With an MA in Language and Literacy and an MBA, Adam combines academic expertise with practical insights to drive business improvement and foster collaboration within the ELT industry.
Presentation
Welcome and Housekeeping – NEAS
Thursday, 10:00 – 10:05 am
NEAS CEO Address
Friday, 3:35 – 4:00 pm
William Nguyen
NSW International Student Ambassador, Study NSW
Bio
William Nguyen is a student leader, speaker and passionate advocate for international students, dedicated to fostering belonging and building inclusive communities. Arriving in Australia at 15 with no English, he understands the challenges of navigating a new country.
Now a third-year Education/Media Arts student at UNSW, he has spoken to over 7,000 people at universities and conferences, serving as an MC and guest speaker.
Recognised for his leadership, he has won the Australian Defence Force Youth Leadership Award and the UNSW Student Experience Award.
He is the Founder and President of the UNSW International Students Association, an undergraduate representative on the UNSW Academic Board, and an NSW International Student Ambassador for the NSW Government and NSW Department of Education, championing diversity, student empowerment and stronger pathways to belonging.
Presentation
Panel: International Student Voices-From Voices
Arrival to Belonging: An International Student’s Story in Australia
Thursday, 2:30 – 3:30 pm
Ogunbodede Olaitan MD
Medical Practitioner, NSW Health
Bio
Olaitan Temitope Ogunbodede is a medical practitioner with NSW health and holds a doctoral degree in Immunology from the University of Sydney.
He arrived in Australia about half a decade ago as an international student from Nigeria on a Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade international Scholarships. He has since transitioned to the workplace serving the community with his skills and passion as well as volunteering to enrich international student experience.
Olaitan was named by the NSW government’s Study NSW as the 2023 International student of the year – Higher education category.
Presentation
Panel: International Student Voices-From Voices
Arrival to Belonging: An International Student’s Story in Australia
Thursday, 2:30 – 3:30 pm
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