2025 CONFERENCE PROGRAM

THURSDAY, 22 MAY 2025

9:30-10:00 am

Sponsored by

Arrival Tea and Coffee

10:00-10:05 am

Welcome and Housekeeping – NEAS

Adam Kilburn

Chief Executive Officer

NEAS Australia

10:05-10:10 am

Welcome to Country

Yvonne Weldon

Independent Councillor

City of Sydney

10:10-10:15 am

Welcome from the NEAS Board

Prof. Tanya Buchanan

Chair of the NEAS Board

NEAS Australia

10:15-10:20am

Welcome from the Conference Premium Sponsor

Stephanie Bethencourt

Global Stakeholder Engagement Manager

IDP Education

10:20-11:10 am

Opening Plenary

Mehdi Sina

ASRC Speaker

11:10-11:30 am

Sponsored by

Morning Tea

11:30-12:30 pm

Keynote Session

The Need for Oracy in the Age of AI

Cathy Jones

Assessment Development Specialist

LanguageCert

12:30-1:30 pm

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Buffet Lunch and Networking

1:30am-2:30 pm

Keynote Session

AI Agents in the English Language Sector: Our New Robotic Colleagues

Jarrad Merlo

AI Product Manager

Pearson

2:30-3:30 pm

Panel: International Student Voices

Arrival to Belonging: An International Student’s Story in Australia

Ogunbodede Olaitan MD

Medical Practitioner

NSW Health

William Nguyen

NSW International Student Ambassador

Study NSW

3:30-4:00 pm

Sponsored by

Afternoon Tea

4:00-4:45 pm

Panel: Government Voices

Carmen Basilicata

Executive Director, Integrity Branch

Australian Skills Quality Authority (ASQA)

Jen Bahen

Executive Director, Regulatory Operations

Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency (TEQSA)

Melinda Hatton

Director

Tuition Protection Service (TPS)

4:45-5:00 pm

New Endorsements Ceremony

5:00-6:00 pm

Networking Drinks and Canapes

FRIDAY, 23 MAY 2025

9:00-9:20 am

Sponsored by

Arrival Tea and Coffee

9:20-9:25 am

Welcome Back and Housekeeping – NEAS

9:25-10:00 am

Professional Learning Teams – Creating a Supportive Community with ELT and Mainstream Teachers of EAL/D Students

Megan Huber

St Laurence’s College

School Accomodation: Rethinking Homestay

David Ferguson

John Paul College

David Bycroft

AHN

Iori Forsyth

Study NSW

Leanne Harrison MAICD, IEAA-AF

Australian Institute of Company Directors (AICD)

10:00-10:35 am

Leadership in ELT: Creating Cultures of Belonging in university English language centres

Zoe Hancock

Southern Cross University (SCU)

Building Bridges: Fostering Belonging Through Peer-Driven Engagement in International Education

Emma Currie

Pearson

Tatia Pittham

Allianz Partners Australia

Varsha Devi Balakrishnan

Voyage

Debora Lima

ILSC

10:35-11:00 am

Morning Tea

11:00 am-12:00 pm

Empowering EAL Learners – Pathways into the Real World

Zoe Repse

Swinburne University

Finding your place when you don’t belong

Leisl Bruhn

Ivanhoe Grammar School

Jo Kwai

John Paul College

Vanessa Newbery

Hills International College

12:00-1:00 pm

Sponsored by

Buffet Lunch and Networking

1:00-1:35 pm

A Transnational Delivery Experience: The ongoing development of a General English Program for university students in China following NEAS Quality Area M guidelines

Savvas Papandony

Australian Academy of Commerce

Whole-person and in-community learning and support as a basis for enabling student success

Jo Kwai
John Paul College

Ash Moor

UQ College

Jane Roberts

Sarina Russo Institute

1:35-2:05 pm

From Classroom to Community: SPC Cairns’ 25-Year Commitment to Belonging

Dr Susan Delahunty

Sun Pacific College

Building resilient communities through English language programs

Vlasta Gunning

Navitas Skilled Futures

Grace Nabhan

Navitas Skilled Futures

2:05-2:35 pm

Afternoon Tea

2:35-3:35 pm

Closing Plenary

Luke Kennedy

Keynote Speaker

3:35-4:00 pm

NEAS CEO Address

Adam Kilburn

Chief Executive Officer

NEAS Australia

4:00-5:00 pm

Sponsored by

Networking Drinks and Canapes

Please note, all times are Australian Eastern Standard Time (AEST)