The Sydney Opera HousePlay Award

Pasi Sahlberg is an author, scholar and educator who has worked as a mathematics and science teacher, teacher-educator, researcher and policy-maker in Finland. He has studied education systems and advised on education system reforms around the world, publishing over 170 academic and professional articles and 22 books on the topic. His most recent book is Let the Children Play! How more play will save our schools and help children thrive (with William Doyle, 2019). He has held numerous advisory roles in international organisations like the World Bank, the European Training Foundation, and has been an education policy expert to the OECD, European Commission and Finnish Governments Foreign Ministry and numerous others. 

His research concludes that Australia has schools that are up there with the best in the world, but we tolerate a system where some students experience significant disadvantages. Professor Sahlberg wants to initiate a conversation with the Australian community about how this disparity can be addressed, leading dialogues on international standards, policy and the importance of play for children. He is currently the Professor of educational leadership at the University of Melbourne.

Kathy Hirsh-Pasek, a Professor of Psychology at Temple University, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institute and a Visiting Professor at Oxford University, was declared a “scientific entrepreneur” from the American Association of Psychology.  Writing 17 books and 250+ publications, she served as President of the International Congress for Infant Studies, was on the Governing Board of the Society for Research in Child Development and is on the board of Zero to Three.  Her Einstein Never Used Flashcards won the Book for a Better Life Award in 2003 with her Becoming Brilliant (2016) reaching The New York Times Best Sellers List in education. Her newest book Making Schools Work (Nov. 2022) is the first education book co-written with teachers, administrators and scientists. It already sparked a national grant to re-imagine education. Hirsh-Pasek won awards from every psychological and educational society for her basic science and translational work designed to bridge basic science and educational impact. 

Malcolm Elliott is the immediate past president of the Australian Primary Principals Association. He is a state and national Fellow of the Australian Council for Education Leaders. He has served as a member of the boards of the Australian Secondary Principals Association and the Australian Institute for Teaching and School Leadership. He is a regular media commentator on education at state and national levels and has recently contributed as an expert advisor to the Australian Education Research Organisation, the Grattan Institute, and as a member of the expert panel of the national review of Quality Initial Teacher Education.

Dr Amie Fabry is a passionate early childhood educator, researcher, speaker and facilitator who is committed to empowering early childhood leaders to transform pedagogical practice. As Director of Early Childhood at The Learning Future, Amie uses a strengths-based approach to build the confidence, knowledge and skills of early childhood educators, teachers and leaders to create responsive and trusting cultures in which educators and children can thrive. She is the author of Lead with Intention, the first framework for leading pedagogical practice in the early years of school

Ali Gordon is a physical comedian and theatre maker who strives to connect audiences with heart and humour. Since graduating in 2002 from the Flinders University Drama Centre as an actor and director, she has worked as an Artist in Service: in pursuit of joy and levity. Ali co-founded Drop Bear Theatre, who subsequently created ten new theatre works for Young Audiences. She has worked with Patch Theatre Company and Windmill Performing Arts. Also a highly skilled therapeutic clown, Ali is one of only a handful of performers in Australia who specialise in the context of dementia and aged care. Her most recent theatre credits include Director: Cardinal Rules (Hurrah Hurrah) and Titania Night’s Dream (Merrigong Theatre Company). For Young Audiences, Ali’s one woman clown show Holiday Island has toured nationally. She worked presenting interactive online theatre experiences The Clown is Sad and The Lighthouse Keeper’s Lunch. She is now pursuing radical optimism in outdoor performances with Gordon & Gonzalez: Artists in Public Places.