Allen Dickson is an educator & speaker with a passion for ensuring learning is innovative, practical and enjoyable. For over 20 years he has combined classroom teaching with appointments in various extra-curricular organisations where he uses a diverse range of skills to instil confidence, extend abilities and initiate change in classrooms. A regular with G.A.T.E.WAYS since 2012, Allen also runs his own educational consultancy – RethinkPD – where he speaks on a range of specialist issues (literacy, numeracy, thinking curricula, extension and enrichment, etc) both in schools and at conferences around the country.

Along with extensive Secondary teaching experience, Andrew has a Bachelor of Commerce and a Masters of Teaching. He brings extensive knowledge and skills to his G.A.T.E.WAYS workshops, with a passion for relating Maths to everyday life. With the right approach, he strongly believes that every student can thrive in Maths, with algebra and statistics being his favourite areas to unpack with students. Outside of the classroom, Andrew is a very enthusiastic AFL fan and loves reading and exercise. In his workshops, Andrew looks forward to challenging you and providing an opportunity to improve your Mathematical thinking skills.

Ben has nearly two decades of experience working in technology and related fields. He brings that experience to his long held passion for teaching children. He uses this Digital Technologies and Maths background to develop fun and engaging workshops that are anchored in real-world STEM based scenarios.

Cameron Semmens is an award-winning poet, entertainer and poetry educator with 21 books to his name and 27 years’ experience of sharing on the stage and the page. He makes his living through words: running workshops, de-signing books and performing live. He lives in the foggy, ferny forests of the Dandenong Ranges with his two young kids, Spencer and Mieka.

Jacob has completed a Bachelor of Aviation and a Masters of Teaching at the University of Melbourne. He is passionate about mathematics, digital technologies, positive education, and restorative justice. He believes firmly in firing imagination and inspiring interest in hands-on STEM education (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics). Jacob enjoys balancing his time between being outdoors on camping trips and plugging in to a variety of video games for enjoyment. He is looking forward to sharing his experiences, and creating exciting new learning opportunities.

Layla teaches English Literature to both primary and secondary school students. She is passionate about the need for writers to have the time to develop their writing skills by exploring a wide range of written and spoken texts from the past and present. Layla exhibits her own paintings and applies her training in the Arts to enable her writers to use art as a further source of inspiration. She has a firm belief in the capacity of children to think outside the box and her creative writing students from primary school to university have done just that. Layla delights in using technology and multimedia as texts as well as drawing on traditional literature.

Sean M Elliott is a writer and educator who has been working in science communication since 2001. He has written and presented education sessions for schools and community groups, and has worked for groups such as Museum Victoria, CSIRO, and Edinburgh International Science Festival. Sean has worked on science television shows, including scripting "Physics House" on ABC TV, and as a segment producer on "Scope" on Network Ten. He regularly runs holiday programs and science club events that have a strong focus on STEM skills. Sean lives in Melbourne with his son, and his favourite planet is Saturn.

Tim Byrne has been stuck on simple machines since he first worked at Scienceworks years ago. He hopes one day to move on to more complex machines like his printer, which often stops working for no apparent reason. He has a collection of simple machines and enjoys sharing and analysing their many talents. His favourite simple machine is a third class lever or straw broom that sends an egg flying into the air only to be saved by a glass of water. It still amazes him every time it works.

Tony is a motivational and dynamic presenter who has been involved in primary education for close on 40 years. As a classroom teacher, ICT Coordinator, Gifted and Talented teacher, Deputy and Head of School, Tony has a great interest in how children learn and he has a real passion for teaching STEM and in particular Mathematics and Coding. Always paramount in his planning and delivery is the relevance and connection of the tasks to today’s primary students. Over the past two decades he has published student and teacher texts on the Australian Curriculum: Mathematics for the middle and senior primary years. Tony has also taught coding and programming in other G.A.T.E.WAYS programs.

Joy is a teacher with over 35 years of teaching practise in both the USA and Australia. She has specialised in languages and has been the Teaching and Learning Leader and the Head of Primary in several schools. No longer working fulltime in schools, Joy is able to invest her time into special educational projects and presenting in the High Ability classroom.

Dannika Patterson is a Brisbane-based author and presenter with degrees in psychology and journalism. She has written numerous books for children including Jacaranda Magic, Scribbly Gum Secrets, Zoom and Hedgehog the Wonder Dog. Her children's book titles are used widely as resources in Australian homes & schools, helping open relatable conversations about important topics. Dannika enjoys visiting schools, libraries & festivals to share her books and story-driven workshops, where she uses her skills to educate, empower and inspire children in a warm, joyful way.

Hemanshi Galaiya is an entrepreneur, a PhD student, and a passionate educator. As a bioengineering PhD student at UQ, she is driven by curiosity and a mission to tackle global challenges such as climate change. With over a decade of leadership and project management experience, she has led initiatives as President of the Women in Engineering Student Society and was recognised as a '25 Under 25 Young Achiever' for her work in decentralising education. She also served on the RS Group Plc’s Fresh Advisors Board (2020–2022). Hemanshi is the founder and CEO of Young Stripes, a multi-award-winning experiential education and leadership initiative aimed at positively impacting STEM careers in Kenya. She has showcased her work on national and international platforms, including as a Finalist for the Falling Walls Lab 2023. Her impact has reached over 50,000 individuals globally and for this, she has been named as a 'Rising Impact Maker in Africa' at the Global Changemakers Awards and a Finalist for the ‘Global Student Prize’, leading to appearances in numerous newspapers in Australia and Kenya. Hemanshi's mission in life is to ensure every young person, regardless of background, is empowered to reach their full potential.

Jose Escobar brings a unique blend of engineering expertise and educational experience to G.A.T.E.WAYS. With a background in Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering from The University of Queensland and ongoing studies in Business Information Systems at Torrens University, Jose navigates the intersection of technology, innovation, and education with passion and ease. Passionate about nurturing young minds, Jose has extensive experience in teaching gifted students, having facilitated entrepreneurship workshops and designed educational programs for high school students through the University of Queensland. His teaching approach is grounded in creativity, inquiry-based learning, and real-world applications, making complex concepts accessible and engaging for gifted learners. Jose's engineering background spans multiple high-impact industries, beginning with aerospace and defense, where he gained insights into systems engineering and advanced technologies. His experience extends to renewable energy, where he contributed to the development of sustainable energy systems and automation technologies. Additionally, his work in the mining and resource sector involved optimizing complex industrial processes through innovative solutions. Jose’s exposure to cutting-edge research centers and high-tech environments has sharpened his problem-solving skills and nurtured his passion for technological innovation. This diverse technical expertise, combined with his experience in educational program design, allows him to create immersive and intellectually stimulating learning experiences that challenge and inspire gifted students. By integrating real-world engineering applications into his workshops, Jose empowers students to think critically, solve problems creatively, and explore the limitless possibilities of science and technology. Outside of teaching, Jose is an avid learner himself, with interests spanning neuroscience, nutrition, and personal development. When he isn’t imparting his knowledge to G.A.T.E.WAYS participants, he enjoys listening to podcasts, playing the guitar, and exploring innovative solutions at the crossroads of technology and education.

Murray’s an engineering technologist from Toowoomba with a background in education, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, permaculture, construction and technical writing. While living in Brazil, he created and delivered a series of sustainable development workshops for school children and taught English. Since then, Murray has been expanding into STEAM education with a particular interest in critical and creative thinking. His 2024 book A Forest Child Adventure: Conquering Carbon Chaos fuses powerful poetry and detailed drawings in a cross-curricular resource for all ages teaching systems thinking and wellbeing. www.aforestchildadventure.com In his spare time, Murray is producing an animated film based on this book. He’s the organiser of Creatives Community in Brisbane, plays a shakuhachi, and dabbles in traditional arts and crafts.

Yvonne Mes is a contradiction; she is both book creator and book devourer. After a long career working with children of all ages, abilities and from diverse background, Yvonne writes and illustrates stories for children with curious minds. She loves to write both fiction and nonfiction and her books have been published in Australia and internationally. Her latest nonfiction picture book is The Opal Dinosaur published by CSIRO and illustrated by Sylvia Morris. Two of her picture books have been shortlisted for the Speech Pathology Book of the Year Awards. She is studying a Master of Arts in Writing and Literature. Yvonne has over 20 years of experience working with children of all ages, abilities and cultures. She has a Bachelor of Children's Services and qualifications in Professional Children's Writing and Visual Arts.

Kate is a writer and science content communicator with a passion for teaching critical thinking and scientific method. As an experienced gifted and talented program developer, Kate has made it her mission to foster inquisitiveness and logical thought in children. She is excited about encouraging young minds to think outside the box and develop a process to problem solve.

Michael is a highly experienced educator with a Bachelor of Psychology, who produces workshops using story, song and role play to engage curious minds. Michael’s observational nature, dynamic thinking and improvisation skills, enable him to optimise each student's learning, ensuring they gain the most from challenging, highly stimulating tasks, and deep critical and creative thinking opportunities. Michael enjoys stimulating minds with thought provoking activities and is passionate about creating a path for future generations to think “out of this world”.

Katrina Sims has Bachelor’s degree majoring in Gifted Education and a Master’s degree in Gifted Education. She has Tutored University Preservice Students in Gifted Education and presented workshops to teachers at Australian and International Gifted and Talented Conferences on classroom practices for Gifted Students. Katrina established and for fourteen years taught a fulltime gifted class for students in Years 4 to 6 in the ACT. She is a recipient of a National Excellence in Teaching Award. Katrina is a passionate teacher of Gifted and Talented students.

Margrete Lamond is an author, editor and publisher, who has worked with government, multinational and independent children’s publishers. As a publisher, Margrete has published hundreds of books written and illustrated by others, many of which have won awards. She began her publishing career at Scholastic Press in 2002, was publisher at Little Hare Books from 2006 to 2017, and is now Publisher at Dirt Lane Press. As an author, she has had more than 20 of her own works published by a range of publishers, most notably The Sorry Tale of Fox and Bear (short-listed for the NSW Premier’s Literary Award 2017) and Just One Bee (Honour Book for the CBCA Picture Book of the Year 2022). Her latest book is The Paper-flower Girl. Margrete holds a master’s degree in children’s literature, where she explored the connections between neuroscience and storytelling.

Susanne Williams is an accomplished educator with a strong dedication to nurturing the intellectual growth of high-potential students in the fields of science and technology. With a master's degree in teaching and a Bachelor of Science in Biology and Geography, she has dedicated her career to inspiring students and fostering their critical thinking skills. Holding founding roles such as STEM Integrator and Junior School Science and Technology Specialist, Susanne has written engaging and customised programs, while also orchestrating STEM clubs and Science Week events tailored to the unique needs of high-achieving learners. Her unwavering sense of purpose in advancing education, coupled with her continuous commitment to learning and adaptability, underscores her reputation as an innovative educator who leaves an indelible mark on the growth and development of gifted students in the realm of science education.

Mary Ann is an experienced educator with over 30 years of teaching and educational leadership, specialising in the development and coordination of innovative programs for gifted and talented students from Prep to Year 12. With postgraduate studies in Gifted Education, she held key roles including Head of Extension Programs where she designed and delivered programs for students with high ability and ran gifted workshops for primary students. A member of several gifted education associations, Mary Ann is passionate about empowering students to realise their potential, nurturing their growth and igniting a lifelong love of learning—because there’s nothing more exciting than seeing young minds light up and discover new possibilities!