Organising Committee
Dr Judith Howard
Associate Professor, School of Early Childhood and Inclusive Education, Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice, Queensland University of Technology
Associate Professor Judith Howard is a national leader in Trauma-Aware Education in Australia, with important international reach. Judith comes from an extensive career and experience within government schooling in Queensland. She has worked as a teacher, school counsellor and student behaviour specialist and has held both regional and state leadership positions with the Queensland Education Department. Judith’s work has always had a keen focus on addressing the concerns faced by young learners living with the outcomes of complex trauma and the people working hard to educate them. She promotes a neuroscience-informed approach – to which she believes every educator needs access. Judith oversees pre-service and post-graduate teacher education in Trauma-Aware Education at QUT (including the popular, “Graduate Certificate in Trauma-Aware Education”) and has developed online courses that are reaching thousands nationally and internationally. She supervises a growing number of PhD students who are adding to the research evidence base for Trauma-Aware Education. She is the author of the popular book: “Distressed or Deliberately Defiant: Managing Challenging Student Behaviour due to Trauma and Disorganised Attachment (2013) and her more recent publication, “Trauma-Aware Education” Essential Information and Guidance for Educators, Education Sites and Education Systems” (2022). Judith continues to be busy researching, writing, speaking and training, and developing resources to advance Trauma-Aware Education across Australia.
Dr Meegan Brown
School of Early Childhood and Inclusive Education, Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice, Queensland University of Technology
Dr Meegan Brown is a senior lecturer and the Study Area Co-ordinator of the Master of Education School Guidance and Counselling at QUT. Her research includes trauma-informed schooling, rural and remote education, educators experiences of working with students living with the effects of trauma, and School Guidance and Counselling. Meegan has over 20 years of experience working as teacher (early childhood, primary, secondary), small school principal, Guidance Officer and Senior Guidance Officer.
Dr Lyra L’Estrange
School of Early Childhood and Inclusive Education, Faculty of Creative Industries, Education and Social Justice, Queensland University of Technology
Dr Lyra L’Estrange is a senior lecturer in the School of Early Childhood and Inclusive Education at QUT. Lyra’s research and teaching in trauma-aware education contributes to redefining support systems for children and adolescents living with the outcomes of complex trauma and significant adversity. Lyra uses her research experience in public health to translate trauma-informed principles into the education space, supporting learning and development and advocating for the wellbeing of staff and students. Lyra teaches undergraduate and post-graduate units in trauma-aware education and supervises several research students investigating trauma-informed practice across different contexts. She is currently leading research investigating trauma-informed pedagogy in tertiary education.
Business Partner
Ben Sacco
Managing Director (Education Economy) & Author - "Disruption in Schools"
With more than 20 years of experience in Education, Ben Sacco works with schools and education systems to create the conditions for quality teaching, engaged learning and whole school wellbeing.
Ben is an education specialist and Author of ‘Disruption in Schools: Understand me before you mark me!’. He works with schools, teachers and principals to tackle issues like teacher burnout, retention and student behaviour.
Many of his strategies to improve behaviour and classroom dynamics in schools are grounded in a deep understanding of neuroscience, child development and psychology.
Ben is the Managing Director of Education Economy, an education consulting business focused on ensuring that education professionals do not face diminished health and wellbeing outcomes as an outcome of doing what they love!
Ben is also a Director of Edufor, the EdTech arm of Education Economy, delivering education technology solutions created by educators, for educators.
Ben is also a children’s author of two books titled, “There’s a Spider in my Tummy” and “There’s a Buzzing Bee in my Head”, which both deal with a lot of the angst that young children can feel in unfamiliar situations.
Ben gets to know people and their stories and is passionate about advocating for change and refined practice. He brings both a systems perspective and frontline experience, which allows him to take a balanced approach to improving organisational efficiency, workforce productivity and employee quality of life.
