About Us
National Council Members
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PRESIDENT |
Initially a primary teacher, Robyn Ewing is Professor of Teacher Education and the Arts in the Faculty of Education and Social Work, University of Sydney, where she works with both pre-service and postgraduate teachers. Robyn’s teaching, research and extensive publications include a focus on the use of drama strategies with literature to enhance children’s English and literacy learning. Teacher education, especially the experiences of early career teachers and the role of mentoring, sustaining curriculum innovation and evaluation, inquiry and case based learning and the use of arts informed inquiry in educational research are also current research interests. Robyn has a commitment to innovative teaching and learning at all levels of education and particularly enjoys working with educators interested in reforming their curriculum practices. |
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VICE PRESIDENT |
Christine Topfer has been an active member of ALEA since 1987 and was the State Director for Tasmania for 8 years before taking up the position of National Council Vice President in 2005. Christine is currently working as an English/literacy facilitator for a professional learning inquiry project in Hobart. Christine has extensive experience as an educator with roles which have included early childhood educator, literacy consultant, Principal Educational Review Officer and lecturer at the University of Tasmania. She has published many journal articles in the area of early literacy and has recently published a book, titled Guiding Thinking for Effective Spelling. |
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VICE PRESIDENT |
Jo Padgham has had a long involvement with ALEA in the ACT and has been a teacher, school leader and principal in ACT government schools for over thirty years. Jo is currently Manager of Literacy and Numeracy for the ACT Department of Education and Training. Jo represents ALEA National Council on the National Education Forum and co-ordinated ALEA National Council’s STELLA Project in 2006. With Christine Topfer, Jo co-ordinates the ALEA Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander early educator mentoring project and has co-ordinated ALEA’s outreach work with East Timor. Jo has published journal articles in the area of literacy portfolios, student reflection, writing and reading. |
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PUBLICATIONS DIRECTOR |
Marion Meiers is a Senior Research Fellow at the Australian Council for Educational Research, where she has directed national and state-based research projects. Her research interests lie in English and literacy education and teachers’ professional learning. She has held teaching and leadership positions in Victorian schools, regions and the Education Department. Prior to joining ACER Marion worked in national roles, including the role of Executive Officer for the Australian Literacy Federation. She has lectured in teacher education, and has an extensive record of publications. Marion has contributed actively to national English and literacy teacher professional associations throughout her career. |
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SECRETARY/BUSINESS MANAGER |
Wendy Rush oversees the various activities of the ALEA National Office in Adelaide. With the support of Lucy Carberry and Penelope North, she manages all aspects of ALEA business including membership, finances, web development, marketing, permissions and copyright issues and the ALEA bookshop. Wendy also provides a range of support services to the ALEA Executive members and State Directors. She has more than twenty years experience in professional association management, has international business qualifications and holds a BA in Communications (Media and Children's Literature) from the University of South Australia. |
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Carolie Wilson is Deputy Principal of Ainslie School in the ACT. She is also a tutor in First Steps 2nd Edition Writing for the ACT Department of Education and Training. She has been a teacher in the ACT Government System since 1989 and has taught at International Schools in India and Papua New Guinea, in classes ranging from pre-school to year eight. Carolie has taught pre-service teachers at the University of Sydney and the Australian Catholic University, Signadou. Her doctoral thesis concerned a study of the Montessori Movement in the Indian sub-continent. Carolie is passionate about literacy learning and has been an ALEA member since 1992. She has been an active executive member of the ALEA ACT Local Council holding a number of positions including President in 1998-99 and 2007-2009. She was a member of the program committee for the 2007 AATE/ALEA National Conference. |
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STATE DIRECTOR - NSW |
Lisa Kervin is a senior lecturer in the Faculty of Education at the University of Wollongong. She has taught at all levels of primary school, held school executive roles, and has been employed in consultancy roles across school systems. Lisa has researched her own teaching and has collaborative research partnerships with teachers and students in both tertiary and primary classrooms. Her current research interests are related to the literacy development of children, the use of technology to support student learning and teacher professional development. |
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Helen Chatto has been a teacher and Early Childhood senior in Victoria and the Northern Territory since 1980. She spent several years as the Literacy Project Officer for the NT, facilitating professional learning for teachers and supporting schools to develop literacy plans to improve student outcomes. She is currently the Principal of Girraween Primary in the rural area of Darwin. Helen has been an ALEA member for most of her career and has been an executive member of the Top End council holding several roles including president since 1997. Through ALEA, Helen has enjoyed organising and participating in activities that help to inspire teachers to provide rich and challenging literacy experiences across the curriculum for students of all ages. |
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Beryl Exley has been an early and middle years teacher since 1987. She is now a senior lecturer in language and literacy education at the Queensland University of Technology. Her contributions to ALEA include: executive of Meanjin Local Council since 2001; secretary for the AATE/ALEA National Conference in 2005; ALEA Queensland Director since 2006; and representation on IDOC (International Development Oceania Committee) since 2005. Her research interests and consultancies in schools include the teaching of reading, writing, listening and speaking and applications of functional grammar, visual literacies, multiliteracies pedagogy and critical literacies. |
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Kath Thelning’s professional background includes experience as a Deputy Principal, Early Childhood Coordinator and teacher of Reception –Year 7 learners. Currently, as the Literacy Curriculum Manager in the South Australian Department of Education and Child Development, Kath works extensively with educators in developing and implementing literacy policy and curriculum initiatives. |
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Margaret Luckman has been a primary teacher in Tasmania since 1983, with experience teaching prep to grade 6. She has been a Literacy Mentor in a primary school, guiding the school literacy program and working with teachers from kinder to grade 6 helping them develop their skills and enrich their literacy pedagogy. Margaret has been an active member of the ALEA Tas South Local Council since 2001 and treasurer since 2005. She was a member of the organising committee of the 2009 AATE/ALEA National Conference. |
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Debra Edwards has been an active member of ALEA for many years including holding executive roles within the Central Victorian Local Council of ALEA since 2000, and on the Victorian State Executive. Debra has worked in a range of preschool, primary, secondary, tertiary and community educational settings since 1982. Her particular area of interest is students who are experiencing difficulties with literacy and she is a qualified reading recovery teacher as well as special needs educator. Debra is currently the Course Coordinator of the Bachelor of Education at La Trobe University, Bendigo campus, and Lecturer in Literacy and English Education. Debra is passionate about enthusing pres-ervice teachers about literacy and literacy education, as well as contributing to the professional development of teachers and research about rich literacy experiences for school age students. Debra was co-convenor of the 2011 ALEA National Conference in Melbourne. |
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Alec Kanganas is Deputy Principal at Eddystone Intensive English Centre in Heathridge and is a part time sessional Lecturer at Edith Cowan University. He has worked as a mainstream teacher, specialist ESL teacher, language advisor and Principal in Primary Schools in WA for 30 years. His research interests include second language acquisition and early language development. Alec sits on the WA Department’s English Reference Group and Curriculum Working Party for ESL. He has been an ALEA (WA) committee member for 17 years and President for 4 years. In 2004 he was awarded a Master of Education in Literacy Development. He has published a number of articles and has presented locally, nationally and internationally. In 2008 he received the Professional Teaching Council of WA’s “Outstanding Professional Service Award”. Alec has been the ALEA WA State Director since 2006. |
