Angela Molloy Murphy, Ed.D., was an early childhood educator of 25 years when she joined the University of Melbourne as an Early Childhood Lecturer. A scholar-in-residence at SWISP lab, (Speculative Wanderings with Space and Place), Angela is among a community of interdisciplinary activist practitioners composing reparative futures in the midst of climate collapse. 

Angela believes that children are the most brilliant and daring co-researchers the world has to offer. She argues that at this moment of widespread oppression and environmental degradation, we need stories that exhibit our radical relationalities, inspire audacious resistance, and imagine creative possibilities for relating ‘otherwise’. 

Angela can be found communing with trees and spirits in the ancient forests of the Multnomah, Tumwater, Clackamas, and Chinook peoples of the U.S. Pacific Northwest. She proposes that there she is among a legion of multispecies allies who will walk, crawl, and fly alongside us in the global uprising for just and collective futures.

Jane Vadiveloo stands as a prominent leader in the pursuit of equality and justice, particularly in her extensive work with First Nations communities. With a master’s degree in forensic psychology, Jane began her career in the Victorian prison system before co-founding Caraniche, a forensic and psychology company dedicated to psychological and behavioural health.

Living and working with First Nations communities in the Northern Territory for over thirty years, caused a transformative turn in her journey. Here, Jane pioneered strength and justice-based approaches aimed at achieving systemic and long-term change. In 2000, alongside the Arrernte people in Central Australia, she co-founded Akeyulerre, one of the first organisations in Australia rooted in First Nations knowledge systems focused on cultural, social, and emotional wellbeing, as well as traditional healing and health.

Working with and guided by the wisdom of Elders and community leaders, Jane co-founded Children’s Ground, a groundbreaking systems change organisation that privileges First Nations knowledge and practices. This 25-year initiative is led by communities possessing vision and solutions but facing oppression through structural racism and social, cultural, and economic injustice. Children’s Ground is dedicated to ensuring that future generations of First Nations children can enjoy freedom, opportunity, and the right to determine their future, encompassing economic, political, social, and cultural wellbeing.

Jane’s expertise and dedication have also seen her consult for Virgin Unite, the Northern Territory and Federal Governments, and various Aboriginal organisations in the Northern Territory. Her impact was recognised in 2014 when she was named one of the Westpac Australian Financial Review 100 Women of Influence. Under her leadership, Children’s Ground was honoured with the Outstanding Achievement in Innovation award at the NT Education and Care Awards in 2021.

Jane Vadiveloo's work is a testament to her unwavering commitment to justice, systemic change, and the empowerment of First Nations communities.

Ben Mardell is not just an educator; he is a visionary who has dedicated his life to unlocking the limitless potential of young minds. With an illustrious career spanning four decades, he has been at the forefront of innovative educational practices that inspire both teachers and students alike. 

Nowadays, you'll find him inspiring young minds as the atelierista at Newtowne School and collaborating on exciting projects as a research affiliate at Longlong Kindergarten at the MIT Media Lab. Ben's journey has taken him from teaching infants and toddlers to preschoolers and kindergarteners. He's also delved into research as a principal investigator at Harvard Project Zero and shaped future educators at Lesley University.

Ben’s research has profoundly influenced how we understand the critical early years of a child's development. His groundbreaking work on children’s play, learning, and the development of creativity has reshaped classrooms around the globe, fostering environments where curiosity, imagination, and joy are at the heart of learning. His dedication to empowering educators through professional development and relentless pursuit of excellence in education have earned him accolades and respect from peers worldwide.

Ben is a co-author of a number of publications, including Visible Learners: Promoting Reggio-Inspired Approaches in All Schools, Making Learning Visible: Children as Individual and Group Learners, Children at the Center: Transforming Early Childhoods Education in the Boston Public Schools, and A Pedagogy of Play: Supporting Playful Learning in Classrooms and Schools. He also penned From Basketball to the Beatles: In Search of Compelling Early Childhood Curriculum and Growing Up in Child Care: A Case for Quality Early Education. His latest project is Playing with the Sun (www.playingwiththesun.org).

When he's not busy with his educational adventures, Ben loves spending time with his family—hiking, playing games, or participating in triathlons.

Kelly brings over 20 years of early education experience gained in New Zealand and Australia. 

She specialises in walking alongside educators, teachers and organisations as a pedagogical companion, strengthening the systems and approaches they adopt to deliver genuine and authentic educational programs for children. Kelly loves facilitating conversations that invite teams to unpack the ‘whys’ behind their practice, fostering a strong sense of purpose, knowledge and joy. 

She believes in making meaningful connections between practice and theory over time and through slow pedagogy. Kelly's expertise has made her a sought-after speaker and professional development provider known for simplifying complexities and inspiring pedagogical courage. Widely respected for her dedication to children's and educators' rights, her creativity and commitment drive transformative change across the education and care sector.  

Kelly has published several resources and books contributing to conversations related to mental health and documentation and, more recently, co-founded The Creative Collection, a new resource inviting early childhood teams to reimagine the arts in teaching and learning.

When Kelly is not knee-deep in empowering organisations ‘to think and learn,’ you will find her running, planning her next holiday, and spending time with her son Caleb.