Meg has nearly 2 decades of teaching experience across primary and secondary school settings. She is experienced in school leadership and governance, and prior to founding Omni Academies of Learning, was the coordinator of an internationally recognised robotics program. After seeing how young people displayed passion and motivation for their robotics projects, Meg began to question why classroom learning generally does not result in the same outcomes. The multi-age, peer teaching approach, with hands-on, project-based and passion-fuelled opportunities allows young people to fully engage with their learning. Her aim at Omni is to ensure that all students can experience meaningful, relevant, authentic and challenging learning in school.

Contact: principal@omniacademies.qld.edu.au

Heidi is committed to creating learning experiences that challenge and excite with the power of curiosity and humour. She has worked in a range of school models, holds qualifications in Arts, Education and Counselling and has experience in the not for profit sector. She is particularly passionate about inclusive and empowering education that makes all young people feel known. She believes relationships and emotional safety are central to her teaching approach, and that an environment of trust is where young people find who they want to be. Heidi believes Omni is a place that explores what's possible, not just what's expected, and she is excited to create a suite of interdisciplinary, real world tasks that capture students' capabilities in creations they can be proud of.

Suzanne has been an educator for over 40 years in a variety of settings across two states, including primary and secondary schools. She has presented at numerous conferences and completed a research project on Collaborative Learning in classrooms. Suzanne is the series coordinator for four mathematics textbooks, has worked at the QCAA writing the senior General Mathematics syllabus, and has also worked at the CSIRO. She has experience as a Curriculum and Pastoral leader believing that every student can learn and be more engaged given the right approach and by building great relationships. Suzanne is passionate about Mathematics education and showing young learners the relevance to them of the content being covered. She is interested in Learning through Doing, combining theory with practical Mathematics and Science activities. ‘I want my students to love learning as much as I do’.

Stewart is a Professor of Curriculum and Pedagogy in the School of Education at the University of Southern Queensland. His research examines the democratisation of schooling systems, increasing access and equity in education and how schooling can respond to critical social issues in complex contemporary times. Stewart is passionate about ensuring that all young people have access to a high-quality, meaningful education, and is thrilled to be part of Omni, which aims to deliver on that promise.

Contact: board@omniacademies.qld.edu.au

Amy has worked with Meg Foley since 2018, when they co-founded the vision for Omni Academies of Learning: a flexible and empowering design for secondary education. She is a parent of three and a teacher, holding qualifications in education, business and human resource management, and film and television production. Before teaching, Amy was a teacher aide for seven years, an office manager for 10 years, and a photographer/business owner for four years. Omni Academies is a step towards BEING the change she wants to see in the world: ‘I want children and teens to be empowered to find meaningful life purpose through education and the motivation to grow, learn and give back to their community’.

Kylie is an accomplished Innovation Strategist and Service Designer with a Master of Design Futures and MBA, and experience in social innovation and transformation within the early childhood education and care sector. Her work has included codesigning with remote communities in response to complex social challenges, developing online learning and connections for children, families, and educators during lockdowns, and playing a pivotal role in catalysing a whole-of-organisation transformation aimed at creating holistic systems needed to enable and empower frontline workers to act with agency to drive local innovation and better outcomes for children. Kylie is passionate about all children having access to high-quality education that inspires a life-long love of learning, and is excited about the potential of Omni Academies to facilitate this.

Penny has worked in child and youth services and the education sector for three decades and is currently the CEO of Play Matters Australia, a not for profit focused on enriching lives through the power of connection and play. Previously Penny has worked at the Queensland Child and Family Commission heading up the First Nations and Child Rights Team. She has extensive experience working in Indigenous education and setting up early childhood programs in remote areas. Working both internationally and here in Queensland, Penny has led a variety of policy and programs, including her work setting up the partnership agreement between child safety and education departments to improve educational outcomes for children in out-of-home care and the Bullying. No Way! campaign, which provides information and ideas for students, parents and teachers to combat bullying.