Launch Event

The AI in Education Sydney 2025 Launch Event, held on 14 March at the NBN Discovery Centre with a global virtual experience, brought together leading educators, researchers, and innovators committed to exploring how AI can ethically and inclusively transform education with a focus on generating ideas about how it can be leveraged to improve outcomes for learners with barriers (socio-economic, Indigenous, EAL/D, disability, mental health, rural and remote).

Led by Brett Salakas and Simone Hirsch and hosted virtually by Keith Heggart, the event featured dynamic keynote provocations from global experts including Professor Rose Luckin, Danny Liu, and Patrick McGrath. A panel of thought leaders—Brett Salakas, Matthew Esterman, Dr Nick Jackson, Leon Furze, Matt Harrison, Jason Gulya, Clara-Lin Hawkin, Al Kingsley, Darren Coxon, and Matthew Wemyss—shared their perspectives through interactive highlight sessions, including a game show, round table and Shark Tank-style pitch.

Across the day, participants engaged in hands-on workshops and discussions facilitated by Juliana Peloche, Chris Buswell, Brett Salakas, Matthew Esterman, Tim Gander, Kathryn MacCallum, Ryan Elwell, Erik Ellefsen, Tina Austin, Mandy DePriest, Jaime Bissa, Zeina Chalich, Susan Zhang, Matthew Harrison, and James Bedford. Their sessions focused on AI literacy, ethical classroom integration, and designing inclusive solutions to support disadvantaged learners.

Face-to-face attendees also explored live AI exhibits presented by Adrian Tyson, Rosanna Cotino, Tristan Lee, and Chris Buswell, featuring robot dogs, recognition screens, AI glasses, and VR simulations. Meanwhile, the AI in Education podcast was recorded live onsite by Dan Bowen and Ray Fleming.

The event launched a global Community of Practice, co-founded by Anne Forbes, Juliana Peloche, with support from Tim Gander, and Miriam Tanti, which ran through until August, culminating in this free professional learning website sharing real-world case studies, perspectives, and resources.

This collaborative event was only possible thanks to the generosity of every contributor, who offered their time and expertise to inspire, provoke, and support educators across contexts—united by a shared goal of ensuring AI serves all learners, especially those facing the greatest barriers.