Maree Bisby is a proud Wiradjuri woman, executive leader, and nationally recognised specialist in embedding Aboriginal perspectives within early childhood education. With over 20 years of experience across early learning, community engagement, disability advocacy, and organisational leadership, she advises services on culturally responsive policy, pedagogy, and governance.

Born and raised on Awabakal land in Newcastle, Maree maintains a strong cultural connection to her ancestors on Wiradjuri country, grounding her leadership in lived experience and cultural authority.

She has held senior roles including State Capacity Building Manager and Lead Cultural Advisor, guiding organisations to align with the National Quality Framework while embedding sustainable cultural frameworks. Maree is the Founder of Aboriginal Perspectives in Early Childhood – APEC: The Journey We Walk Together, partnering with leaders and educators to strengthen cultural capability and inclusion. Through consultancy and professional learning, she supports services to embrace the Aboriginal 8 Ways of Learning and engage in authentic truth-telling, creating lasting systemic change across early childhood settings

Dr Kathy Cologon is an Associate Professor at Charles Sturt University and the Associate Director of the Children’s Voices Research Centre. With extensive experience in inclusive education, Kathy’s work focuses on challenging deficit views and advocating for the rights of all children to be fully included in early learning environments and beyond. Her research is grounded in collaboration with children, families and educators, highlighting the importance of presuming competence and valuing diversity in early childhood settings.

Deb Belyea is a proud Torres Strait Islander woman from the Samu (Cassowary) clan, with her roots extending from the Top Western Islands of Saibai and Dauan to the Cape York Peninsula community of Bamaga.  Deb holds a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Education and Master of Social Science. She has over 20 years of teaching experience in remote and regional schools, as well as online university teaching. As the Director of Zeyawgub, Deb’s motivation is to amplify her People’s voices and share her culture with the broader public. Her specialist area is in Embedding First Nations Perspectives in the Curriculum, with a keen focus on what it means to be a Culturally Responsive Educator. Deb is also an artist and designed the 2024 National NAIDOC poster under the theme of Keep the Fire Burning: Blak, loud and proud.

Facilitator and Early Education Specialist

Carrie has over 30 years of experience in the early education and care sector. She was previously the Approved Provider and Pedagogical Leader at twice Excellent rated Rosie’s Early Learning for almost 15 years.

Carrie is passionate about advocating for children’s rights, particularly through the lens of leadership, pedagogy, and environment design. She has participated in two study tours to the schools of Reggio Emilia and has visited Geoffrey Canada’s work at the Harlem Children’s Zone in New York City. In 2022, Carrie was selected to join the Front Project Apiary Fellowship, a body committed to developing, influencing, and implementing change in the early childhood system. She has a particular interest in children’s rights, inquiry-based learning, leadership, and critical reflection. 

Elena Marouchos is a RIE® Associate whose journey has been a foray in trying to understand what Magda Gerber’s Educaring™ Approach might look like in different contexts.  She is passionate about working alongside teachers, parents and whānau who are interested in layering their knowledge in ways that are authentic and leave lasting impressions on children.  

Through her consultancy, Elena offers mentorship and professional development within ECE settings in New Zealand and abroad.  The privilege of  home visits with parents and seeing the confidence it instils when practice is articulated have helped her further embrace the Approach as more than a philosophy but a way of life.

The recording will be made available to ticket holders via email within 1 week of the event. 

Single ticket holders will have access to recordings for until Thursday 14th May.

Service ticket holders will have access to recordings until Friday 29 May.

A survey will be sent out after the event to gather attendee details. Details will need to be completed for a certificate to be issued. All certificates will be sent by email before Friday, 15 May.