The Sydney Opera HousePlay Award

Pasi Sahlberg is an author, scholar and educator who has worked as a mathematics and science teacher, teacher-educator, researcher and policy-maker in Finland. He has studied education systems and advised on education system reforms around the world, publishing over 170 academic and professional articles and 22 books on the topic. His most recent book is Let the Children Play! How more play will save our schools and help children thrive (with William Doyle, 2019). He has held numerous advisory roles in international organisations like the World Bank, the European Training Foundation, and has been an education policy expert to the OECD, European Commission and Finnish Governments Foreign Ministry and numerous others. 

His research concludes that Australia has schools that are up there with the best in the world, but we tolerate a system where some students experience significant disadvantages. Professor Sahlberg wants to initiate a conversation with the Australian community about how this disparity can be addressed, leading dialogues on international standards, policy and the importance of play for children. He is currently the Professor of educational leadership at the University of Melbourne.

Tanya Dickson is an arts programmer, producer and theatre director. She currently works as Creative Producer at ArtPlay; a multidisciplinary arts studio for children aged 0-13 years. In her role at ArtPlay she produces the New Ideas Lab and By Kids for Kids Collective, and programs and produces the ArtPlay gallery, the performance and workshop programs and ArtPlay’s new digital arm.

She is a graduate of The Victorian College of the Arts and was part of the Melbourne Theatre Company’s Women in Theatre Program. She was the resident director of MKA Theatre of New Writing, during this time her production of Triangle was nominated for 6 Green Room Awards including Best Director and Best Production. She has directed work for Red Stitch Actors Theatre, Arts House, Northern Beaches Youth Theatre, Poppy Seed Festival, Cybec Electric, La Boite Theatre Company, The National Play Festival, Victorian College of the Arts, The National Theatre, Next Wave Festival, Adelaide Festival, You Are Here Festival, Darwin Festival and ABC radio. As an assistant director, she has worked for the Malthouse Theatre Company and Melbourne Theatre Company.

From 2016 to 2018 Tanya programmed and produced Roola Boola Children’s Arts Festival.

Malcolm Elliott’s 46-year career has included teaching from Kindergarten to Year 10 in rural and urban settings in Tasmania; principal of two high schools; and the role of Coordinating Principal in the Glenorchy Cluster of Schools (11 primary and 3 high schools). 

Malcolm holds Bachelors and Master’s Degrees in education from the University of Tasmania. He has a particular interest in assessment of, and for, learning. His Masters dissertation is titled Class Parliament: an evaluation of a teaching strategy. 

Malcolm was president of the Tasmanian Principals Association from January 2015 to December 2018 where he represented principals in primary schools, high schools, and secondary colleges. Malcolm was closely involved in the consultation and implementation of Tasmania’s new Education Act (2016). Other notable work included reforms to primary school senior staffing allocations; principal health and wellbeing; support for students with disabilities; as a signatory to the Declaration on Education Workforce Development; and as a member of the Ministerial Roundtable for Education Workforce Development.

With over two decades of dedicated experience as an educator and program facilitator, Curly is a passionate advocate committed to supporting education, creativity, and inclusivity. Having worked with organisations such as The Humour Foundation, Australian Theatre For Young People, Poetry in Action, The Opera House, The Girls and Boys Brigade, Powerhouse Museum, and The Department of Education’s Arts Unit, Curly has honed expertise in engaging with marginalized communities, first nations and young people., fostering a supportive environment through play for all young people to thrive.

Professor Tonia Gray is a Senior Researcher in the Centre for Educational Research at Western Sydney University. With a Masters in Community Health and a PhD in Education, Tonia’s transdisciplinary research explores the intersection of outdoor experiential education, risk taking and health/wellbeing.

She is the past Chair of the Australian Tertiary Outdoor Educators Network and co-editor-in-chief of the Journal Outdoor and Environmental Education.

Her twinned passions for teaching and research have earned Tonia several major awards such as the 2019 Association of Experiential Education Distinguished Researcher of the Year  and the prestigious 2014 Australian Award for University Teaching.

Tonia is an advocate for Greener Spaces, Better Places to promote green places as valuable destinations for people to work, live and play.

Alexandra has extensive experience in education. She has worked as a primary school teacher, school leader and teacher-educator.  Additionally she has worked in the early childhood sector as an educational leader and university lecturer. Her innovation and strong practice saw her named a top 50 teacher in the 2015 Global Teacher Prize and being awarded an Endeavour Executive Leadership Award, the NSW Premier’s University of Wollongong Early Childhood Scholarship, and the ACEL New Voice Scholarship in early education and care. She has written a number of book chapters, presented at numerous national and international conferences and served as a judge on several panels including the Commonwealth Bank National Teaching Awards. Alexandra is currently undertaking a PhD at Western Sydney University to investigate the impact of nature play on school children’s wellbeing and school engagement. This topic builds on her long-term interest in the connection between children and nature.