Martin Westwell 

Martin was appointed Chief Executive of the Department for Education in April 2022, following a successful 4 years as Chief Executive of the SACE Board. Martin has worked extensively with education systems and other organisations in using evidence to inform policy, practice, innovation and impact in education. 

He was a Chief Investigator in the national Australian Research Council (ARC) Science of Learning Research Centre, and has worked with UNESCO using evidence to inform strategic planning of education in the Asia-Pacific region.

In 2018, Martin received the prestigious Australian Council for Educational Leaders’ (ACEL) Gold Medal, awarded for the most outstanding contribution to the study and practice of educational administration and leadership.

In 2007 Martin and his family moved to South Australia where he took the position of inaugural Director of the Flinders Centre for Science Education in the 21st Century and then Strategic Professor in the Science of Learning at Flinders University. 

Martin completed his degree and PhD at Cambridge University and was a Research Fellow at Lincoln College, Oxford University in biological chemistry.

Joss Rankin 

After some time working as an outdoor instructor and sport coach during his studies, Joss worked in education for 9 years, predominantly as a health and physical education and outdoor education teacher. His roles were in a range of schools in both regional and metro South Australia as well as Cambridgeshire in England before moving to tertiary education to work as a lecturer in health and physical education.

At Flinders University Joss coordinates and teaches in Foundations of Physical Education, School Health Promotion: Nutrition and Physical Activity and Introduction to Education in Outdoor Environments. Joss has been involved in a range of sporting, physical education and outdoor organisations and continues to connect with schools through a range of partnerships. As a member of the Australian Council for Health, Physical Education and Recreation (ACHPER), Joss enjoys sharing his work at a range of conferences and continues to advocate for health, physical and outdoor education.

Dr Andrew Bills

Lecturer in Educational Leadership
and Management
College of Education, Psychology and Social Work

Andrew undertakes research in educational leadership foregrounding policy, politics and practice. He has developed three Flexible Learning Options (FLO) schools as an educational leader, diagnostic school reviewer, teacher, researcher and Education Department leadership consultant.  

Andrew works in partnership with international, national and state educational organisations and educational stakeholders to lead professional development for new and experienced school leaders and schools.

He has published extensively in peer reviewed research journals, industry reports, as well as in the media and two sole-authored books.