Matt Esterman has over twenty years’ experience working in schools and industry as a leading voice in the thoughtful adoption of technology. He is a trained History teacher, with postgraduate degrees in History and Education, who has made a significant contribution to professional learning in Australia and overseas. He has worked across different educational settings and has been recognised with several awards, most recently as a Commonwealth Bank Teaching Fellow, provided by Australian Schools Plus. Matt has founded The Next Word, a consultancy service that seeks to leverage AI and other technologies to help shape a better future, especially for our young people. He now works with schools, universities and other organisations to increase awareness and capability in using AI to enhance educational outcomes. He is an Adjunct Fellow at Western Sydney University, and a casual academic at Macquarie University. He has co-authored The Next Word: AI & Teachers with Dr Nick Jackson (2024).

Vince Wall is a highly experienced History educator and AI innovator who is currently serving the role of the AI for Teaching and Learning Project Leader at All Hallows’ School, Brisbane. With nearly forty years of experience teaching History in schools, Vince combines decades of classroom expertise with cutting-edge insights into emergent technologies. He specialises in empowering schools to engage ethically and strategically with Generative AI, creating meaningful, immersive learning experiences that enhance student agency and wellbeing. A frequent speaker at national and state education conferences, Vince has published numerous journal articles relating to pedagogy and the uses of emerging digital technology to enrich learning in the History classroom. He has postgraduate qualifications in historical studies and educational leadership. These complement his PhD research, which explores the best practices for using emerging technologies, including AI, to create community, meaning, and student agency. His research includes the application of AR, 3D modelling, and AI to develop teaching practices in history. Vince has a passion for practical, research-informed strategies that leverage technology - including AI - to generate learning experiences that prioritise student wellbeing.