Speakers

Over the coming weeks, 50+ speakers from across Australia, Asia and the world will join the PIE Live Australia agenda. A selection of our early confirmations:

Amalia Di Lorio
Pro Vice Chancellor Educational Partnerships
La Trobe University

Dr Amalia Di Iorio is a Professor of Finance at La Trobe University. Her research has appeared in top international journals, and she has been a Chief Investigator of projects that have been awarded highly competitive Australian Research Council (ARC) grants, including a project in women’s financial decision- making. Amalia has an outstanding record as a teacher, having taught in Australia and Asia. She has received ten teaching awards, including two national awards. Amalia was appointed Member of the Order of Australia in June 2021 recognising her significant service to tertiary education, to skills development and to women. Currently Amalia is Pro Vice Chancellor (Educational Partnerships). She has presented Women in Leadership public forums drawing on her research and the experiences of her students in Australia and internationally.

Brett Blacker
CEO
English Australia

Brett has held a range of senior roles in international education including Director, International, Residential Services, Alumni, Careers and Employment Office, Murdoch University and Director, International Office, University of Newcastle. He gained experience in the commercial sector as National Business Development Manager and subsequently General Manager: Health, OSHC Worldcare, Mondial Assistance (Allianz) working with institutions nationally. Brett has been an active contributor on a number of cross-sector and government Boards. He is an expert member of the Council for International Education responsible for overseeing Australia’s first National Strategy for International Education 2025 and he is a member of two state government Boards, StudyNSW International Education Advisory Board, and the South Australian International Education Ministerial Advisory Council. Brett was also a long-standing Board member (9 years) and the immediate past President/Chair of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA). He has served on the Board of Perth Education City (PEC) and as part of the executive group of Australian Universities International Directors Forum (AUIDF).

Douglas Proctor
Pro Vice-Chancellor, Global Engagement
Swinburne University of Technology

Dr Douglas Proctor has over 20 years’ experience in international education across both the higher and vocational education sectors. Having worked at universities in France, New Caledonia, Australia and Ireland, Douglas has a clear understanding of the international challenges facing global institutions. Douglas took up the role of Pro Vice-Chancellor (Global Engagement) at Swinburne University of Technology in August 2021. He provides leadership across the university on global engagement and is responsible for developing and deploying a whole-of-institution global strategy. A Senior Fellow of the International Education Association of Australia (IEAA), Douglas holds a PhD in international higher education from the University of Melbourne. Douglas is also currently Chair of the European Association for International Education (EAIE) Publications Committee.

Fabrizio Trifiro
Head of Quality Benchmark Services
Ecctis-UKENIC

Dr. Fabrizio Trifiro’ is an international expert in quality assurance and international education. He heads quality benchmark services and international strategic engagement at Ecctis (formerly UK NARIC), the agency managing the qualification recognition function on behalf of the UK government. In this role Fabrizio developed the TNE Quality Benchmark, the only international scheme aimed at improving international understanding and recognition of TNE provision, regardless of country of origin, and he has supported as Chief Advisor the establishment of the International Association of Education Hubs. Fabrizio is a member of the Board of Directors of the International Network for Quality Assurance Agencies in Higher Education (INQAAHE), and a member of the Accreditation Committee of the British Accreditation Council (BAC). Prior to joining Ecctis, Fabrizio was with the UK Quality Assurance Agency for over 10 years, where he led on the quality assurance of UK TNE, the international students experience, and international engagement. He recently supported the Office for Students in England in developing their international engagement strategy with a focus on TNE, and works as an external experts with a number of international quality assurance bodies.

Jeanette Cheah
CEO
Hacker Exchange

Jeanette Cheah is an award-winning tech and business leader based in Melbourne, and raised across the US, Japan and Australia. As CEO & founder of HEX, she’s dedicated to transforming young people into the innovators the world needs tomorrow. Jeanette leads tech diversity programs at Monash University, contributes as EIR, mentor, and judge for accelerators like TechStars, Catalysr and RMIT LaunchHUB. As keynote, MC, guest lecturer or podcaster, Jeanette has picked up the mic for the G20 YEA [Argentina], SXSW for G'Day USA [Austin], Women's Economic Forum [London], Google for Startups [San Francisco], General Assembly [Melbourne], ABC radio, Future Work Summit, SingularityU Australia – and many more.

Proud moments:

// Top 100 Innovators List, The Australian, 2022

// Finalist 'Leadership', SBE Impact Awards, 2022

// 40 Under 40 Most Influential Asian Australians; 'Entrepreneurship' Category Winner, 2021

// Finalist, Smart Company 'SMART50 Awards' 2021

// Shortlist, Smart Company 'Business Resilience Awards - Agility' 2020

// Winner, PIEoneer Awards, 'International Employability Impact' 2020

// Winner, GoAbroad.com Awards, 'Innovation in Online Programming' 2020

// Winner, Women In Tech - Global Movement, Lisbon Portugal, 'Ally 2019

Rob Lawrence
Principle
Prospect Research and Marketing

Rob is an inspirational, creative and innovative education researcher and strategist. Over a thirty- year career, Rob has been instrumental in the many changes which have impacted the industry, from establishing offshore campuses to embracing online. Rob has worked for every Australian and NZ university, many in the UK and Europe, as well as government agencies throughout APAC. From selection drivers, employability and industry needs, through to international trends, globalisation, campus viability and compliance, Rob has depth expertise across every domain. Rob has undoubtedly interviewed, in person, more people within the education space than anyone. Students, parents, agents, employers, academics, the list continues. Arguably 120,000+ people in 40+ markets, over thirty years through focus groups and depth interviews. Plus, a great many more through larger events, forums and workshops. His commitment to education was recognised in the highly prestigious IEAA Award for Distinguished Contribution to International Education.