ERICA MCWILLIAM
Erica McWilliam (Adjunct Professor, Queensland University of Technology) is an internationally recognised scholar in the field of pedagogy with a particular focus on preparing young people for ‘over the horizon’ futures. In her numerous presentations to educational leaders, teachers, parents and students, she elaborates on the challenges faced by all those who are seeking to ensure that our young people will live, learn and earn well in this demanding century. In particular, she stresses the importance of providing ‘low threat, high challenge’ learning environments that assist young people to welcome error and the instructive complications of unfamiliarity and complexity. She was instrumental in directing the Creative Workforce 2.0 Research Program in the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Creative Industries and Innovation, and has also performed professorial duties as an educational researcher at the National Institute of Education in Singapore.

Erica has worked extensively to inform innovative teaching and learning both in Australia and overseas. Her expertise as a consultant to schools, in particular, girls’ schools, continues to have a significant impact on pedagogical practice in Australia and New Zealand. She is a Fellow of the Australian Council of Education, an Honorary Fellow of the Australia Council of Educational Leadership and an Associate Fellow of the Learning and Teaching Council of Australia. A recent sole-authored book, ‘The Creative Workforce: How to launch young people into high flying futures’, is published by UNSW Press, and number of her more recent papers are available on her website - http://www.ericamcwilliam.com.au/. Her latest academic book, Educating Girls, is published with the Queensland University Press.