Welcoming New Leadership: Victoria Chapter

A resounding applause to Dr. Scott Alterator, our remarkable Past Chair of the LEA Victorian Chapter Committee, for his extraordinary leadership over the past two years! Scott's boundless passion and determination have been the driving force behind the committee, sparking new initiatives and creating opportunities that have truly elevated the LEA Victorian Chapter.

Scott, currently serving as the Director of Indigenous Education Futures at La Trobe University, is not only a passionate educator and researcher but also a dedicated advocate for our cause. His wealth of knowledge has been instrumental in shaping the committee's success, and we are delighted to have his continued input and expertise in his new role as Past Chair. In a recent conversation with Scott, we had the chance to reflect on his impactful tenure as Chapter Chair, and we are immensely grateful for the foundation he has laid for our future endeavors.


Now, let's extend a warm welcome to Georgi Fairley, who steps into the role of Victorian Chapter Chair with zeal and enthusiasm! Georgi, an accomplished architect at FPPV Architecture, has been a LEA member since 2016 and brings a wealth of experience to the table. Her commitment to driving social and cultural change, evident in her role on the board of the Fairley Foundation, aligns perfectly with LEA's mission.

Georgi's hardworking nature ensures that every voice is heard, making her an integral part of the committee and an exceptional Chapter Chair. We had the pleasure of catching up with Georgi to gain insights into her new role, and her vision for the future of the Victorian Chapter is truly inspiring.


Last but not least, let's give a warm welcome to Emily Flint, our Chair Elect (2023 - 2025) for the Victorian Chapter Committee! Emily, a Senior Architect at ClarkeHopkinsClarke, brings a decade of specialised experience in education design to her new role. Her passion for fostering meaningful dialogues between designers and educators aligns seamlessly with LEA's objectives, and we are thrilled to have her as our Chair Elect.

We look forward to the contributions that Emily will bring to the Victorian Chapter in the coming years. We recently caught up with Emily to hear her thoughts on her upcoming role, and her excitement and dedication are truly contagious.

As we bid farewell to Scott and usher in a new era of leadership with Georgi and Emily, let's embark on this journey together, united in our commitment to advancing education through design. Here's to a year of continued growth, collaboration, and success!

Reflections with Scott Alterator, Past Chair

A big shout-out to Dr Scott Alterator, our incredible Past Chair of the LEA Victorian Chapter Committee! Over the past two years, Scott's boundless passion and determination have motivated our committee, sparking new initiatives and opportunities for the LEA Victorian Chapter.A passionate educator and researcher, Scott currently serves as the Director of Indigenous Education Futures in the School of Education at La Trobe University. Scott has brought a wealth of knowledge and dedication to the committee and we are so excited to have his continued input and expertise in his new role as Past Chair.

We caught up with Scott to reflect on his impactful tenure as Chapter Chair:

• What's a memorable achievement or moment from your time as Chapter Chair?
  • The symposium in Hobart showed us another way we can bring people together and explore ideas. The focused nature of the event allowed for a deep dive on inclusion.
• How has being part of the Victorian Chapter Committee impacted your perspective on education design?
  • I have a greater respect for the complexity of the work in bringing a school to life, especially the importance of the design team in leading the early thinking process.
• What are you most excited about for the future of the Victorian Chapter?
  • I reckon we have great knowledge and a generous community of practitioners and I’m excited about capturing more of that knowledge through documentaries, podcasts (and whatever else we come across!)

Thank you Scott!

       

 

Welcoming Georgi

We’d like to welcome Georgi Fairley to her new role as Victorian Chapter Chair! Georgi, an architect at FPPV Architecture, has been a LEA member since 2016. Georgi also serves on the board of the Fairley Foundation, focusing on driving social and cultural change in Shepparton. Her dual roles inspire her commitment to extending LEA's work to regional areas and understanding the impact of culturally safe spaces in learning settings.
Georgi's hardworking nature ensures every voice is heard, making her an integral part of the committee and an exceptional Chapter Chair. We caught up with Georgi to share insights on her new role:

• What excites you most about stepping into this role as Chapter Chair?
  • It’s challenging to pick one thing! I’m stoked to be chairing the committee through the Conference, in collaboration with past-chair Scott Alterator. It has been amazing to see different ideas and voices coming together. We also have two new committee members, so welcoming them into the organisation will be wonderful. But I think the most exciting part is the opportunity to learn from our members and broader community, and turn that into events and resources that will help create better learning environments.
• How do you plan to contribute to LEA's mission during your two-year term as Chair?
  • A main goal is to continue developing event formats that expand the way we discuss design for learning. Just as students have different styles for learning, the events we run need to be varied and diverse. I’m also keen to grow connections with the broader learning community…diversity is where the magic happens!
• What message would you like to share?
  • • My first thought is one of my favourite quotes by Douglas Adams, “It is a mistake to think you can solve any major problems just with potatoes.” There is a huge amount of expertise, knowledge and curiosity among our members – come along and share your insights and knowledge, ask silly questions – or deep ones, and have some fun. As a community, we can create the best environments for all learners.
     

Welcoming Emily

Let's give a warm welcome to Emily Flint, our Chair Elect for the Victorian Chapter Committee! Emily, a Senior Architect at ClarkeHopkinsClarke, has been involved in the LEA Victorian Chapter since 2014 and officially joined the Committee in 2020. With a decade of specialisation in education design, Emily is passionate about fostering a meaningful dialogue between designers and educators.

We're thrilled to have Emily as our Chair Elect, and we look forward to the contributions she will bring to the Victorian Chapter in the coming years. We caught up with Emily to share her thoughts on her upcoming role:

• What have you enjoyed the most about being part of the Victorian Chapter Committee?
  • My time on the committee has been during a unique period in my life, welcoming my daughter when I joined at the end of 2020, and my son when becoming Chair Elect at the end of 2023. My involvement with the committee has helped me to stay connected during parental leave. It has been so rewarding to build relationships with a community of people who also value best practice in learning environments.
• What initiatives are you most proud of from your time on the Committee?
  • I’m really proud of how I developed the marketing and social media presence of the Victorian Chapter. The role has granted me the freedom to explore innovative approaches to connect with our community. It is an ongoing challenge, exploring ways to share information with those unable to attend events physically and expanding our reach to a broader audience.
• What inspired you to take on the position of Chair Elect?
  • Taking the role of Chair Elect felt like a natural step. I genuinely believe in LEA's mission and recognised an opportunity to make a more meaningful contribution to the Victorian Chapter. I’m really looking forward to collaborating with Scott and Georgi, working together to explore the potential and possibilities for our chapter's growth.