When : 1 October 2025
Hosted at Matthew Flinders Anglican College, Sunshine Coast, QLD
Performance Centre
Theme: Data by Design
Thank you to our sponsors:
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8:00 - 8:50
(50 mins)
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Coffee, Registration
Location : Performance Centre Foyer
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Morning Session
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9:00 - 9:15
(45 mins)
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Welcome, Acknowledgement of Country, Housekeeping
Nathan Harris & Chris Topp
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9:15 - 9:45
(30 mins)
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Overview of ICT at Matthew Flinders College
Dr Louise McCuaig & Chris Topp will provide an overview of what makes Matthew Flinders unique, as well as how the Technical Services Department manages the broad but also niche programs that are delivered both within and outside the curriculum.
This journey will unpack how to get the maximum return on investment – both from a technical perspective, but also a personal level, with a specific focus on how their department's implementation of their 9-Day Fortnight works.
Speaker: Chris Topp & Louise McCuaig
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9:45 - 10:30
(45 mins)
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Session 1 - Your Data Governance and Security Journey – how to start and what steps you need to take to protect your school’s data
This session outlines an overall approach to data governance and protection, focusing on using Microsoft Purview for data security and governance for schools. It highlights the importance of data protection for schools and communities, managing AI-related risks, and detecting and containing data breaches both accidental and intentional.
Speaker: Louay Ghashash, Spartans Security & Jane Harford, MACSEYE
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10:30 - 11:15
(45 mins)
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Morning Tea
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Middle Sessions
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11:15 - 12:00
(45 mins)
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Session 2 - Deploying Information Management Systems with a “Data by Design’ Mindset
This session focuses on embedding data governance, lifecycle management, and compliance capabilities directly into your schools Microsoft 365 environments from the ground up. It demonstrates how schools can build data protection and record keeping into their information architecture—not as an afterthought, but as a foundational design principle.
Speaker: Giovanni Forero, Konica Minolta
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12:00 - 12:45
(45 mins)
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Session 3 - Tour of the Infinity Centre
Bill Hooper, Head of Learning, will host a tour of the Infinity Centre, a building designed around the Design Thinking Process, showing the dedicated spaces for each stage. From ideation to collaboration, prototyping and testing, all the way to pitching and presentation.
The Infinity Centre hosts approximately 18 AV enabled spaces from General Learning Areas (GLAs), design studios, food laboratories, materials workspaces, a computer lab and the Infinity Gallery. Technology plays an important role throughout each space, supporting and engaging students in their learning.
Speaker: Bill Hooper, Head of Learning
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12:45 - 13:00
(15 mins)
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MITIE Updates
Speaker: Nathan Harris, MITIE Committee
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13:00 - 14:15
(75 mins)
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Lunch
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Afternoon Session
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14:15 - 15:00
(45 mins)
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Session 4 - Are your students more than an ATAR: if yes - how do you prove it?
An insight into the data journey Matthew Flinders is undertaking to fully equip students for the Future Workforce.
Speaker: Chris Topp & Louise McCuaig, Matthew Flinders Anglican College
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15:00 - 15:30
(45 mins)
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Sponsors session & Door prizes
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15:30
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Closing
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Biographies
Louay Ghashash
Louay Ghashash is the Managing Director and vCISO of Spartans Security and serves as Chair of the Technical Advisory Board for the Australian Computer Society. With over 20 years' experience, Louay specialises in cybersecurity strategy, governance, risk and compliance, incident response, and security audits across diverse industries, including education, fintech, retail, government, and not-for-profit sectors. He holds a Master’s in Networking from the University of Plymouth, numerous industry certifications including CISA, CISM, CRISC, and ISO 27001 Lead Auditor, and frequently presents cybersecurity insights to boards and senior management. https://www.spartanssec.com
Jane Harford
Jane is a technology leader with more than 20 years’ experience achieving business outcomes and operational efficiencies through the delivery of innovative and sustainable business change involving people, process, and technology across a range of organisations including Independent Schools. As Manager, IT Applications and Data at Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools Early Years Education (MACSEYE), Jane is currently focussed on rapidly uplifting MACSEYE’s cyber and information security and enhancing its operations through applications and data integrations.
Giovanni Forero
Intelligent Information Management Team Lead Practice, Konica Minolta Business Solutions and Presenter at RIMPA
With deep experience across the Australia and United States, Giovanni Forero has helped organisations across industries develop practical, user-centred information strategies. His work spans records management, regulatory compliance, and digital transformation initiatives.
Currently completing his Doctorate at UTS, Giovanni’s research focuses on the information practices with a unique lens into how organisations engage with complex information environments.
Dr Louise McCuaig
Dr Louise McCuaig is the Head of Flinders Discovery Institute at Matthew Flinders Anglican College. Prior to establishing the Discovery Institute, Louise was the Head of Pastoral Programs charged with the responsibility of designing and supporting teachers’ implementation of a whole school wellbeing program. For some 20 years, Louise served as teacher educator and researcher at the School of Human Movement & Nutrition Science, UQ. Her research relating to health literacy, social justice pedagogies and strengths-based models of health informed the design of the Australian Curriculum: Health and Physical Education and Queensland Senior Health Syllabus. She is passionate about strategies that promote young people's transition into learning and workforce pathways and the role of school data in evidencing the richness of students' non-academic skills and achievements to support this transition.
Chris Topp
With a strong background in collaborative tech leadership, Chris builds high-performance teams to address the ever-changing needs of Schools and Colleges. Ensuring IT Systems are able to operate at their peak to support teaching, learning and operational departments.
He recently established SCSI (Sunshine Coast System Integrators) – a hub fostering collaboration amongst local schools in the region. He also maintains strong connections across the sector with MITIE, VINE, vendors and resellers, and is passionate about expanding networks that drive innovation and shared solutions in education.
MITIE Incorporated. ABN 85 607 373 857.