Who we are
The Institute for Educational Reform is a not-for-profit research institute committed to advancing educational outcomes in Australia for the benefit of every student.
We collaborate with educational thought leaders, schools, governments, universities and development partners to fulfill our mission.
Institute board
The people leading us
David Loader OAM
Chair
David Loader was a school principal for 32 years, and a board member of Swinburne University for 9 years. He has been recognised for his innovation and enterprise in school leadership, through numerous awards and medals, including the Sir James Darling Medal (Australian College of Education), the Australian Council for Educational Leaders’ Gold medal, and both the Centenary Medal (2001) and Medal of the Order of Australia (2010).
Brian Cohen
Board Member
A global commercial leader and founder of Banks Botanicals, Brian Cohen brings a legacy of innovation to the Institute for Education Reform. He believes the right environment fosters an explorer mindset, empowering students to grow for a lifetime. Brian leads the Institute’s Strategy and Finance portfolios to drive systemic change.
Rhianna Perkin
Board Member
Rhianna is a senior consultant psychologist with more than 25 years’ experience across the youth, health, not-for-profit and corporate sectors. Her work spans organisational psychology, leadership development and workforce wellbeing, alongside significant experience in youth mental health through clinical, community and service leadership roles. She has held operational and clinical leadership positions across complex service environments and brings a strong interest in supporting systems that enable young people to thrive.
Andrew Loader
Board Member
Executive Leader and Business Strategist with experience in leading and transforming corporate services and commercial practice. Andrew has a proven capability in the design and delivery of large, complex projects across organisations in a variety of sectors including health, disability, government, community, NFP and emergency services.
Yolanda Uys
Board Member
Yolanda Uys is an enterprise growth and transformation leader with more than 25 years’ experience across consumer, retail and B2B sectors across Australia and global markets. She believes education is a powerful force for shaping a better future and the great unlocker of human potential, growth and opportunity. Guided by the African philosophy of Ubuntu — “I am because we are” — she believes investing in young people strengthens the future of our communities and our economy.
Research Advisory board
The minds shaping our research
Dr Geoff Masters
Former CEO, Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER)
Geoff Masters, AO, BSc, MEd UWA, PhD Chicago, FACE, FACEL, was CEO and a member of the Board of the Australian Council for Educational Research from 1998 to August 2024. His contributions to education have been recognised through the award of the Australian College of Educators’ Medal (2009) and his appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia (2014).
Professor Glen Savage
Professor of Education Futures at the University of Melbourne
Glenn Savage is a policy sociologist and Professor of Education Futures in the Faculty of Education, Melbourne University. His research works at the intersection of education policy, strategic design and system change. Glenn has extensive experience leading major research and teaching initiatives in collaboration with government and non-government partners. He has worked with AITSL, ACARA, VATL to name a few.
Dr Fiona Longmuir
Senior Lecturer, Educational Leadership, Monash University
Dr Fiona Longmuir is a Senior Lecturer in Educational Leadership in the school of Education, Culture and Society at Monash University. She previously worked as a Senior Consultant Researcher at Educational Transformations and as a teacher and school leader with the Victorian Department of Education. She is currently a co-leader of the Education Workforce for the Future Research Impact Lab.
Amanda McGraw
Associate Professor, Federation University Australia
Amanda McGraw is an Associate Professor and teacher educator at Federation University in regional Victoria. School partnerships have been a key focus in her teaching and research, and she is currently leading initiatives related to workforce shortages. Her research interests include reading in English, dispositions in teaching, and teacher professional learning.
She co-wrote a book titled Activating Reading Capabilities in English (2022) and has worked extensively with secondary English teachers in extended professional learning projects. She taught English for nearly 20 years in Victorian schools and held several leadership positions including Deputy Principal.
Anthony Mackay
Deputy Chancellor Swinburne University, Melbourne Co-Chair of the Washington D.C. based National Centre on Education and the Economy.
Anthony Mackay AM is an education leader with senior roles across Australian and international organisations. He is the Deputy Chancellor of Swinburne University and co-chair (and immediate past CEO) of the DC-based National Center on Education and the Economy. He holds multiple academic appointments at the University of Melbourne, Southern Cross University, and University of Bolton and is the CEO of the Centre for Strategic Education in Melbourne, while co-chairing Learning Creates Australia.
Professor Melissa Barnes
Deputy Dean of Strategic Operations, La Trobe University
Professor Melissa Barnes is Deputy Dean of Strategic Operations in the School of Education at La Trobe University. Her work and research focus on teacher education, instructional practice, assessment, professional learning and TESOL/EAL.
She’s also the Chief Investigator for the Momentum Schools and Momentum Schools Extension projects, examining whole-school instructional change processes and the impact of professional learning and instructional coaching on teacher practice and student learning.
Dr John Ainley
Retired Principal Research Fellow at ACER
John Ainley, BSc, MEd, PhD, was a chemistry teacher at the Secondary Teachers College and held many titles at the Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) (1975-2025) such as researcher, Associate Director and Head of the Policy Research Division.
Alex Fletcher
Senior Researcher, Institute for Educational Reform
Alexandra Fletcher is a researcher with a background in psychology and applied social research. She holds a Bachelor of Psychology (Honours), and her cross-disciplinary approach draws on 20 years of experience in advertising and marketing, grounded in the belief that evidence drives change when communicated in ways that inform, persuade, and connect.
David Loader OAM
Chair
David Loader was a school principal for 32 years, and a board member of Swinburne University for 9 years. He has been recognised for his innovation and enterprise in school leadership, through numerous awards and medals, including the Sir James Darling Medal (Australian College of Education), the Australian Council for Educational Leaders’ Gold medal, and both the Centenary Medal (2001) and Medal of the Order of Australia (2010).