OUR PEOPLE
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.
Our Purpose
We exist to ensure that no student is failed by the education system and that every student is set up for success in a fast-changing world.
Foster a student-centred education system that engages students, turning them into life-long learners with an explorer mindset, ready to thrive in a fast-changing world.
Our Mission & Vision
Institute Board
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
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
Assoc Prof, Educational Leadership, Monash University
Dr Fiona Longmuir is a Assoc Prof 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.
Dr 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.
Alexandra Fletcher
Principal 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).
Roundtable Conference Committee
Dr 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.
Dr Thembi Mason
Senior Lecturer, Teacher Education, RMIT University
Dr Thembi Mason is a Senior Lecturer in Teacher Education at RMIT University. Her work explores how teaching practices, including the thoughtful use of digital tools, can support student agency and engagement in learning. She is committed to connecting research and practice to help teachers design meaningful and inclusive learning experiences.
Meg Brydon
Director of VCE and Data, Melbourne Girls Grammar
Meg Brydon is a teacher of English/EAL and a middle leader, with experience across single sex and co-educational government and independent schools in Victoria. Meg has a keen interest in student wellbeing and was also privileged to spend a year working with highly effective teachers as a Master Teacher in Residence at the Victorian Academy of Teaching and Leadership. As Director of VCE and Data at Melbourne Girls Grammar, Meg is currently focused on understanding and optimising how our education system engages, supports and prepares students for their life beyond school.
Nolene Symons
Past Principal at Bayside P-12 College
Nolene has just retired as a principal at Bayside P-12 College. This state school has three campuses located in Williamstown, Altona North and Newport. She is still doing some work in schools but has the time to devote to this project. She has worked in the state system for over 40 years.
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).
Our Evolution
The Institute for Educational Reform did not arrive at its current focus overnight. Thirty years of working inside schools, testing programs and watching promising initiatives fade gave us a clear view of what the system keeps getting wrong. Our focus remains the same even when our approach has changed.
DEBONO BEGINNINGS
The de Bono Institute was founded in 1996 by the Andrews
Foundation and renowned thinker, Dr. Edward de Bono as a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping young Australia’s equip themselves with thinking skills for the challenges of the 21st century.
(*image source below)
ELEVO
INSTITUTE
By 2013, the Institute recognised the need to expand beyond thinking skills to include insights from psychology, neuroscience, and educational innovation.
Relaunched as Elevo Institute with a mission to help young people prepare for an uncertain future.
THE THINKPLUS PROJECT
Elevo launched Thinkplus to bring research around student resilience, growth mindset and deep learning skills into schools.
INSTITUTE OF EDUCATIONAL REFORM
To better foster life-long learners with an explore mindset, the Institute evolved in 2025 from a school level partner into a policy-level catalyst.
Reflecting reform through data and dialogue, we became the Institute of Educational Reform.
THE LOST YEARS PROJECT
To address the crisis of student disengagement in Years 7-9. IER has pivoted from product based solutions to systemic advocacy. Led by David Loader and Dr. Geoff Masters we are mobilising educators & policymakers to drive urgent reforms needed to reclaim the middle years of schooling.
Our Evolution
The Institute for Educational Reform did not arrive at its current focus overnight. Thirty years of working inside schools, testing programs and watching promising initiatives fade gave us a clear view of what the system keeps getting wrong. Our focus remains the same even when our approach has changed.
1996-2013
DEBONO BEGINNINGS
The de Bono Institute was founded in 1996 by the Andrews
Foundation and renowned thinker, Dr. Edward de Bono as a not-for-profit organisation dedicated to helping young Australia’s equip themselves with thinking skills for the challenges of the 21st century.
(*image source below)
2013
ELEVO INSTITUTE
By 2013, the Institute recognised the need to expand beyond thinking skills to include insights from psychology, neuroscience, and educational innovation.
Relaunched as Elevo Institute with a mission to help young people prepare for an uncertain future.
2013-2024
THE THINKPLUS PROJECT
Elevo launched Thinkplus to bring research around student resilience, growth mindset and deep learning skills into schools.
While many schools valued the program it did not achieve broad systemwide traction and was retired following a review.
2025
INSTITUTE OF EDUCATIONAL REFORM
To better foster life-long learners with an explore mindset, the Institute evolved in 2025 from a school level partner into a policy-level catalyst.
Reflecting reform through data and dialogue, we became the Institute of Educational Reform.
2026
THE LOST YEARS PROJECT
To address the crisis of student disengagement in Years 7-9. IER has pivoted from product based solutions to systemic advocacy. Led by David Loader and Dr. Geoff Masters we are mobilising educators & policymakers to drive urgent reforms needed to reclaim the middle years of schooling.
The Creation of our Symbol
It also represents movement, momentum and openness, qualities essential for educational reform and reflects our belief that engagement is the starting point for meaningful change.
* By Open Media Ltd – Open Media Ltd, CC BY-SA 3.0, wikimedia