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Nathan Mikaere-Wallis
X Factor Education was established to facilitate training, professional development and the application of neuroscientific research to practice.
Nathan’s current roles are lecturer at Canterbury University’s College of Education, trustee/ trainer/ presenter for Brainwave, a Child Protection Trainer and he serves on the Board of Cholmondeley Children’s Home, The Champion Centre, and Nurturing the Future Trust.
Nathan is a father of three, a step-father to another three (all aged from 12-22 years) and has a background as a foster parent. Nathan’s professional background is in lecturing/teaching, child counseling, and educational systems/social service management.
The Learner's Brain - A Research Update
Brain imaging techniques continue to be improved and developed and this is allowing for more and more understanding of exactly how the human brain works and learns. The majority of discoveries in the last two years relate to the rapid changes taking place in the teenage brain and how this impacts on the ways in which they learn. An understanding of this research helps to inform our practice and continue to refine what we do to best meet the needs of the learner.
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Neil MacKay
Previously Senior Teacher/SENCO in a large secondary school in North Wales and now an independent consultant and trainer, Neil originated the phrase and the concept "Dyslexia Friendly Schools". As a consultant specialising in Dyslexia and other inclusion issues Neil has worked with Education Departments in Hong Kong, Singapore, Jersey and Malta on teacher training and awareness initiatives and delivered training to international school teachers in Hong Kong, Bangkok and Singapore. He is the International Consultant for the Dyslexia Foundation of New Zealand - www.dfnz.org.nz
Neil works with state, independent and international schools and LAs across the UK, Europe, Asia and New Zealand to develop inclusive classroom practices. He has provided whole school training for over 85% of schools in Liverpool as part of the City's "Dyslexia Friendly Schools Initiative" and is preferred trainer to a number of Local Authorities in the UK and also Hong Kong and Singapore, where he writes and delivers training courses for teachers in local and international schools.
His first book, "Removing Dyslexia as a Barrier to Achievement" was published to considerable acclaim in 2005 and he has since published "Leading on the Inclusion Development Programme" and "Taking the Hell out of Homework", which has been written for parents and home educators.
Meeting the Needs of Dyslexic Learners
Neil will address meeting the needs of dyslexic learners and focusing on the 4% of students with significant issues for learning.
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Marcus Akuhata-Brown
Marcus Akuhata-Brown grew up on the East Coast of the North Island of New Zealand.
His father is from Te Whanau o Tuwhakairiora of Te Araroa on the East Cape, also the tribes of Ngai Tahu, Ngati Kahungunu, Te Aitanga a Mahaki, Rongowhakaata and Ngati Paoa. His mother is a fifth generation New Zealander with European ancestry.
An experienced educator and gifted communicator, Marcus has led a number of innovative programmes around the world. In New Zealand his work has focused on addressing the learning and developmental needs of youth at risk and young offenders.
From 1996 to 2004 Marcus travelled all over the world as an international representative and delegate to multilateral meetings. Marcus was elected to Head the Commonwealth Youth Caucus, a position he held for three years and was appointed as a Director on the international board of CIVICUS.
Marcus founded Tukaha Global Consultancy Ltd in 2000 and currently divides his time between speaking and consultancy work, hapu and community development activities in his tribal area and studies through Te Wananga o Raukawa, a tribal university.
Lifting the lid off low expectations
Marcus will tell his inspiring story of how glass lids of low expectation and achievement were lifted off his life and how through positive encouragement, intuitive goal setting and having the courage to break out of comfort zones led to a life of excitement, adventure and purpose.
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Dr Alison Arrow
Alison received her PhD in psychology from the University of Auckland in 2008; from 2006 she has been a lecturer and senior lecturer at Massey University College of Education.
She is interested in the cognitive requirements for learning to read and write. One of her current research projects involves the role of phonological awareness and alphabet knowledge in the acquisition of orthographic representations.
Another current project is investigating the effectiveness of models of professional development for literacy in early childhood education. Other research is examining the literacy beliefs and practices of teacher and parents of children who have just started formal schooling, and the range of technological tools that children are familiar with on school entry. As a consequence of Alison’s research she has also published articles and chapters addressing contemporary reading acquisition theory and its application to literacy policy and literacy instruction in early childhood and primary education.
Literacy starts from birth: Emergent literacy and dyslexia
Large numbers of children with specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia fall through the cracks in education systems, with implications for their lifetime wellbeing. In this presentation I will discuss a theory of reading acquisition that recognises learning to read and write as something that begins in infancy, through the development of emergent literacy, highlighting how being literate is a part of living. I will explore what develops during this important period and the influence it has on later development. I will explore how the recognition of emergent literacy has implications for improved identification and intervention for dyslexia in particular.
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Sir Ray Avery
Thinking Forward - The Mindset for Success
Sir Ray Avery GNZM is a successful Pharmaceutical Scientist, a founding member of the Auckland University School of Medicine, Department of Clinical Pharmacology and former Technical Director of Douglas Pharmaceuticals who, over the past thirty years, has made a major contribution in the development of New Zealand’s Pharmaceutical industry.
Working throughout Africa and Asia and exposed to the raw and real shortcomings in healthcare, Ray was determined to use his knowledge of Pharmaceuticals, Science, Project Management and Product Design to tackle big health issues endemic throughout the developing world at a very practical sustainable level.
In 2003, Ray founded Medicine Mondiale and using his contacts, and charisma he enlists the help of other scientists, and social entrepreneurs to work with him.
Today, an International network of scientists, technologists together with New Zealand companies and Nobel Laureates’ support him and somehow everyone finds themselves donating their time and knowledge for free and they are rewarded by making a difference.
Ray is also the Patron of the Non Resident Nepali Association of New Zealand a position previously held by Sir Edmond Hilary.
In January 2011 Ray was appointed a Knight Grand Companion of the New Zealand order of Merit which is the highest order of the New Zealand Knighthood honors. |
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