UiLab The Common Ground | Emerging Technology in Education | 11 June 2026
Description
AI is already in our classrooms. The question is: Are we navigating it well?
Join us this June for The Common Ground: Emerging Technology in Education a free, community-driven evening where educators, government, industry, and community members come together to have the conversation Queensland education needs right now.
This is a genuine, collective discussion about how we balance innovation, safety, and student wellbeing as emerging technologies reshape policy, practice, and what it means to be future-ready.
What we'll explore:
🔹 What has changed, why it feels urgent, and how we got here
🔹 How Queensland policy is shaping and, in some cases, struggling to keep pace with what's possible in classrooms
🔹 What responsible AI use looks like across education, industry and community, and where accountability sits when things go wrong
🔹 What future-ready genuinely means for Queensland students, and what productive collaboration between education and industry looks like in practice
You'll hear from:
🎙️ Heather Williamson — Director, Digital and Virtual Learning, School Improvement Branch, Department of Education
🎙️ Associate Professor Marcus Gallagher — School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, University of Queensland
🎙️ Paul Stronach — Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority
Whether you're a teacher navigating AI tools daily, a school leader managing policy changes, a researcher developing these technologies, a parent thinking about your child's future, or simply curious about where all of this is heading, your voice belongs in this room.
There will be dedicated time for Q&A and networking throughout the evening, plus food and drinks provided.
This is your chance to help shape how Queensland moves forward on one of education's most important questions.
Lineup
Heather Williamson - Director, Digital and Virtual Learning- School Improvement Branch of the Department of Education
With over 35 years of experience in various roles across the Department, Heather has established herself as a leader in digital innovation and future-focused learning. In her current role, she directs the strategic priorities of the Digital Innovation in Teaching and Learning initiative, including leading the development of resources and capability programs. Her work focuses on enhancing digital competency for teachers, advancing digitally enabled and enhanced pedagogies, and exploring the use of generative Artificial Intelligence in teaching and learning. This includes leading the professional learning and onboarding for Corella, the Queensland Government generative AI tool for teaching and learning, across the state.
Associate Professor Marcus Gallagher - School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at UQ
A computer scientist with around 25 years experience in AI research and university teaching at undergraduate and postgraduate levels, particularly AI-related courses. I've led and been involved in a number of research projects applying AI and machine learning to real-world problem domains including healthcare systems and computer networks. I have taught a variety of courses and have been involved in the design and development of courses and degree programs at UQ. I am both excited and nervous about the impacts of AI in education, but I believe that more discussion, collaboration and community sharing is the best approach to navigate the challenges.
Paul Stronach - Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority
Currently Principal Education Officer in the Humanities and Social Sciences section of the Senior Curriculum and Assessment Branch at the Queensland Curriculum and Assessment Authority (QCAA). In this role, I support teachers in the senior subjects of Philosophy & Reason and Social & Community Studies, and along with colleagues from the University of Queensland, am presently involved in the development of a short course senior syllabus in Critical Thinking. Prior to entering the QCAA I worked for over 25 years in secondary schools as a teacher, head of faculty and deputy principal.
Tickets for good, not greed Humanitix dedicates 100% of profits from booking fees to charity
