Speakers and contributors

Sam Mostyn AC was sworn in as Australia’s 28th Governor-General on 1 July 2024.  A businesswoman and community leader, Ms Mostyn is known for her exceptional service to the Australian community. She has a long history in executive and governance roles across diverse sectors, including business, sport, climate change, the arts, policy and not-for-profit. 

In 2024, Ms Mostyn was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia for eminent service in the social justice, gender equity, sporting, cultural and business sectors, to reconciliation, and to environmental sustainability. 

Her Excellency has sent a personal video message to mark the occasion.

Dave mangenner Gough is a celebrated artist, author, curator and cultural practitioner dedicated to practising and demonstrating Tasmanian Aboriginal culture for all Australian people, to bring communities together and preserve our traditional culture.  

As a proud trawlwoolway man who descends from bungana (chief), manalargenna’s oldest daughter, woretemoeteyemer of north east Tasmania, Dave has a strong personal connection to lutruwita/Tasmania and its people. 

Dave sits on various boards including Green Australia’s Thriving on Country, Queen Victoria Museum + Art Gallery’s governance board, and is the Chair of the Tasmanian Aboriginal Heritage Council.

Dave is also the Chair of Six Rivers Aboriginal Cultural Centre which cares for cultural sites of deep significance across Lutruwita, including Tiagarra Tasmanian Aboriginal Culture Centre (the only Aboriginal cultural centre in the state), Panatana at Bakers Beach, and Gowrie Park.

Andrew Giles is the Albanese Government’s Minister for Skills and Training and is the Federal Member for Scullin in Melbourne’s North.

He previously served in the Albanese Government as the Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs.

Born and raised in Melbourne, Andrew is a keen reader and runner and an avid supporter of the Carlton Football Club. Andrew has a LLB (Hons) and BA from the University of Melbourne.

Prior to his election to Parliament, Andrew worked as a Principal Lawyer in employment law for Slater and Gordon and as a Senior Associate at Holding Redlich.

Since his election in 2013, Andrew served as the Shadow Assistant Minister for Schools between 2016 and 2019, before serving as the Shadow Minister for Cities and Urban Infrastructure and Shadow Minister for Multicultural Affairs from 2019 to 2022.

The Minister for Skills and Training joins us via video message.

Kathleen manages eight libraries across Northwest and West Tasmania and has worked with all levels of government to shape learning policy and secure funding for educational opportunities. Her passions lie in collaborative impact, building strong learning communities, embracing technology, and supporting individuals to see learning as a pathway to improving their life circumstances. 

Kathleen holds qualifications in general education, adult and vocational education, adult literacy, and library services. A committed advocate for lifelong learning, she regularly presents at conferences and champions the value of learning in all its forms. She thrives on being challenged, learning new things, and working collaboratively with others. She has been the President of Adult Learning Australia for three years. 

Giovanna Simpson works with the Australian Radio Network for SeaFM and 7BU and is a well-known and respected voice in her community.

A passionate breast cancer advocate, she partners closely with The McGrath Foundation and Love Your Sister to raise awareness and provide support for those affected.

With 18 years of experience in education as a youth worker, Giovanna has a deep understanding of the importance of education in creating opportunities and helping young people thrive. She is also an active community leader, serving on several local committees and boards. In addition, Giovanna is an experienced professional emcee, known for bringing warmth, energy, and professionalism to every event she hosts. 

Palawa man Brendan Murray, 57, is passionate about helping others find their path through education. Based at the Riawunna Centre, Cradle Coast Campus, he supports Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students in a culturally safe and welcoming environment as the Aboriginal Student Engagement Officer, University of Tasmania. 

Brendan’s journey has been anything but easy. Raised in foster care, he moved frequently between towns and families, never feeling a sense of belonging at school. By Year 9, he had dropped out entirely. At 26, he realised he was effectively illiterate – a confronting moment that led him to enrol in an adult literacy class. It was a difficult step, but one that changed his life. 

Brendan is the first in his family to attend university. He’s studying a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Tasmania and has set his sights on becoming a historian. Brendan now shares his story to inspire others, especially Aboriginal children and adults, to believe in their potential and embrace lifelong learning.

“I want to create positive change on the North West Coast and help others see that it’s never too late to start learning, and that learning is something we can celebrate together.”

Brendan was a Learning Ambassador for Adult Learners Week in 2022 and will reflect on what he has learned and continues to learn, since then.

Jenna struggled with reading, handwriting and telling the time at school and often felt embarrassed and left out. She lacked confidence and thought college was out of reach.

With encouragement from her aunt and support from a 26Ten Community Coordinator, Jenna connected with Libraries Tasmania’s Adult Literacy Support Service. There, she began working one-on-one with an Adult Literacy Support Officer, and volunteer tutors at Smithton library. This supportive, personalised approach helped Jenna build confidence and learn at her own pace.

She began with reading and writing, then moved on to numeracy, and now plans to learn sign language. At 21, Jenna feels proud of how far she’s come and is working toward her goal of becoming a teacher’s assistant.

Rohan, 55 years of age, arrived in Australia with his wife and daughter in 2023. Growing up in Sri Lanka during a time of civil unrest, Rohan faced many challenges. Despite this, he completed a Diploma of Sports and Exercise Sciences through the Faculty of Medicine at the University of Peradeniya.

Rohan was fortunate to train under a Chinese Tai Chi and Martial Arts master who had moved to Sri Lanka. To communicate with him, Rohan learned Chinese and went on to master Tai Chi, Qigong, Karate and Kung Fu. He embraced his master’s philosophy of sharing knowledge, starting with teaching Tai Chi to his own parents to support their health and wellbeing.

He went on to teach people from all walks of life and became President of the Sri Lanka Tai Chi Association and Master Trainer at the Tai Chi Institute.

Since arriving in Tasmania, Rohan has been active in the community through the Welcome Cultural Services (Migrant Resource Centre) English Conversation Group at the Devonport Library, and the International Café.

He now runs “Ro’s Tai Chi for Health and Wellbeing” and facilitates regular sessions in Wynyard, Port Sorell and Devonport. He has recently taken up the Intro to Computing course at TasTAFE and is looking forward to learning more about the digital world.

At 45, Faye was offered a traineeship at Loaves and Fishes, a Tasmanian social enterprise organisation where she had already been volunteering for six years. That opportunity marked a turning point, and she hasn’t looked back since.

After completing a Certificate III in Business, Faye transitioned into a paid role as an administrative assistant and has since progressed to become the State Operations Manager, overseeing logistics and warehousing operations across Tasmania.

Faye has been part of the Loaves and Fishes journey from the very beginning. Having faced a difficult period in her life when her life was impacted by stress and anxiety, Faye rebuilt her life through learning, resilience, and community support.

In 2022, her commitment was recognised with a nomination for the Tasmanian Training Awards. Today, she mentors young people in the Loaves and Fishes program, drawing on her own experiences to show just how transformative learning and opportunity can be.

Just a few years ago, 49-year-old Andy never imagined he’d be working in the disability sector, let alone being invited to step into a new role with his employer, Possability.

Andy’s journey hasn’t been easy. He faced significant personal challenges in his younger years and spent a long time finding his path. But with determination, support from Avidity Training and Development, and the completion of a Certificate III in Individual Support (Disability), he’s turned his life around. When he began in 2023, he didn’t even know how to use a laptop.

Along the way, Andy discovered his strengths and built the confidence to support others. “It was a massive learning curve,” he says. “I now have the confidence to advocate for myself and others. I want to go on now and do my Diploma of Community Services.” In 2024, Andy won the Vocational Student of the Year at the Tasmanian Training Awards.

Today, Andy is not only a valued disability support worker, he’s also a powerful role model. He’s become a Rotarian, teaches cooking classes, and inspires others who are looking to rebuild their lives and make a difference in their communities.

The Drumettes is a vibrant community born from Jodhi Gough’s Wednesday Women’s Wellbeing Rhythm Circle. Through shared drumming, women come together to learn, heal, and grow in a space filled with laughter, connection, and strength. What began as weekly rhythms has grown into a powerful circle of belonging, where women reconnect with themselves and each other through sound and shared stories. Jodhi’s work bridges the worlds of therapy and rhythm, offering a grounded,inclusive, and trauma-aware approach to wellbeing, one beat at a time. Her sessions aren’t about performance or perfection; they’re about presence, play, and people feeling safe enough to be themselves.

Loaves and Fishes Tasmania delivers food and hope to locals doing it tough. Their vision is for all Tasmanians to have access to affordable, safe, nutritious & tasty food too.

They rescue surplus food from landfill, repackage and enhance what they’re given, including making ready-to-eat meals and school meals, then deliver free statewide through more than 250 partner agencies.

Loaves and Fishes also provides employment and training opportunities for disadvantaged Tasmanians, is part of a coalition working to address the causes of food insecurity, and does for-profit work through various social enterprise contracts to fund our emergency relief efforts.

Loaves and Fishes Tasmania will provide afternoon tea at the Adult Learners Week launch.

Jaikira is a passionate young Tasmanian photographer who excels at finding the beauty in everything she captures.

Drawing from her experience photographing events at RANT Arts, the Devonport City Council, the COTA launch of Walk Against Elder Abuse and other local events, Jaikira brings a unique perspective and respectful, human-based approach to her work. 

Her creative spirit ensures that her photography captures the essence of the moment – all the more impressive given she is just 19 years old.