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Western Australian Institute for Educational Research40th Annual Research Forum at Murdoch UniversityForum 2025 Panel presentation |
| Chairperson: Dr Sian Chapman Dr Sian Chapman is a Senior Lecturer at Murdoch University in Perth, Western Australia. Her research interests include education policy and practice, teacher agency and change, and understanding systemic difference through complexity theory. These concepts are explored across a range of topics including arts education, school diversity, teacher education and practice. |  |
| Dr Jian Zhao The University of Western Australia Dr Jian Zhao is an early-career researcher at the Graduate School of Education, The University of Western Australia, and a visiting scholar at Hong Kong Metropolitan University. With a background in mental health measurement and assessment, and expertise in mixed-methods research, she has contributed to several projects exploring the mental health of Chinese international students in Australia, self-harm and suicidal behaviours of young people in Western Australia, generative AI (GenAI) and educational assessment, and the intersection of AI and mental health. Dr Zhao has published widely in international peer-reviewed journals, including Frontiers in Psychology, Frontiers in Education, Behavioral Sciences, International Journal of Qualitative Studies on Health and Well-being, and Education Research & Perspectives. Her research interests encompass mental health measurement, coping strategies, and GenAI in educational assessment. She was awarded the UWA Grand Challenge "Making a Difference" Grant in 2022 and received the Early Career Award from the Western Australian Institute for Educational Research (WAIER) in 2023. |
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| Phillip Paioff Paioff Consulting Philip is Managing Director of Paioff Consulting with over thirty years of education and training experience including work as a Head of Department and Advisor to the Director General of Education in Western Australia. He has also been a State Coordinator for the Principals Australia Institute and served as the Developer and Managing Consultant of Mt Lawley Senior High School's Aboriginal Excellence Program for 12 years, which has won a National Impact Award and two prestigious Premier's Awards for Excellence in Aboriginal Education. |  |
| Sophie Karangaroa Curtin University Sophie Karangaroa is of Ngāti Kahungunu and Ngāpuhi descent (Aotearoa/New Zealand) living on Wadjuk Noongar Boodja, Perth. She is a PhD candidate at Curtin University with a creative production and exegesis focusing on the journeys of Noongar university students. The creative component includes a web series centering the learning journeys of Noongar and Māori university students. |  |
| A/Professor Susan Beltman Curtin University Susan Beltman PhD is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the School of Education at Curtin University, Australia. Now retired, she lectured in Educational Psychology and Inclusive Education. Her areas of teaching and research interest include educator well-being and resilience, motivation, and programs involving mentoring and role models. She primarily conducts qualitative research. Her previous career was as a School Psychologist in government and non-government schools in Western Australia and Queensland.
Sue joined the WAIER Committee in 1994 and held the following leadership roles: |  |