In Focus: Executive Dean Presents is a series of major panel discussions that draws on ACU's expertise, leading thinkers and decision makers to tackle current and emerging issues for arts and education and how they will shape the future of Australia.
This event brings thought leaders together to address human flourishing and agency in times of AI. Recent transformations in AI-driven societies have raised new questions about the direction of human thinking, creativity, and emotions that will impact current and future generations in ways that are still uncertain. The panel of experts in AI will engage with key questions, dialogue, and debate about the risks and opportunities for education and Australian society in a world of automation. We offer a vision for reclaiming positive human flourishing and agency, critically navigating the complexity of AI toward a more just and equitable social world.
Join us for a critical discussion on the risks and opportunities AI presents for human flourishing, education, and Australian society.
See our panel of experts down below.
When: Monday 20 July 2026, 5:30pm to 7:30pm (AEDT) with drinks / canapes.
Where: ACU Melbourne Campus, The Greg Craven Centre, Level 7 St Teresa of Kolkata Building, 115 Victoria Parade, Fitzroy VIC. The event will be livestreamed and recorded.
If you have questions about In Focus or this event you can contact us at FEA.DeputyDean@acu.edu.au
Professor Larissa McLean Davies
Executive Dean, Faculty of Education and Arts
Professor Larissa McLean Davies is Panel Chair and Executive Dean of the Faculty of Education and Arts at Australian Catholic University. An internationally recognised academic leader, she has held senior executive roles at ACU and the University of Melbourne, where she led major strategic initiatives in education, curriculum innovation, and workforce development. Her leadership spans large-scale research, institutional transformation, and national reform in teacher education, including the development of Australia's Teaching Performance Assessment. She continues to lead influential work across Indigenous literatures, climate education, sustainability, and social justice.
Professor Kathy A. Mills
Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education
Kathy A. Mills is Research Professor and Program Lead, AI, Literacies and Digital Citizenship, at the Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education, Australian Catholic University. A three-time Australian Research Council Fellow, she is internationally recognised for her research on AI, digital literacies, and education. She has held senior leadership roles at QUT and ACU, led major research and industry partnerships, and is listed in Stanford's World's Top 2% Scientists. Her work has informed policy and practice nationally and internationally, including through the OECD, the World Bank, and other global organisations.
Dr Luke Rowe
Senior Lecturer and Researcher, National School of Education
Dr Luke Rowe is Senior Lecturer and Researcher in the National School of Education at Australian Catholic University, and a Research Affiliate of the Institute for Learning Sciences and Teacher Education and the Institute for Positive Psychology in Education. His work focuses on the intersection of artificial intelligence, human learning, evidence-based teaching, and trauma-informed pedagogy. A quantitative researcher, he contributes to major national and institutional projects that translate research evidence into meaningful classroom practice.
Professor Daryl Higgins
Director, Institute of Child Protection Studies
Professor Daryl Higgins is Director of the Institute of Child Protection Studies at Australian Catholic University and a registered psychologist with more than 30 years of research leadership in child protection, trauma, and family welfare. He is widely recognised for his work on child abuse prevention, child-safe organisations, and public health approaches to safeguarding children. Bringing this perspective to the panel, he will consider how emerging AI technologies can harm children, as well as how they might support prevention, amplify children's voices, and strengthen the systems that enable children and communities to flourish.
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