About 4CTL

Prof. Michael Anderson

co-founder, Academic leader & Board Member 

Michael is an internationally recognised educational leader. He has taught, researched and published in education and transformation for over 20 years including 13 books and 55 book chapters and journal articles. His international research and practice focus on how the 4Cs can be integrated using coherent frameworks to make learning meet the needs of 21st Century learners.

Dr. Miranda Jefferson 

Co-Founder & Board Member

Miranda has been involved in leading innovation in schools for over 20 years. She leads programs, initiatives and research in curriculum reform, educational change and school transformation in several schools. Miranda has taught drama and media arts learning and teacher professional practice in the Education Faculty at the University of Sydney. She has also been on advisory boards for ACARA.

Jamie Gerlach

CEO & SENIOR PRACTICE LEADER

Jamie has been in innovative education for over 10 years. He has designed and facilitated professional development in embodied literacy, 4C learning and school transformation, mentoring and collaborating with school leaders, classroom teachers and student leaders in primary and secondary schools across all sectors and early learning centres, across Australia and internationally. He has lectured and tutored pre-service teachers at the University of Sydney in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, and MBA students in the University of Sydney Business School. Jamie has also delivered keynotes and papers at numerous state and national conferences and sat on multiple committees of education professional bodies.

Stephen Smith 

Practice LEader

Stephen is a highly experienced educational leader and brings a deep understanding and expertise in working with teachers and school leaders in transforming schools. His more than 30 years experience as an educational innovator has spanned regional high schools from Moree to south western Sydney, and more recently as Head Teacher English and Deputy Principal at Kirrawee High School. Additionally, he has worked as a NSW Curriculum Consultant as well as Supervisor of HSC Marking with NESA. In 2018 Steve was recognised with a Leadership Award by Australian Council for Educational Leaders.

Dr. Kirsty McGeoch

Practice LEader

Kirsty has been an educator for over 25 years, energised by ways of teaching and learning that engage creativity alongside the expression of voice and identity. She facilitates learning in pedagogy, educational innovation and leadership development in primary and secondary schools and early learning centres. Kirsty has lectured and tutored pre-service teachers and Masters of Education students at the University of Sydney in 4C pedagogy, Media Arts, TESOL and reflective practice. She is a certified Courage & Renewal facilitator and runs professional learning in this reflective approach, which supports adult social and emotional learning and builds relational trust. Kirsty is an accredited professional supervisor, offering 1:1 and group critical reflection to school leaders, and in connection with the Reflective Supervision in Education course for school principals at the University of Sydney.

Rebekah Palmer

Practice LEader

Rebekah is a highly creative educator with over 20 years’ experience working in a range of educational environments. She has held roles in primary and secondary schools, across Catholic and Government sectors, in mainstream and complex educational and health settings.

Rebekah has a deep interest in arts-based processes and reflective practices and how these encourage and support agency and deep learning.

Costa Loucopoulos 

Practice LEader

Costa has been an educator for over 30 years in a range of roles in the secondary and tertiary education sectors. Most of his career was based in the classroom as a teacher of English, Drama and Ancient History. He has worked with Aboriginal communities, engaging students in leadership, career and work planning in Sydney, and Mornington Island in Queensland. He has also worked as subject coordinator, lecturer and tutor in Education at the University of New South Wales, University of Sydey and Western Sydney University. He was the Curriculum Specialist, The Arts at the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority, and was awarded an Outstanding Professional Service Award by the Professional Teachers Council of New South Wales. Costa also has experience facilitation transformative education practices in the health sector.

Tahlia Sheermeijer

PRACTICE LEADER

Tahlia is passionate about implementing innovative pedagogical practices to increase learner agency within education and beyond. Bringing over ten years of experience across education and corporate sectors (Coca-Cola Amatil), she is uniquely positioned to do so. In addition to teaching in Pubic, Catholic and Independent schools, Tahlia lived in remote Aboriginal communities in the Northern Territory, working for the Defence Indigenous Development Program, the Aboriginal Interpreter Service and as a primary school teacher. Her work prioritises the acknowledgement of and connection to deep understanding of Indigenous perspectives. Tahlia’s research focus is on Digital Technologies, the emerging technological trends in the 21st century and their implications for learning paradigms.

Naomi Crain

Business Manager

Grant Sciberras

Technical & Marketing Support

Dr. Natalie Quinlivan

PRACTICE LEADER

Natalie has strong experience in leading and empowering leadership in learning, especially amid cultural and curriculum-related change. Natalie has worked as a lecturer, teacher, Learning & Teaching Coordinator (Arts) and Learning & Teaching Manager (Humanities, Communications, Arts, Business and Design) within the Academic Pathways Program at The College, Western Sydney University. As LTC, she has written, collaborated on, co-designed and implemented curriculum for a range of learning modes, including flipped, online, face-to-face and hybrid learning with an emphasis on pastoral care and learner agency. Natalie has twice been awarded the WSU Vice Chancellor's Award for Excellence (2020 and 2023) in relation to her leadership and curriculum innovation respectively. Her deep interest and advocacy for learner agency and educational transformation continues with her work with 4CTL.

Alice Fenton

Practice Leader

Alice is an experienced and dynamic educator, leader and facilitator. She originally came to teaching from a career as an editor and creative director - working for Ogilvy, Right Angle and FBi Radio - and over the past 10 years has taught in a variety of educational settings across the private and public sectors. Alice has led faculties through curriculum change and challenging global circumstances, and acted as a mentor for early career teachers. Her work has always focused on improving schools through educational innovation, and her passion for the 4Cs approach is driven by the knowledge that evidence-based pedagogy with a focus on student and teacher agency can legitimately change lives. Alice has a particular interest in inclusive education and adolescent mental health.

Dr. Mary Ann Hunter 

Practice LEader

Mary Ann is an experienced educator, researcher and facilitator who leads innovative practices in mentoring and leadership. Working internationally, she has partnered with schools on curriculum development and transformative teacher professional learning in specialist areas of sustainability, mentoring and creative peacebuilding. She has held leadership positions for over 20 years in policy and practice settings, including at the University of Queensland and National Institute of Education, Singapore, and currently leads with a deep committment to empowering educators through 4Cs transformational approaches in her work with the University of Tasmania, early education organisations and schools.