About The Next Word

Matthew Esterman has worked in education for over 15 years, having experience as a teacher, school leader, presenter, writer, and consultant.

He holds postgraduate degrees from Macquarie University and the University of Sydney, and is the recipient of several awards, including the Commonwealth Bank Teaching Fellowship for 2023 supported by Australian Schools Plus. 

He has an interest in establishing and maintaining valuable partnerships with external organisations such as universities, industry partners and charitable organisations, as well as seeking out and adopting innovative approaches to the school experience.  

Matthew has explored many innovative areas of school and work, including eSports, entrepreneurship, partner projects, school design and professional learning.

Matthew is a fresh thinker in the strategic and practical use of AI in schools, exploring the potential and pitfalls of various tools and platforms. He is a keen lifelong learner who believes we can bend the future using creativity, critical thinking, and compassion.

Qualifications:

Bachelor of Arts with the Diploma of Education Macquarie University

Master of Learning Science and Technology University of Sydney

Master of Arts (Modern History) Macquarie University

Cert IV Training and Assessment

Awards:

Honorary Fellow - Teachers Guild of NSW (awarded 2025)

Commonwealth Bank Teaching Fellow 2023 supported by Australian Schools Plus

World Teachers' Day Recognition Award 2018 - Teachers Guild of NSW

Dr Paul Brock Medal 2018 - Australian College of Educators

NSW Excellence in Education Award 2016 - Australian College of Educators

ACEL Leadership Award 2015 - Australian Council of Educational Leaders

Alan Laughlin Perpetual Award 2014 - Australian College of Educators

ICTENSW ICT Leader of the Year 2014 - ICT Educators NSW

See Matt's full LinkedIn profile by clicking here.

Dr Nick Jackson is the founder of Now Future Learning. He has worked for over 23 years in education mostly in schools but also in universities. Nick believes in constructivism and constructionism and has a passion for working and researching with teachers, students and technology. He focuses on learners being empowered to access education in the ways that they choose and have doors open to create new pathways into learning enhanced by technology. 

In 2023 Nick was awarded his PhD from Monash University. His research focused on the empowerment of high school students, involving them in active roles to positively affect technology integration to improve teaching and learning.

Nick’s specialties include pedagogy, educational technology, A.I. in education, e-learning, teaching, learning, online learning, coaching, training, empowering learners, communities of practice, ICT, computing, digital technologies, web design, design thinking, critical & creative thinking and all manner of digital innovation.

See Nick's full Linkedin profile by clicking here.

See Now Future Learning by clicking here.

Dr Geethani Nair help schools and education systems navigate AI adoption with confidence — from technical readiness and infrastructure planning through to governance, digital safety, and building genuine digital literacy across the school community.

"With 25+ years across vocational education, corporate learning, and national workforce policy — including regional ICT management for TAFE NSW and current advisory roles with the Australian Computer Society — I bring both strategic perspective and hands-on technical depth."

Geethani's approach bridges what leaders need to understand with what IT teams need to implement. She works with school boards on AI governance and risk, support ICT teams on systems integration and cybersecurity, and help schools move beyond policy to practical, sustainable adoption.

See Geethani's full Linkedin profile by clicking here.

See SkillsBridge Solutions by clicking here.

 An educator for over 30 years, Dr Tim Kitchen is one of Australia’s leading voices in digital creativity and education innovation. A passionate advocate for empowering students and teachers through creative technologies, Tim has taught across primary, secondary, and higher education and has inspired thousands of teachers and students through his workshops and keynotes. 

A bestselling author and frequent presenter at national and international education events, Tim was Adobe’s Senior Education Specialist for Australia, New Zealand, and Southeast Asia from 2013 to 2025. Today, he continues to share his expertise and enthusiasm as an education consultant, exploring new ways to spark creativity in the learning & teaching process. 

See Tim's full Linkedin profile by clicking here.

See Tim's website here.

 Adam Wollins has spent over two decades at the intersection of technology and education, holding executive ICT leadership roles across the NSW Department of Education, the University of Sydney, Lenovo, and independent schools. He has led teams of 200+, managed multimillion-dollar transformation programs, and helped shape the digital infrastructure that supports hundreds of thousands of students and teachers across NSW.

As Director of IT at an independent school in Sydney, Adam authored the school's five-year ICT strategy, established governance frameworks, led AI adoption, and turned a struggling technology team into a trusted, high-performing unit. At the NSW Department of Education (one of the largest education systems in the world) he directed statewide infrastructure programs, led the ICT response to COVID-19, and built the standards and specifications still used in schools today.

Adam brings a rare combination of strategic vision and operational depth. He understands what it takes to align technology with teaching, learning and school culture as someone who has done it in real life, and at scale. His specialties include ICT strategy and governance, digital transformation, cybersecurity, AI adoption, and large-scale program delivery.

See Adam's full LinkedIn profile by clicking here.

Shahenda Kandil has built her career at the intersection of teaching, learning, and technology, working as a classroom teacher and IT integrator across schools in Australia and internationally. With a specialism in primary education and a K–12 perspective shaped by years of hands-on technology integration work, she brings both the practitioner's instinct and the strategic lens that schools need as they navigate the AI era.

Shahenda's expertise spans curriculum design, pedagogy, AI literacy, and professional learning — and she knows how to make these things land in real classrooms, not just on paper. Her signature work includes leading whole-school AI integration approaches that align technology adoption with teaching and learning culture, helping schools move from scattered experimentation to coherent, confident practice.

Beyond the classroom and consulting room, Shahenda is a sought-after event MC and regular presenter, known for her ability to energise audiences and make complex ideas feel accessible and actionable. She is also the founder of Teggie, an initiative that helps students and families explore technology for creative, safe, and educational purposes — a passion project that reflects her belief that the benefits of technology should extend well beyond the school gate.

At The Next Word, Shahenda works with schools to build genuine AI capability from the ground up starting with people, not platforms.

See Shahenda's full Linkedin profile by clicking here.