As Chief Academic and Innovation Officer for the New Technology Foundation, Paul Curtis is responsible for defining and refining the New Tech High School model which is increasingly being recognized in the U.S. as a national leader in producing 21st Century students.

Since 2002, the New Technology Foundation has been assisting in transferring the knowledge and experiences of the original school in Napa, California to a growing network of New Tech schools in other communities seeking to replicate its results. Through this work, the Foundation has supported 35 communities in a variety of regions with an array of demographics who have chosen this model as the framework for their own school reinvention efforts.

Paul Curtis began his teaching career in the Social Studies Department of a large tradition high school where he proved to be both an educational leader and innovator. He served as department chair and Advanced Placement US History teacher, but immediately began to see the limitations of the teacher-centered classroom in developing 21st Century skills. In the mid-1990s, he helped create a career themed academy that integrated curriculum between subject areas and prepared students for the business world.

In 1997 Paul was recruited to New Technology High School and immediately saw the benefits working in an environment that allows for block scheduling, team teaching, and, of course, a technology rich classroom. While at New Tech High, he helped define the school's curriculum model, assessment practices and technology tools that have become the hallmark of all New Technology High Schools. As the school gained a reputation for innovation and hosted hundreds of visitors each year, he became a strong advocate for school restructuring and educational reform. In 2000, Paul was selected as Napa County Teacher of the Year.

Bruce Dixon is the founder and president of the Anywhere, Anytime Learning Foundation and consults to schools, School Districts, Education Departments, Ministries of Education as well as technology companies such as Microsoft, hp-Compaq, Apple, Bertelsmann and Toshiba on 1-to-1 and technology in education. Bruce has more than 25 years experience working with schools and technology, as a teacher, Principal, software developer, undergraduate college lecturer, and then in 1987 with a partner he established an educational technology company, Computelec. As a national company of more than 90 staff, the company were fundamental to the establishment and growth of laptop programs in more than 80 schools across 3 states, before he sold it in the mid-nineties to focus on consulting. Since 1995 he has worked extensively in North America, and was in part responsible for developing the one-to-one program there, through the Anytime Anywhere Learning initiative. He consults to schools, School Districts, Education Departments, Ministries of Education as well as technology companies such as Microsoft, hp-Compaq, Apple, Bertelsmann and Toshiba. Over the past 3 years, Bruce has consulted in the US, Australia, Canada, Germany, UK and New Zealand, and has been invited to speak at Conferences in Korea, Thailand, Italy, Singapore, Taiwan, Phillipines, Japan, South Africa, United Kingdom, as well as Australia and several North American states.

Greg Gebhart is the National Education Trainer for NetAlert. Greg has a long background in Education and ICT. He was recently awarded the 2007 Victorian ICTEV “Leader of the Year”. Greg is a regular presenter at National and International conferences. His current role for Net Alert, (the Australia's Internet Safety Advisory Body) involves the delivery of Internet Safety awareness programs to schools, communities, education groups and law enforcement across Australia.

Chris has led Microsoft’s involvement with the BSF programme for the last 3 years.

Before joining Microsoft Chris was Deputy Headteacher of a comprehensive school in Reading. From 1993 when he was the driving force behind the groundbreaking Highdown Information Hub superhighways trial. The trial set out to make the vision of a Connected Learning Community a reality and became the subject of great interest not only in the UK but also internationally. At this time Chris contributed to the Microsoft Corporation vision for education and to Bill Gates’ book “Business @ the speed of thought”.

Chris joined Microsoft 9 years ago to manage the Anytime Anywhere Learning (AAL) programme in the UK. AAL was a laptop programme set within the broader Microsoft vision of Connected Learning Communities (CLC) and focussed on mobility in education with the ultimate vision of 1:1 access.

He was the architect of the eLearning foundation funding model attempting to address the issue of equity in a creative way that built bridges with local communities. Microsoft and the DfES were founder donors of the national eLearning foundation. Chris is currently a trustee of the Essex eLearning foundation.

For the last few years Chris has been involved with a number of LEAs interested in creating a step change in education and learning which has led into the BSF related work Microsoft are involved in. He has been responsible for Microsoft white papers, “Realising the Potential - Creating a step change for education in Kent” and most recently the work “Building Schools for the Future - An opportunity to personalise learning and fundamentally re-think the business of education”.

In the last year Chris has been responsible for the investments Microsoft have made in support of the BSF programme in the form of 3 interlinked BSF Guides and the recently launched BSF Showcase. The BSF Guides cover area wide technology architecture, educational scenarios and business value arguments in the context of a transformed education service. The BSF Showcase is a demonstration environment of a vision of learning in a connected community in the future developed in partnership with Knowsley, Sheffield, Kent and Sandwell.

A specialist in educational network infrastructure and resourcing, Christopher has been heavily involved in the education arena for 10 years, the result of which is that he is well placed to talk with authority on how to fit all the pieces together. Migrating from the UK 6 years ago, Australia is now home for him and his wife.

In his current role as General Manager of Toshiba’s Information Systems Division (ISD), Mark is responsible for all aspects of operations for Australia and New Zealand . The division has turnover approaching $500 million per annum and is the recognised leader in mobile computing.

In April 2007, Mark was instrumental in extending the Toshiba ISD business to include Toshiba’s audio visual (AV) products, which includes the impressive collection of high definition LCD televisions and DVD players – products that will ensure Toshiba will be a key player in the Australian computing and home entertainment market. Mark is also driving Toshiba’s commitment to the HD DVD format, providing Australians with the next generation of high definition products.

Since joining Toshiba in 1998, Mark’s roles have expanded to include National Marketing Manager, responsible for marketing to industry and channel, product strategies and communications. Mark also managed the retail business unit which now accounts for 65 per cent of total revenues. Throughout his tenureship, Mark’s charter has always been to be responsive to the needs of customers and channel partners.

Mark’s has more than 20 years’ experience in the information technology industry. Prior to joining Toshiba, he worked with Control Data, Digital Equipment Corporation and Compaq, where he held senior roles including Director of Product Marketing, PC & Workstation Marketing Manager and numerous sales management and business development roles.

Mark’s key achievements at Digital and Control Data included: introducing key product marketing initiatives that were adopted globally; pioneering channel-based programs for commodity products, and over a four-year period facilitating the growth of Digital's Australian PC business from startup to a $250 million operation, which set a global record within Digital of the highest market share of any subsidiary.

Mark grew up in Sydney 's Northern Beaches. His career began in structural engineering, where he was at the forefront of early computer aided design and manufacturing. He has studied at the Institute of Technology in Sydney , Harvard University and MIT. He also completed executive management courses at Mount Eliza and Macquarie University graduate management schools.