Professor Tonia Gray teaches in the School of Education and a senior researcher in the Centre for Educational Research and the World Leisure Centre for Excellence, Western Sydney University, Australia. She has been an educator for over 40 years, training pre-service teachers for their impending pedagogical career. As a researcher, teacher-educator, and curriculum developer of Outdoor Education and Health/Physical Education, her transdisciplinary research explores human–nature relationships and their impact on health and well-being along with risk-taking in outdoor education. Tonia’s wide-ranging scholarship includes nature-based learning and the intersectional examination of gender leadership. She is a past chair of the Australian Tertiary Outdoor Educators Network (2018-2022) and co-editor of the Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education. In 2014, Tonia received the prestigious Australian Award for University Teaching (AAUT) for excellence in outdoor experiential education; and in 2019 received the Association of Experiential Education’s Distinguished Researcher of the Year. Dr Marion Sturges is an experienced educator of 34 years. She has worked extensively across all educational sectors. Currently Marion works with preservice teachers and academics as the Director of Program (primary teaching) at Western Sydney University. Marion has led in numerous research projects working collaboratively with other researchers and educators. The focus of these projects is working with marginalised members of the community, including young children, people with disability, and women to ensure their rights are met and exploring place based pedagogy. She is passionate about the importance of children engaging in the play in the outdoors. Her PhD situated in Australian preschools drew on the Child Friendly City framework in exploring how a ‘place’ can support or inhibit children’s opportunities to participate. When not working, Marion enjoys local bushwalks in her beloved Blue Mountains. Jaydene Barnes is a lecturer in early childhood and primary education at Western Sydney University. She researches in children’s play, teaching pedagogies to facilitate dialogue, connection and meaningful engagement in the early years, culturally and linguistically responsive pedagogies, early literacy development, voice, access to early childhood education for families experiencing disadvantage and pre-service teacher education. Her teaching at Western Sydney University is closely aligned with her research areas in Professional Experience, Literacy (Birth-12 years) and Play focused subjects. In her current role at Western Sydney University Jaydene is an Academic Program Advisor for the Early Childhood/Primary teaching programs. Jaydene’s PhD focuses on play based learning in Australian primary schools.
