Dr. Danielle Einstein

Dr Einstein is a clinical psychologist who has treated anxiety for three decades. She was the first Australian clinical psychologist to publicly call for school phone bans. In 2024, she drew on her research with schools, books, and theory of uncertainty to challenge prevailing arguments and educate the Australian public about the harms of social media, with a particular focus on anxiety, child development, and the addictive pull of screens. She contributed expert opinion to Australian policy initiatives, the mainstream media and presented critical evidence to the Senate inquiry. In 2024, she was thanked in the Australian Federal Parliament for “living up to her name”.

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She has been invited to the UK and NZ to address heads of schools, parliamentarians, and representatives from DSIT, spoken at an ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission in Brunei and features prominently in the global media. Her research provides insights into emotional regulation, anxiety and our relationship with technology. At the core of her work is an understanding that changing our responses to uncertainty and worry will improve wellbeing in the digital age.

Professor Frank Oberklaid AM

Professor Frank Oberklaid AM is an internationally recognised paediatrician, researcher and advocate for children’s health. He was Foundation Director of the Centre for Community Child Health at The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne for more than 25 years and is now Co-Group Leader, Policy and Equity, at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute.

His work focuses on prevention, early intervention, child development and mental health, and translating research into policy and practice.

Frank has authored more than 200 scientific publications and has advised governments through numerous national committees and expert groups, including co-chairing the Thriving Kids Advisory Group and co-chairing the National Children’s Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy.

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Angela Falkenberg

Angela Falkenberg is President of the Australian Primary Principals Association (APPA), representing more than 7,600 primary school principals nationally. A former principal of three primary schools, Angela is a nationally respected education leader with extensive experience across primary, secondary and system leadership, including wellbeing, behaviour and literacy. She began her career in Indigenous education in the Northern Territory and has led innovative cross-sector initiatives, including at Adelaide’s Women’s and Children’s Hospital. Angela holds a Master’s degree in Special Education and is a passionate advocate for equitable outcomes, student wellbeing and the development of teachers and school leaders.

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Angela works closely with governments, education authorities, universities and professional associations to influence policy and strengthen leadership capability. She has contributed to national education policy through roles including the Thriving Kids Advisory Group and the National Teaching and Learning Commission. As APPA President, she advocates for the profession and champions the vital role of primary education and school leaders in shaping Australia’s future.

Dr Mary Brushe

Dr Mary Brushe is a Senior Research Officer at The Kids Research Institute and an Adjunct Fellow at the University of Adelaide and the University of Western Australia. A public health researcher and epidemiologist, her work focuses on early childhood health and development, screen time and the social determinants of health.

Her research into screen time and early language development has received international media attention, while her Early Start Screen Smart program supports families with young children to develop healthy, evidence-informed screen habits. Mary is also actively involved in public health advocacy and currently serves as President of the South Australian Branch of the Public Health Association of Australia.

Dr Huu Kim Le

Dr Huu Kim Le is a consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist based in Adelaide, South Australia, where he runs a fully online telehealth private practice. In 2015, he founded CGI Clinic and has developed a particular interest in Gaming Disorder and the impacts of problematic technology use on young people.

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Alongside his clinical work, Kim is an experienced public speaker, having delivered a TEDx Talk at Adelaide Town Hall and won the South Australian Toastmasters competition in 2018. His interest in communicating complex issues in engaging ways also led him to host the SBS On Demand documentary 'Are You Addicted to Technology?' in 2021.

Associate Professor David Dossetor AO

Associate Professor David Dossetor AO was awarded an AO this year for his career leadership and academic contribution in Child Psychiatry at the Children’s Hospital at Westmead, his contribution to developing Intellectual Disability Mental Health, and his influence on training and education in paediatrics and other child disciplines. He has led the establishment of the Developmental Neuropsychiatry Service, which includes the MHID Hub, a statewide second-opinion and short-term intervention service; the SCHN School-Link Project, which focuses on the prevention, promotion and early intervention of MHID in NSW schools; and The Feelings Program: Emotional Learning for Autism research and interventions.

His work has consistently emphasised the importance of communicating difficult health messages in ways that inform and empower families without adding to stigma or blame. Above all, he remains an advocate for children with intellectual and developmental disability and their families, working to enable their equitable access to quality health and mental health services.

Dr Samantha Marsh

Dr Samantha Marsh is a senior research fellow in the Department of General Practice and Primary Care and has been a faculty member within the School of Population Health since 2016. She holds a PhD, MPH, and BCom/BSc and previously worked in medical writing and the pharmaceutical industry before leaving to pursue a career in public health.

Her research focuses on child and youth health and well-being and how stressful home environments and the parent-child relationship can impact health-related decisions, particularly in the context of risk and uncertainty. In 2023, Samantha joined the Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, where she works closely with the Immunisation Advisory Centre (IMAC). Samantha also undertakes research and advocates for the safe use of technology in youth, focusing on the impact of social media on youth mental health.

Emily Harrison

Emily Harrison is Director of Wait Mate in South Australia, a national parent-led not-for-profit supporting families to delay giving children smartphones for as long as possible. A mother of two, Emily joined Wait Mate as a volunteer before taking the case for wider support to the South Australian Government, securing funding to bring the program to school-aged families across the state.

She now leads the two-year rollout in partnership with education sectors, schools and parent communities. Wait Mate’s approach is built on strength in numbers, helping families set shared expectations around smartphones so parents and children are supported by their wider school community.

Mackenzie Forrester

Mackenzie Forrester believes childhood should be full of adventure, meaningful friendships and time to explore. As Founder and Executive Director of Screen Sanity Australia, she helps families and schools build healthier habits around technology so kids can be more captivated by life than screens.

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Mackenzie studied journalism at the University of Colorado and went on to work in entrepreneurship, communications and residential design. After moving to Australia, she helped shape the early design direction of Aria Property Group.

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Mackenzie also leads The Forrester Foundation, a family foundation focused on sustainability, community initiatives and digital health. As a mother of four, she understands how hard it can be to make decisions about technology at home. Through Screen Sanity Australia, she gives parents practical tools to start conversations, set boundaries that work for their families and learn from one another.

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She believes that when parents and schools take small steps together, they can change the culture of childhood. Outside work, Mackenzie enjoys trail running, yoga, exploring the outdoors and sharing good food and conversation with family and friends.

Dr Mark Williams OAM

Dr Mark Williams OAM is an internationally renowned neuroscientist, best-selling author and keynote speaker on how the modern world is reshaping the way we think, learn and connect. Recently featured on 60 Minutes, he draws on more than 25 years of research, including 70+ published papers and positions at institutions such as MIT, to translate complex neuroscience into simple, practical strategies.

A regular media commentator (Sunrise, Today, The Guardian, Forbes, BBC) and author of the #1 bestsellers The Connected Species and Screen Smart Children, Dr Mark delivers evidence-based tools for productivity, leadership and wellbeing that leave audiences thinking differently about what their brains can achieve.

Dr Lilijana Gorringe

Dr Lil Gorringe is a Senior Lecturer in Medical Education at the University of Sydney’s Concord Clinical School and an experienced GP with more than 15 years of clinical practice across Sydney. She is passionate about medical education, mentoring and supporting the next generation of clinicians, while also maintaining a strong interest in child and adolescent health. 

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Lil’s research focuses on the impact of technology and digital environments on young people’s wellbeing, including the role of health professionals in identifying and managing technology-related health concerns. She brings a practical, evidence-based perspective shaped by her experience as a clinician, educator and researcher.

Dr Maneesh Deva

Dr Maneesh Deva is a general paediatrician and researcher based in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand, working with Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora Waitematā. His clinical work spans acute, inpatient and outpatient paediatrics, as well as health assessments for children involved with care and protection services.

Maneesh brings a frontline clinical perspective to early childhood technology use, with particular interest in how screen habits intersect with sleep, active play, learning and responsive relationships.

He is a medical advisor for KidsHealth.org.nz, a member of the Paediatric Society of New Zealand | Arotamariki, and a board member of B416.co.nz, advocating for stronger protections for children online.

Dr Grace Hancock

Dr Grace Hancock is a Melbourne-based clinical psychologist with more than 10 years’ experience supporting children and adolescents. She specialises in mental health and neurodivergence, with a particular interest in how increasing technology use affects young people’s attention, emotional development, learning and wellbeing.

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Grace is passionate about closing the gap between research and everyday practices in schools and at home. She works with families and schools to encourage intentional, purposeful use of screens and devices rather than reliance by default.

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Grace also manages the Building Brains network, which connects Australian parents and teachers with research about children’s learning, development and wellbeing.

Dr Brad Marshall

Dr Brad Marshall (B.A.Psych; MHSc.Beh Sci; MRes; PhD)

President AGASA, Psychologist // Director of The Screen and Gaming Disorder Clinic, Adjunct Fellow Macquarie University

Brad is recognised as one of the leading experts in smartphone addiction and computer game addiction. As the Director of The Screen & Gaming Disorder Clinic; Australia’s first established specialty clinic, he is a well-respected presenter and speaker on the topic. He is the author of three best-selling international books that have been published in over 30 countries world-wide. In his spare time Brad conducts research with world leading academics at Macquarie University and published Australia’s first ever clinical treatment trials for smartphone addiction and gaming disorder. 

Trish Daley

Trish Daley is an experienced and current primary school teacher. She has worked in independent, non systemic and systemic schools in Sydney, London and Kuala Lumpur. She has been a member of school leadership teams responsible for shaping school based curriculum and classroom practice. She has also had experience as an external school based practice observer and was a member of New York public schools parent leadership team.

Trish has always had a keen interest in optimising student engagement which began during her early studies in the psychology of learning, and has continued throughout her career including her current teaching practice. Whilst educational pedagogy has remained relatively predictable in its ebbs and flows the impact of the evolution of technology both on teaching practice and student engagement is only just beginning to be critically analysed.

Derek McCormack

Derek McCormack is Director of the Raising Children Network, leading the development and delivery of evidence-informed resources that support parents and carers across Australia. With a background in science communication, digital media and web development, Derek has more than 20 years’ experience translating research into practical, accessible information for families and professionals.

He is an Honorary Fellow at the Murdoch Children’s Research Institute and works closely with governments, community organisations and other partners. His expertise spans child development, parent engagement, parenting support, child resilience and mental health, with a particular focus on knowledge translation, co-design and effective communication with families.

Prof Michael Nagel

Dr Michael Nagel is an Associate Professor at the University of the Sunshine Coast, where he teaches and researches child and adolescent development, behaviour and learning.

His work has a particular focus on educational psychology and paediatric brain development, and he has authored 28 books used by parents, students and universities around the world.

Michael is also an experienced keynote speaker, having presented at hundreds of schools in Australia and internationally. He regularly contributes to public conversations around child development and parenting through television, radio and print media, including appearances on Sunrise, A Current Affair, ABC National and The Project.

Dany Elachi

Dany Elachi is a Sydney father of five school-aged children and founder of the Heads Up Alliance, a national grassroots movement of Australian parents established in 2020 to help families navigate a screen-saturated world and reclaim childhood as a time for play, exploration and human connection.

What began as a small group of concerned parents has grown into a national movement, with local parent alliances across Australia helping families delay smartphones and social media for their children.

The Heads Up Alliance has successfully advocated for the removal of smartphones from hundreds of Australian schools and was a leading advocate for Australia's world-first social media minimum age law.

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More recently, Dany has turned his attention to the growing use of screens and digital devices in Australian schools. In August 2026, the Heads Up Alliance launched a national petition calling for a rethink of the screen-based classroom and a renewed emphasis on books, handwriting, pen and paper, and direct teacher instruction, particularly in the early years of schooling. The petition attracted tens of thousands of signatures and helped advance an overdue national conversation on the role of screens and technology in education.

Prof Wayne Warburton

Dr Wayne Warburton is a Professor of developmental psychology at Macquarie University and also a registered psychologist. His research, scientific publications and books are primarily about aggressive behaviour, screen disorders and the impacts of digital media on human psychology.

He is co-author of several statements by international panels of scientists, including for the US Supreme Court. His programs for screen disordered teens have featured on Australian Story and Spotlight.

Wayne has won >25 awards for his scholarship and teaching, including several Australian Psychological Society awards and the 2018 Distinguished Scientific Contribution to Media Psychology Award from the American Psychological Association.

Dr Daniela Vecchio

Dr Daniela Vecchio is head of mental health and addiction services at Fiona Stanley Hospital. She is the pioneer in establishing the first publicly funded gaming disorder clinic in Australia in 2022.

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She has seen increasing numbers of young people with addiction to video games and social media and was quick to recognise the distress and harms caused to them and their families. The clinic is unique worldwide, in providing early detection and intervention in an acute hospital setting. 

As a director of the Australian Gaming and Screens Alliance, she is promoting education and research into harmful online use and influencing national policy. 

https://australianoftheyear.org.au/recipients/dr-daniela-vecchio

Dr Phillip Tam

Dr Tam has a wide range of clinical interests and expertise within the broad field of child psychiatry, including treating depressive and anxiety disorders, ADHD, autism-spectrum disorders and other complex mental health difficulties.

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Placing an emphasis on the family and broader social/educational environment, Dr Tam explores how these shape the development of a patient’s condition, and how they can be addressed and improved to assist in the journey to recovery. He gives particular emphasis to any relevant cultural or trans-cultural aspects which may be relevant to the patient.

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Dr. Tam is an acknowledged Australian and global pioneer in the emerging field of ‘internet-related psychology’ (sometimes dubbed ‘internet addiction’) and is currently involved in many local and international research projects in this area. He has written numerous articles and book chapters on this topic for general and professional audiences, presents lectures and workshops on this, and regularly comments in the international media.