Highlights from the 10th International Outdoor Education Research Conference, Japan 2024

David Hills is a lecturer in Outdoor Education at the University of the Sunshine Coast Australia. His research areas in outdoor education include educational technology, curriculum development, and transnational education. Dave is also certified in all major disciples of outdoor education fieldwork and values bridging theory and practice.

Glyn has worked as an outdoor educator since 1991 across a range of contexts. His research and teaching interests lie in facilitation and experiential education pedagogy. His recent research has focused on near-peer teaching and the motivations for participation in outdoor recreation activities like rockclimbing, mountain biking, and bushwalking. He is a keen climber and golfer and his enthusiasm exceeds his abilities in both pursuits.

As CEO and Co-Chair of Outward Bound Australia, Loren returned to outdoor education in 2020 to lead Outward Bound through change and innovation. This capstones 30 years in education, including executive roles in universities and consulting. Loren knows outdoor education well, having worked as a Group Leader in her early career with Outward Bound, and from working with OEG and Sport and Recreation Victoria. Passionate about the future of outdoor education, Loren is the founder the collaborative initiative to establish a National Centre for Outdoor Risk and Readiness (NatCORR) – to mitigate climate change impacts for outdoor practitioners in Australia. Loren has a Doctorate of Education, MBA, Grad Dip of Education, BSc, CPA and AICD.

Marcus Morse is Associate Professor of Outdoor and Environmental Education at the University of Tasmania, Australia. His research focuses on place-based and relational outdoor environmental education, community engagement projects, river experience, and wild pedagogies.

Professor Tonia Gray is a Senior Researcher in the Centre for Educational Research at Western Sydney University. With a Masters in Community Health and a PhD in Education, Tonia’s transdisciplinary research explores the intersection of outdoor experiential education, human-nature relationships, gender and health/wellbeing. She is Chair of the Australian Tertiary Outdoor Educators Network and co-editor-in-chief of the Journal Outdoor and Environmental Education.

I am a Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne. Since early days at teacher’s college, I have wondered why we do things the way we do. Outdoor education opened my eyes to many possibilities, beyond the straight jacket of indoor education. I continued to question in this direction, leading me to think and read a lot more about experience, with the belief that the better we understand experience, the better we understand outdoor education and education more broadly. I have written articles and books to share these ideas. I am also an editor-in-chief of our journal, the Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education.

I’ve been kicking around the outdoor industry for over 25 years wearing every hat under the sun. Having done every job imaginable in outdoor education and adventure tourism including running my own wilderness adventure business, I now find myself spinning many plates simultaneously. Currently I am PhD student in the School of Education at Western Sydney University looking at integrating place-based EOTC into Australian secondary schools to enhance student wellbeing, school engagement, and academic buoyancy. I balance this out by working for Outdoors NSW & ACT, Western Sydney Uni and Greater Sydney Parklands to keep it real.

Ian is an experienced educator, currently working as a Lecturer in Outdoor Recreation/Education at Victoria University. He has designed, developed, and delivered numerous Outdoor Education courses and programs and is committed and passionate about providing excellent teaching and learning opportunities. Ian completed his Master’s degree which investigated the effect an Outdoor Education experience had on secondary school students learning capacity in English. He is currently undertaking his PhD at Federation University Australia, focussing on the development of professional identity of outdoor educators. Ian has shared his research and teaching practice at state, national and international conferences.

Teacher, leading teacher, campus principal at Somers School Camp for 48 years.

PhD and M. Ed at the University of Melbourne with John Quay. B. Ed., Diploma of Primary Teaching, Diploma of Outdoor Recreation, Diploma of Sustainability, Certificate 4 in Workplace Training and Assessment, Level 2 Surf Coach.

Keen surfer, rock climber and recidivist owner builder.

I am a Professor in the Faculty of Education at the University of Melbourne. Since early days at teacher’s college, I have wondered why we do things the way we do. Outdoor education opened my eyes to many possibilities, beyond the straight jacket of indoor education. I continued to question in this direction, leading me to think and read a lot more about experience, with the belief that the better we understand experience, the better we understand outdoor education and education more broadly. I have written articles and books to share these ideas. I am also an editor-in-chief of our journal, the Journal of Outdoor and Environmental Education.