HOSTED BY TWO TEACHERS AND A 21 YEAR OLD CEO
.png)
As a teacher, speaker, facilitator, and advocate, Amanda champions what she believes to be the most important profession on the planet: educating our youth. She understands that the development of young people involves numerous 'extra' elements that are woven into educational spaces, and it's these elements, beyond the standard lesson plan, that she is here to discuss.
With a deep appreciation for diverse cultures and ways of life, Amanda has dedicated the last seven years to the Australian Indigenous education space. This experience has nurtured her profound understanding of the importance of inclusivity and equity. Passionate about fostering a more inclusive world, she tirelessly advocates for creating environments that embrace diversity and promote equal opportunities for all.
She is a Co-Founder of Youth Engagement Project, which aims to enhance the landscape of youth engagement across Australia. Amanda has had the privilege of speaking on international stages, advocating for and guiding young people to explore their true selves and uncover what motivates them in life. Amanda holds both her Bachelor of Education and Master of Business Administration. Recently, Amanda moved back to Melbourne, which she finds significantly colder than she recalls. When it comes to cuisine, if she had to choose one to eat for the rest of her life, it would unequivocally be Thai.
Skye has more than a decade of experience in the educational field and has held numerous roles in a variety of school settings—from top-end schools to suburban Melbourne, and most recently, part of Middle School Leadership in the private system. Skye is immensely proud to identify as a teacher, a profession she regards as one of the most externally unrewarded yet intrinsically rewarding vocations.
She strongly believes that while teaching brings immense joy, it requires a revitalising shake-up to unlock its full potential. Skye studied public speaking at Stanford University, holds a Bachelor’s degree in both Arts (Film and English Literature) and Secondary Education and Graduate Certificates in International and Community Development and Careers Education and Development, and is a dedicated lifelong learner.
Outside of teaching, Skye’s role is as Co-Founder of Youth Engagement Project (affectionately known as YEP) , an initiative dedicated to transforming the landscape of youth engagement. YEP achieves this through Teacher Professional Development and supporting the training of facilitators and workers within youth organisations and government bodies. Skye is a firm believer that anyone can become an engaging educator and presenter with access to the right tools. With a passion for crispy food, in her free time you’ll find Skye often overusing the grill setting on her oven or walking her dog, Pickles, named after Tommy Pickles from the Rugrats.
Wil brings a fresh, youthful perspective to discussions about young people's roles in shaping education and the broader world. As a proud member of Generation Z, Wil champions intergenerational collaboration as a crucial element for positive change in classrooms, schools, and beyond.
A few fast facts about Wil: Wil is the CEO & Founder of Youth Leadership Academy Australia, an initiative he started as a 15-year-old high school student in 2018. Since then, YLAA has collaborated with over 1,200 schools and engaged with 40,000 young people. He also regularly consults with local and state governments to ensure that the voices of youth are heard and integrated in a meaningful way.
Wil's ambitious vision is to equip all young people with the tools and resources necessary to lead themselves, their schools, and their communities effectively.
Aside from his educational and leadership pursuits, Wil has a keen interest in aviation. He started his first business at the age of 11, which was dedicated to aviation. He is such an enthusiast that he is known to whip out the flight tracker app whenever a plane flies overhead, no matter his location.
Youth Leadership Academy Australia (YLAA) has significantly impacted schools and young individuals across the nation since its establishment. As a social enterprise, YLAA's dedication to leadership development has reached over 40,000 young people and worked with 1200 schools, with our programs fostering essential skills for future leadership and community involvement.
Our engagement extends to both primary and secondary educational levels, delivering bespoke programs and hosting major conferences in all major Australian cities.
Through these initiatives, YLAA has not only facilitated the development of leadership skills but has also created platforms for young people to engage with their communities meaningfully. These efforts are a testament to our commitment to nurturing the next generation of leaders who are equipped to handle the challenges of the future and drive positive societal change.
.png)
The Youth Engagement Project is dedicated to empowering organisations, educators and speakers to make a genuine and lasting impact on the lives of young people. We believe in moving beyond tokenistic presentations or workshops by equipping facilitators, speakers and educators with the necessary skills to engage youth authentically. Our comprehensive training is grounded in self-determination theory, neuroscience and cognitive psychology. It goes beyond traditional methods, focusing on techniques that foster an ability to build meaningful connections, active participation and transformative experiences.
We enable facilitators to tap into their genuine strengths and personal genius in order to have a profound impact on the lives of young people. Our goal is to help organisations build a legacy of genuine engagement where they can drive meaningful change by allowing young people to be heard, inspired and empowered to shape their own future.