Michelle Barry is a child health promotion leader whose work centres on amplifying the voices of children and young people, particularly those high‑priority health population communities. Educated at University College Dublin, Michelle’s career has taken her across Australia, Hong Kong, and the NSW South Coast, where she has developed strong expertise in child‑led practice, inclusive program design and advocating for play for the health and well-being of all children. Michelle’s early work in the Northern Territory supporting children in statutory out‑of‑home care shaped her commitment to ensuring that young people’s lived experiences drive decision‑making in health and wellbeing initiatives. She now leads the Active In-Betweens program at Healthy Cities Australia, providing accessible active play and healthy eating opportunities for primary‑school‑aged children in priority population areas, and Play Illawarra, which activates community play spaces through engaging community play events for all ages and abilities and digital campaigns. Michelle recently completed Play Australia’s Playwork training program adding to Bachelor of Social Science with focus on child development. Known for her creativity, adaptability, and relationship‑centred approach, she brings a deep understanding of children’s voice, community engagement, and the critical role of play in children’s health and development.

Daniel Burton is the CEO and co-founder of Educated by Nature, a world leader in play-based nature education since 2014. A qualified primary school teacher, education consultant, rites of passage facilitator, musical theatre artist and nature connection mentor, Daniel’s work sits at the intersection of play, wellbeing, learning and relationship. He supports schools and communities to create the conditions for rich outdoor play, learning and belonging. Daniel is a certified Nesting Ambassador and holds Senior Playwork Practitioner training through Play Australia and Play Wales. His practice is shaped by playwork theory, deep nature connection, occupational therapy-informed understandings of sensory development, and contemporary research into child development, mental health and learning. Daniel brings a practical, on-the-ground approach, helping adults notice children’s play cues, respond with care, and create environments that hold both freedom and safety. Daniel shares his work through keynotes, workshops and consultancy in Australia and internationally, helping adults step back, notice more, and create the conditions where people can explore, discover and thrive outdoors. A growing focus of his work is advocacy for play across the lifespan, including adolescent play. Daniel speaks openly about the importance of teenagers having meaningful access to risk, challenge, creativity, connection and permission to play, particularly within school systems where play is often misunderstood or reduced.

Robyn is CEO of Play Australia, the national advocacy organisation for play and since 2017, President of the International Play Association (IPA World). Her career has encompassed senior leadership roles in education, local government, children’s services, and the not-for-profit sector. She was on the UN working group for the development of a General Comment on Article 31, and the global working group for the International Day of Play. She speaks regularly on the importance of play as a biological imperative, critical for development and essential for social cohesion. In 2025, Robyn undertook a Churchill Fellowship examining international play initiatives supporting children’s health and wellbeing, she hopes her findings will help shape a national agenda for play in Australia.