Showcasing Westlake Girls’ Leadership in AI Integration
Last week, Westlake Girls’ Futures Education & AI Lead Susana Tomaz was invited to speak at EDUtech Australia, one of the region’s largest and most influential education and technology conferences. Over two dynamic days, Susana led three sessions. She engaged with a global network of educators, researchers, and policymakers, sharing insights from her journey in developing and implementing a strategic roadmap for whole-school AI integration at Westlake Girls.
Her presentations focused on the responsible and ethical use of Artificial Intelligence in education, drawing on research from her Master’s degree with academyEX, as well as her international work through the Asia-Europe Foundation (ASEF) and the International Research Center on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI), under the auspices of UNESCO.
A personal highlight for Susana was meeting Professor Rose Luckin, a leading voice in AI and education from University College London (UCL). As a proud UCL alumna, Susana holds a special place in her heart for the university, which helped shape her early thinking as an educator and leader. She maintains strong ties with UCL through her work with the International Research Centre on Artificial Intelligence (IRCAI), coordinated by fellow UCL academic Professor Wayne Holmes. Meeting Professor Luckin, whose pioneering work at the intersection of metacognition and AI has long influenced her, was inspiring and affirming. Their shared philosophy on ethical, learner-centred AI integration reinforced Susana’s belief that technology must always serve pedagogy, not the other way around. It was a powerful reminder that the work at Westlake Girls aligns with some of the most respected international thought leadership in the field.
“I always say to educators, learn fast, but act more slowly. Do not feel pressurised to buy into an AI. Do not feel pressurised to select an AI tool until you are ready. It’s really important that you learn enough about artificial intelligence first so that you can decide what purpose you want the AI to serve you and then design the way that you interact with AI strategically.” Rose Luckin
Susana also reconnected with Christina Wiremu-Brook, a trailblazing Māori leader who has played a key role in developing NSW EduChat, a secure, curriculum-aligned AI tool at the New South Wales Department of Education. Hosted on the Department’s cloud infrastructure, EduChat prioritises privacy, equity, and critical thinking.
Susana thanks the organisers and those who contributed to insightful conversations. Through this experience, she has reaffirmed her commitment to ensuring Westlake Girls remains at the forefront of future-focused, ethical, and inclusive education.