Our VAGTC committee comprises passionate advocates, educators, and researchers dedicated to gifted education. Their varied backgrounds, from award-winning teaching to specialized research, provide a unique and holistic approach to nurturing gifted potential. Explore their profiles to discover the wealth of expertise driving our efforts for gifted education in Victoria.
DipEd, BSc, MEd(ICTE).
President
Kathy is a curriculum writer for the Victorian High Ability Program and teaches VHAP Mathematics through Virtual School Victoria. With 15 years as Coordinator of Gifted Education at the Compass Centre and Exemplary Teacher at Methodist Ladies’ College, she brings a wealth of experience to gifted education. Kathy was awarded the Australian Mathematics Trust Teaching Award in 2018 and has completed postgraduate research on the use of ICT with gifted learners. She is a skilled presenter, coach, and consultant, regularly contributing to seminars and conferences. A passionate advocate for gifted students and broader social justice, Kathy volunteers across various causes and strives to inspire students to think critically, act ethically, and use their talents to create meaningful change.Top of Form
BA, GDipEd, GDipEd(SpecEd), MEd, PhD.
Vice President
Dr Susan Nikakis is a Senior Gifted Education Officer at Melbourne Archdiocese Catholic Schools (MACS), where she leads the development and delivery of system-wide improvements and pedagogical initiatives to better support gifted learners. With a background in English teaching across six secondary schools and experience in senior leadership roles, including Deputy Principal, Susan brings deep insight and practical expertise to her current work at James Goold House. A passionate advocate for equity in education, she champions the right of all students to be taught with thoughtfulness, justice, and appropriate challenge. Additionally, Susan has served as a Director of the Australian Association for the Education of Gifted and Talented, and has recently released her publications; Differentiation for Gifted Students in a Secondary School (2022) and,
Too Quirky, Too Quick, 2E: Twice-Exceptional Gifted Students (2025, Amba Press).
DipEd, BA(Japanese & Philosophy), MEd-Gifted(Exc).
Vice President
Victoria Poulos brings over 25 years of personal and professional experience working with gifted children, offering a uniquely informed and compassionate perspective in the field. Holding a Master’s in Gifted Education, for which she received an Academic Excellence Award, she shares her research and insights internationally. Victoria has represented Australia as a delegate to both the Asia-Pacific Federation of Giftedness and the World Council for Gifted and Talented Children (WCGTC). Her work has been published in the Australasian Journal of Gifted Education and the National Symposium on Japanese Language Education (NSJLE). With a strong interest in supporting twice-exceptional learners, homeschooling, and equipping parents with practical strategies, Victoria is a dedicated advocate for gifted education, committed to helping families and educators meet the complex needs of gifted learners with empathy and evidence-based practice.
BA, BEd, MEd-Gifted.
Secretary
Claire Reid is an experienced English and Psychology teacher who has worked across both private and public-school systems. With a long-standing passion for gifted education, she has spent several years developing programs, running events, and teaching gifted learners. Claire contributed as a course writer for the Victorian High Ability Program and currently teaches gifted English students across Victoria through VHAP. Her key areas of expertise include curriculum development and supporting the social and emotional wellbeing of gifted students. In her 2015 master’s thesis, she explored the positive social and emotional “flow-on effects” of grouping gifted students together for academic enrichment.
Treasurer
BA, BEd(Sec), MA(AppLing)
Amy Horneman is an English and German teacher with over a decade of experience as a K–12 gifted education practitioner across a range of independent schools. She is currently Head of Academic Extension (gifted education) across campuses at Ivanhoe Grammar School in Melbourne. Amy’s key areas of interest include mentoring—particularly social and emotional development—student voice, leadership development, and holistic collaboration. Actively involved with the Victorian Association for Gifted and Talented Children, she contributes as a consultant, seminar writer, and presenter. Amy also designs and delivers professional learning for educators, parents, and students, and has completed postgraduate studies in both educational leadership and gifted education.
BA, DipEd, COGE, MEdLead, GCertEdRes. PhD
Dr Bernadette Sheedy has been specialising in gifted education for nearly 20 years. In 2024, she graduated with her PhD which focused on gifted education in Victoria during the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020-21. She is currently the High Ability Learning Specialist at Box Hill High School and had been the Gifted and Talented Coordinator at her two previous schools. Bernadette has delivered presentations for organisations including the VAGTC, VATE and the Teacher Learning Network. She is a passionate advocate for highly able students and is actively involved in gifted networks across Melbourne. Bernadette has also published articles in IDIOM, the journal for VATE, and VISION, the journal for the VAGTC.
GDipEd(Prim), GDipPubCom, BA(Hons), MEd(InclSpec).
Ruth Evans is an experienced educator currently working at Mentone Grammar School, where she designs and delivers gifted education programs for primary students. Additionally, her background includes her operating her educational consultancy and facilitating programs for G.A.T.E.WAYS across Australia. Ruth also co-edits Vision magazine with her colleague Laura Wilcox, sharing valuable insights and resources with educators and parents in the gifted education community. She is deeply committed to advocating for gifted learners and supporting their growth to become curious, lifelong learners. Outside of her professional life, Ruth enjoys reading, gardening, printmaking, family game nights, and walking her dog.
CertND, DipCoun, BTeach, BEd, MEd-Gifted(Exc).
Catherine Cross is an experienced educator with 30 years of teaching expertise and currently leads, coordinates, and teaches the Gifted and Talented program at an independent college in Melbourne. Passionate about gifted education and neurodivergence, she is committed to supporting students not only academically but also psychosocially, emotionally, and behaviourally. Catherine has strategically shaped her postgraduate studies to specialise in best practice for high-ability learners, earning her the Academic Excellence Award for her Master of Gifted Education. Recognised for her warmth, humour, innovative, and strength-based approaches, Catherine continues to write, present, and contribute to professional publications, establishing herself as a respected voice in the field of gifted education.
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