The University of Newcastle proudly hosted the 2025 Big Day In event for secondary school students across the Hunter Valley and regional New South Wales. More than 350 students attended to hear from leading IT professionals representing organisations such as Adobe, the Australian Defence Force, Microsoft, the Australian Signals Directorate, and Westpac.

The event was opened by Professor Craig Simmons, Pro Vice-Chancellor of the College of Engineering, Science and Environment and Sharon Claydon MP, Federal member for Newcastle and deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives.

I had the privilege of presenting insights from Adobe and the World Economic Forum on generative AI in education, along with the skills students will need to thrive in the future workplace. I also conducted a live Adobe Express demonstration, showcasing video and animation tools. Around 250 students accessed a curated set of my Adobe Express tutorial resources, bringing the total number of educators and students who have engaged with these materials to over 3,400.