Matt Esterman has over 15 years working in schools and beyond as a leading voice in the thoughtful adoption of technology. He is a trained History teacher, with two masters degrees and who has made a significant contribution to professional learning in Australia and overseas. He has been recognised with several awards, most recently as a Commonwealth Bank Teaching Fellow, provided by Australian Schools Plus. Matt has founded The Next Word, a consultancy that seeks to leverage AI and other technologies to help shape a better future. He works with schools, universities and other organisations to increase awareness and capability in using AI. He has co-authored a book titled “The Next Word: AI & Teachers” with Dr Nick Jackson, which launched in 2024. Matt has been appointed a Visiting Fellow in the School of Education at Western Sydney University, and has joined the AI research hub at Oxford University.