BETTER THINKING

BETTER DECISIONS

Critical Thinking for Public & Professional Leadership

JEREMY MAYALL • SHANE HOLMES • DEB BROWN • KIRSTEN BIRKHOUT • SHARON AMOS

Public Panel exploring how critical thinking can strengthen judgement, leadership & decision-making for organisations, public service & communities. 

Bringing together leaders from policing, education, climate advocacy, philosophy and the creative sector to explore how practical critical thinking training can strengthen judgement, improve decision-making and support better outcomes for organisations and communities.

The panel will focus on critical thinking in practice: not as abstract theory, but as a set of structured tools that can help people reason more clearly, make better decisions and navigate complex professional and public contexts.

This event will be especially relevant for community stakeholders, public servants, government agencies, educators, organisational leaders and anyone interested in improving the quality of decision-making across professional and community settings.

Wednesday 8 July 2026

GMT+1200 NZ  •  6pm - 7.30pm NZT  •  4pm - 5.30pm AEST

Hybrid Event

In Person: MSB 1.36 • Waikato Management School • University of Waikato 

Online: Via Zoom. 

Free ticketed event. Registration details will appear here when announced.

JEREMY MAYALL - MC

CEO of Creative Waikato / Toi Waikato

Jeremy is an advocate for arts, culture and creativity and the role that they play as an essential part of community wellbeing.

He is a composer, musician, artist, producer and researcher who is committed to making the world a more interesting place.

Born and raised in Kirikiriroa, Jeremy is a passionate arts champion (hypebeast), and is fascinated by the interrelationships between sound, time, space, the senses, and the human experience.

He is a multi-disciplinary collaborator, and has been a part of projects with musicians, dancers, poets, circus performers, theatre practitioners, scientists, perfumers, bakers, mixologists, authors, sculptors, painters, photographers, filmmakers, health professionals, pyrotechnicians, lighting designers and immersive visual artists.

As well as being a creative person, he has a background as an academic researcher, so understands the importance of the arts, culture and creativity and the impact they have on our communities at all levels.

SHANE HOLMES

Acting Assistant Commissioner, Queensland Police Service, Australia

Shane Holmes joined the Queensland Police Service (QPS) in 1990. He performed the majority of his service on the Gold Coast as a Detective within the Criminal Investigation Branch and then later returned to uniform duties as the officer in charge of a police station of more than 90 officers.

He was promoted to the Commissioned rank in 2011 and has undertaken a variety of roles across multiple operational portfolios, including specialist police capabilities, organisational reform and disaster management which required Shane to command the Queensland State Disaster Coordination Centre during natural disasters and the COVID pandemic. Shane was awarded the Australian Police Medal in the Australia Day 2024 Honours List.

Shane is deeply committed to fostering leadership excellence within the QPS. He led the development and delivery of the QPS Senior Leaders course in partnership with the University of Queensland critical thinking project team, the Australian Institute of Police Management and other expert providers specialising in leadership, ethics, and organisational culture. In his current role, he is the senior responsible officer for all recruitment and education and training programs for the QPS.

Shane holds a Masters in Business Administration, a Bachelor of Policing (Investigations) and Diploma level qualifications in Emergency Management, Business and Project Management.

DEB BROWN

Director, Critical Thinking Project, University of Queensland, Australia

Deborah Brown is Professor of Philosophy at the University of Queensland, Director of the UQ Critical Thinking Project, Principal Practitioner for Critical Thinking at the Institute for Teaching and Learning Innovation at UQ, and a fellow of the Australian Academy of Humanities. She leads professional learning and research collaborations with K-12 schools, departments of education, and government and non-government organisations to embed critical thinking within education and leadership training and coordinates academic capability building programs for marginalised school students.

KIRSTEN BIRKHOUT 

Co-founder of the Young Independents Project

Kirsten Berkhout is a philosophy graduate from the University of Queensland who is passionate about sharing the power of philosophy for a better world. She is co-founder of the Young Independents Project - an Australian not-for-profit working to engage young people in democracy through community independent politics. Her work involves training young people in grassroots campaigning and community organising, as well as facilitating intergenerational relationship building to strengthen the community independents movement. From writing a fundraising pitch to running a door-knocking program, Kirsten is a firm believer that critical thinking and philosophical argumentation are some of the most powerful skills an aspiring change-maker can have in their toolkit.

SHARON AMOS

Executive Principal | Instructional Leader | Leadership Coach

Sharon Amos is an accomplished educational leader, executive principal, leadership coach, and former corporate executive with more than 27 years of experience across education, business, leadership development, and organisational transformation.

Currently serving as Executive Principal of Park Ridge State High School, one of Queensland's largest and fastest-growing secondary schools, Sharon is recognised for her work in instructional leadership, curriculum innovation, school improvement, and building high-performance cultures in complex educational settings under her leadership. Winner of 2024 Department of Education Showcase Award and nominated in the top 8 across Australia for Principal of the Year and School of the Year 2026 in the Australia Educator Awards. Park Ridge State High School has become a recognised leader in curriculum design, student outcomes, industry partnerships, and educational innovation.

Prior to her educational career, Sharon held senior leadership and promotional leadership roles across national and international business organisations, including Coles Myer, Grace Bros, Macy's and McDonald's & East. Her corporate experience included leading large-scale teams, coaching emerging leaders, managing organisational change, and driving strategic growth across diverse markets.

Sharon holds a Master of Instructional Leadership and advanced coaching qualifications, including Level IV Coaching and Leadership Development. She is a highly sought-after presenter, mentor and coach, supporting principals, aspiring principals, and emerging leaders across the Darling Downs South West and South East Queensland Regions. She also leads professional learning networks focused on instructional leadership, curriculum excellence, leadership capability development, and system improvement.

A passionate advocate for 21st-century learning, Sharon's work focuses on creating dynamic, responsive educational environments that empower both students and educators to thrive. She is known for translating research into practical action, building leadership capacity, and helping organisations create sustainable cultures of excellence. Her partnership with the University of Queensland and the Critical Thinking Project has prepared low SES students for dynamic career pathways beyond the high school, environment.

BETTER THINKING, BETTER DECISIONS: Critical Thinking for Public & Professional Leadership.