From Reactive to Proactive:

Harnessing Neuroscience and Wellbeing Data to Transform Whole-School Wellbeing

with

Dr Mark Williams - leading neuroscientist and Nikki Bonus - Founder and CEO, Life Skills GO

 

Overview:

This high-impact professional learning event brings together two of Australia’s leading voices in educational neuroscience and wellbeing leadership—Professor Mark Williams and Nikki Bonus—to equip school executives with the insight, strategy, and tools needed to lead a whole-school shift from reactive responses to proactive, preventative wellbeing practices.

Blending research and practical implementation, this conference provides school leaders with a comprehensive understanding of how the brain learns, feels, and connects—and how schools can respond with systems that empower staff and students alike.

Session 1: The Neuroscience of Learning, Emotion, and Belonging: Implications for Whole-School Wellbeing

Facilitated by: Professor Mark Williams, Cognitive Neuroscientist and Author of The Connected Species

Duration: 2 Hours (including break) 

Session Overview:

In this compelling and research-driven keynote session, Professor Mark Williams examines how the latest neuroscience can—and should—inform how schools approach learning, behaviour, and wellbeing.

Drawing on over two decades of expertise in cognitive neuroscience, Professor Williams explores the neurobiological foundations of attention, emotion, memory, and connection. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of how emotional states and social belonging shape cognitive performance—and what school leaders can do to build learning environments that align with how the brain functions best.

With a focus on the rising impact of digital saturation and the erosion of interpersonal connection, this session will also address how schools can rebuild trust, focus, and engagement in both students and staff through brain-aligned, proactive wellbeing strategies.

Participants will:

• Examine the roles of the prefrontal cortex, amygdala, and limbic system in learning, behaviour, and emotional regulation
•  
• Understand how chronic stress and emotional dysregulation impair cognitive performance, working memory, and executive function
•  
• Analyse the effects of technology overuse on attention span, empathy, and social-emotional development
•  
• Explore neuroscience-informed strategies for fostering psychological safety, emotional literacy, and a sense of belonging across the whole school community
•  

Session Breakdown:

Part 1: Cognitive Foundations of Learning and Emotion (45 minutes)

• Mechanisms of attention, memory, and cognitive load
•  
• The feedback loop between emotional states and learning outcomes
•  
• The impact of stress and cortisol on classroom behaviour and executive function
•  
• Designing cognitively and emotionally safe learning environments
•  

Break (10 minutes)

Part 2: The Impact of Technology and the Erosion of Connection (30 minutes)

• Neurological effects of constant digital exposure
•  
• How reduced face-to-face interaction affects empathy, resilience, and focus
•  
• Practical strategies for restoring attention, social connection, and emotional presence in learning spaces
•  

Part 3: Psychological Safety and Brain-Healthy School Cultures (35 minutes)

• The roles of oxytocin, mirror neurons, and relational trust in learning communities
•  
• Creating emotionally rich, relationally secure environments that support growth
•  
• Leadership practices that promote sustainable wellbeing, connection, and cognitive resilience
•  

Session 2: Leading Proactive Wellbeing: Emotional Literacy, Real-Time Data, and Whole-School Practice

Facilitated by: Nikki Bonus, CEO & Founder, Life Skills GO

Duration: 90 minutes

Session Overview:

In this dynamic, interactive session, Nikki Bonus shares how schools can shift from fragmented, reactive approaches to a proactive, prevention-first wellbeing strategy—powered by emotional literacy, real-time data, and whole-school engagement.

Drawing on years of experience working directly with school leaders and systems, Nikki will demonstrate how Life Skills GO enables schools to operationalise wellbeing in a way that is sustainable, scalable, and deeply embedded in daily practice—without sacrificing teaching and learning time.

Participants will learn how to use real-time emotional data to identify student needs early, promote self-regulation and agency, and ensure every learner is known, valued, and supported through differentiated, timely action.

Key Themes and Takeaways:

• From Preventative to Proactive Wellbeing - Understand the difference between prevention and true proactivity—and how to build systems that anticipate needs before they arise.
•  
• Emotional Literacy and Self-Regulation as Core Skills - Explore how building student capacity for emotional awareness directly reduces behavioural incidents, increases engagement, and enhances learning outcomes.
•  
• Data Without the Overload - Discover how Life Skills GO does the heavy lifting of data collection and analysis—automating reports, surfacing patterns, and triangulating wellbeing, behaviour, and attendance data in real-time, with minimal teacher input.
•  
• Student Voice as a Primary Data Source - Learn how real-time emotional check-ins capture the lived experience of students and strengthen their sense of belonging and connection to school.
•  
• Strategic Use of Wellbeing Baselines and Program Evaluation - Understand how to set and track wellbeing baselines to evaluate the impact of your school’s wellbeing initiatives and ensure resources are allocated where they are needed most.
•  
• Case Studies from Leading Schools - Hear how leadership teams across diverse school contexts have successfully implemented Life Skills GO to transform their approach to wellbeing - moving from reactive responses to proactive, data-informed support for every students.

 

About the Speakers

Nikki Bonus

CEO & Founder of Life Skills GO, brings over 20 years of experience in social-emotional literacy programs and real-time wellbeing data solutions. Life Skills GO platform helps schools detect patterns, deploy interventions, and enhance student wellbeing.

Dr. Mark Williams

Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience, Author of “The Connected Species”. Mark is an internationally recognised neuroscience professor with over 25 years’ experience conducting behavioural and brain imaging research focusing on our social skills and how we learn. He has received numerous awards for teaching and research, taught the fundamentals of neuroscience to everyone from kindy kids to adults, published more than 70 scientific articles, and worked at MIT (USA) and multiple universities in Australia. Mark draws on his extensive scientific background to work with schools and organisations to develop evidence-based practices using neuroscience to improve learning, productivity, innovation and mental health. Mark’s new book “The Connected Species” is a #1 Best Seller and his work has been highlighted in the media including, The New York Times, Forbes, The Economist, and New Scientist.

Andrew Pearn

Head of Wellbeing K-12, Maronite College of the Holy Family
With over 19 years of experience in education, Andrew has served as a teacher, middle leader and senior executive member in both the Catholic independent sector and the Department of Education. Currently, Andrew is serving as Head of Wellbeing K-12 at Maronite College of the Holy Family.

Throughout his career, Andrew has led comprehensive whole-school improvement initiatives aimed at fostering positive change and enriching the learning environment of both students and staff alike. He is deeply passionate about enhancing student wellbeing and learning outcomes by creating safe, supportive and inclusive educational settings, and believes in the power of integrating Academia, Faith, Wellbeing, and Engagement opportunities to support holistic development. Additionally, he is committed to supporting educational colleagues by way of providing strategic guidance, tools, and mentorship to help them effectively promote student growth, wellbeing and achievement.

Claudia Bou-Melhem

Leader of Engagement K-12, Maronite College of the Holy Family
With over 10 years of experience in education, Claudia has had the privilege of working across both curriculum and pastoral settings, which has shaped her belief in the power of holistic, student-centered education. In her current role as Leader of Engagement K-12, I focus on fostering inclusive, supportive environments where every student feels seen, values and empowered to succeed.

She's currently studying a Master's in Educational Leadership, which further strengthening her commitment to care-driven leadership and deepening her understanding of how schools can be places of both high achievement and genuine wellbeing. She's passionate about ensuring that student engagement goes beyond academics - centering mental health, connection and equity as essential parts of school culture. At her core, she believes that when we lead with care, we create the conditions for real, lasting engagement - and she's existed to be part of the conversation on how we can shape the future of education together.