Conference synopsis_FINAL_20260815 - Flipbook - Page 2
WELCOME TO MAV26
Welcome to MAV26: Activating mathematical hearts, hands and minds.
On behalf of the MAV Board and the conference committee I invite you to the 63rd Annual
Conference (MAV26) in Melbourne from Thursday 3 and Friday 4 December 2026.
It is my great pleasure to welcome you to MAV26, where we gather as a vibrant community of
educators, leaders, researchers, and advocates united by a shared commitment to excellence in
mathematics education.
This year’s theme, Activating mathematical hearts, hands and minds, challenges us to think
deeply about what it means to engage learners not only intellectually, but also emotionally and
practically. It speaks to the importance of nurturing curiosity, confidence, and connection while
empowering students to actively engage with mathematics in meaningful and purposeful ways.
Together, we will explore how innovative teaching practices, strong leadership, contemporary
curriculum design, and collaborative partnerships can support all learners to grow, contribute, and realise their mathematical
potential.
As Albert Einstein famously observed, ‘The important thing is not to stop questioning. Curiosity has its own reason for
existing.’ At its best, mathematics invites us to wonder, investigate, discover, and make sense of the world around us.
Curiosity is the spark that ignites learning, turns challenges into opportunities, and transforms mathematics from a subject
we study into a way of thinking that empowers us throughout our lives. This spirit of curiosity sits at the heart of MAV26 and
inspires the conversations, learning, and connections we will share throughout the conference.
The conference will feature a rich program of keynote presentations, interactive workshops, panel discussions, and networking
opportunities, providing valuable spaces to share expertise, exchange ideas, and strengthen professional connections across
our mathematics education community.
A highlight of MAV26 will be our two keynote panel discussions, which invite us to reflect on some of the most important
questions shaping mathematics education today.
On Thursday, our panel will explore:
How is fluency more than activating mathematical minds, and how does it extend beyond accuracy and speed?
This conversation will challenge us to broaden our understanding of fluency, recognising it as a powerful combination
of flexibility, reasoning, confidence, and strategic thinking that enables learners to make deep and lasting mathematical
connections.
On Friday, our panel will consider:
How are we putting aspiration into action in mathematics education through joy, curiosity, and purpose?
Together, we will examine how we can create learning environments that spark curiosity, nurture a love of mathematics, and
empower every learner to see themselves as capable and confident mathematical thinkers.
MAV26 is more than a conference. It is an opportunity to connect, collaborate, and be inspired by colleagues who share
a passion for making a difference through mathematics education. Over the coming days, I encourage you to engage
wholeheartedly, share generously, and embrace new perspectives. Your experiences, insights, and contributions are what make
this community so strong.
Thank you for joining us. I hope you leave MAV26 with fresh ideas, renewed energy, and a strengthened sense of purpose.
Together, let us continue activating mathematical hearts, hands and minds, creating learning experiences that spark curiosity,
inspire joy, deepen understanding, and open pathways for every learner to discover what is possible through mathematics.
Join us at MAV26
- Ann Downton, Conference Convenor
