Mr.Nathan Curnow

Chair of the Chemical Education Group for the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) Western Australian (WA) Branch

Mr. Nathan Curnow is the Director - Science at John Curtin College of the Arts in Fremantle, Western Australia. He has been a teacher for nearly 20 years and is passionate about science education and helping students, especially gifted and high achieving students, engage with their passion in science, connect with scientists and build skills as creative science communicators who think critically and solve problems. Nathan has been President of the Australian Science Teachers Association (ASTA), was a finalist in the Western Australian Premiers Science Awards for 2024 and is Chair of the Chemical Education Group for the Royal Australian Chemical Institute (RACI) Western Australian (WA) Branch. 

Ms.Olivia Belshaw

Experienced Teacher of RACI, Content writer and presenter for Edrolo Science courses

Ms.Olivia is an accomplished leader in science education with over 15 years of teaching experience and 9 years as a faculty head teacher. She plays a vital role in shaping science education as a content writer and presenter for Edrolo Science courses and creates senior science internal assessment tasks, including Chemistry and Biology, for a highly regarded and widely used educational organisation. Additionally, Olivia serves as a Year 11 and Year 12 Trial Examination writer for LAZSTA. Her achievements include being nominated for the Prime Minister’s Award for Science Teaching in 2019 and receiving the STANSW award for services to Chemistry Education in 2021.

Ms. Catriona Chaikin

Councillor with Science Teachers Association New South Wales (STANSW)

Catriona Chaikin is a highly accomplished Chemistry teacher at selective Hornsby Girls High School in Sydney, NSW. She has more than 30 years of experience teaching secondary Chemistry across a wide range of school settings, including selective, private, public, and regional schools in both Australia and the UK. She has a particular interest in the application of mathematics to chemistry, the focus of her Master’s thesis, and is passionate about teaching gifted and talented students and encouraging girls to excel in this field.

Catriona is a councillor with Science Teachers Association New South Wales (STANSW), and a member of the New South Wales RACI Chemical Education group.

Ms. Claire Phillips

Experienced Teacher of RACI

With over 20 years of experience in education following six years working in the chemical industry, Claire Phillips brings a rich blend of professional expertise and educational leadership to this International Chemistry Camp. Their background in industry provides a strong foundation in real-world chemistry, which continues to inform engaging, authentic learning experiences for students. Having taught in a wide range of school settings across New South Wales, Australia, as well as in England, Claire offers a global perspective on science education and a deep appreciation for diverse learning contexts.

Ms.Joanne Thompson

Experienced Teacher of RACI

Joanne Thompson is a passionate scientist and dedicated educator who brings over 20 years of experience as a working scientist to her role as a secondary science teacher.  She is the current Treasurer of the Science Teachers’ Association of Western Australia and is a member of the WA School Curriculum and Standards Authority’s Earth and Environmental Science Curriculum Advisory Committee.