Darren Ponman | Deputy Principal
Hunter School of the Performing Arts

Darren Ponman is a nationally recognised education leader, named on The Educator’s Hot List in 2024 and Principal of Hunter School of the Performing Arts (HSPA) from 2023 to 2024. Under his leadership, HSPA was named one of The Educator’s Most Innovative Schools in Australia in 2023, in recognition of its forward-thinking approaches to teaching, learning, and student wellbeing. With extensive experience in senior executive roles across multiple schools, Darren is known for designing and delivering equitable, engaging and future-focused educational systems. His work is grounded in a deep belief in lifelong learning and a passion for building structures that enable innovation to thrive at scale. From AI integration to mastery learning models, Darren’s leadership continues to influence the future of Australian education.

Appearances:

Day 1 @ 13:30

Fireside Chat - Mastering mastery learning: How one school reimagined engagement, assessment & pathways

What if every student could clearly track their progress and earn recognition for real learning, not just grades? In this lively interview, Professor Martin Bean CBE - CEO, Martin Bean dives into Hunter School of Performing Arts’s journey with Deputy Principal Darren Ponman, revealing how Canvas LMS powered between 2 and 3 million+ monthly views, dynamic digital credentials, and a groundbreaking university pathway—all through a pedagogy-first lens.

Martin Bean, CEO, The Bean Centre