Debbie Laarkamp | General Manager
Zeal Futures Learning

Debbie Laarkamp is a forward-thinking education leader with a passion for transforming learning experiences. As General Manager of Zeal Futures Learning and Principal of the Zeal Futures Special Assistance School (Stage 5, Years 9–10), she holds one of the few dual executive roles in Australia spanning both a registered RTO and a registered secondary school. This dual perspective, encompassing the full transition from disengaged secondary student to qualified tradesperson, shapes how she thinks about education and workforce development. With over 30 years of experience in the education sector, Debbie is known for her strategic vision and her ability to inspire teams to create impactful educational solutions that meet the needs of today's learners. Her background spans educational technology, curriculum development and, in particular, the co-design of curriculum with industry — an approach that enhances outcomes for employers, trainers and students alike. She has a proven track record of implementing initiatives that strengthen student engagement, improve completion rates and build genuine workplace capability. Debbie is a recipient of a NSW Quality Teaching Award,  a foundation that shaped her subsequent career in vocational education and training. Before joining Zeal Futures, Debbie spent a significant part of her career at TAFE NSW in senior director and executive roles. She was responsible for international and domestic commercial business development, and was among the first cohort of educators in the Hunter region to pioneer online delivery -  training and upskilling fellow trainers as part of a small team leading the organisation's early transition to digital learning. Her roles also spanned leadership development, external relations and large-scale organisational transformation. She has also served as National Leadership Development Manager at a national disability services organisation, leading geographically distributed teams through enterprise-wide change. Debbie is Deputy Chair of Community Colleges Australia, a Board Director of a Tier One not-for-profit community housing provider serving the Central Coast and Hunter regions, and a Graduate of the Australian Institute of Company Directors (GAICD). She holds a Master of Professional Practice (Education) and a Bachelor of Education, and remains committed to the idea that the best leaders in VET never stop being educators first. At EDUtech 2026, Debbie will share her innovative approaches to industry co-design, digital learning and workforce development — offering practical insights for educators and leaders working to prepare students for success in a rapidly evolving world.