Ian Preston

Ian Preston, HFTGN, BEd (Industrial Arts Technology) (Hons), is a nationally and internationally recognised STEM education leader whose career spans more than three decades of sustained contribution to teaching, system leadership, and STEM education innovation within the NSW Department of Education. He is the Founder and Lead of the Murrumbidgee Academy of STEM Excellence (MASE) and the NSW Virtual STEM Academy (NSWVSA), initiatives that have significantly expanded access to advanced, industry-connected STEM education for students across regional, rural, and remote New South Wales. Under his leadership, the STEM program he established and led at Griffith High School was recognised nationally when the school was awarded the Best STEM Program in Australia at the Australian Education Awards (2025). Ian has played a leading role in the development of innovative and scalable STEM education models that connect schools with universities, industry partners, and global STEM networks. His work has enabled thousands of students to engage with engineering, advanced manufacturing, emerging technologies, and contemporary STEM practices, strengthening pathways into higher education and future careers. He continues to teach and mentor students through the NSW Virtual STEM Academy and specialised STEM workshops, while also mentoring and supporting teachers to build their capacity to deliver high-quality STEM education. Earlier in his career, he founded and led the Lachlan Access Program, a pioneering telematics-based initiative that transformed access to senior secondary education for students in geographically isolated communities. Ian is an Honorary Fellow of the Teachers’ Guild of New South Wales, recognising his distinguished and sustained contribution to the teaching profession. His leadership has been recognised through the NSW Premier’s Prize for Innovation in STEM Teaching, the Minister’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the World Teachers’ Recognition Award. He was selected as a Global Teacher Prize Top 50 Finalist and appointed as a Schools Plus Teaching Fellow. He has also received international recognition through the FIRST Inspire the Future recognition program and serves as a Global Teacher Ambassador and Stars Align Ambassador. As Chair of the AIMERS Teachers’ Council, Ian provides leadership in advancing STEM education practice, strengthening collaboration between schools, industry, and higher education, and supporting the development of high-impact initiatives that expand opportunity and capability across regions.