Gillian is passionate about science and mathematics education. Her teaching and curriculum design in inquiry based learning and teaching in the sciences is award winning. Gillian has research interests in the integration of science and mathematics, especially the disciplinary and transdisciplinary thinking of STEM and STEAM. She is well respected throughout South East Asia, working extensively in STEM education with the South East Asian Ministries of Education, and the Regional Education Centre of Science and Mathematics (RECSAM) in Penang, Malaysia. Gillian is a highly sought after Keynote Speaker as she focuses her presentation to the local context.

Gillian is the Co-Editor for the International Journal of of Geographical and Environmental Education (IRGEE) and is a member of the IGU CGE Steering Committee. She has also researched topics in the Humanities, higher order thinking skills (HOTS), ICT, STEM, biotechnology education, Indigenous underachievement and teaching in and out-of-field.

Gillian has research interests in both science and mathematics education. She is particularly interested in inquiry forms of teaching and learning and the potential inquiry has in terms of the integration of science and mathematics. She is currently working on the interpretation of 'inquiry' and STEM Makerspaces in terms of disciplinary thinking.