MANZ Conference 2026 Speakers

Sara Brady is an accomplished educator and an AMI Assistants to Infancy trainer. She conducts teacher training on a global scale and currently holds the esteemed position of Director of Training in Sydney, Tokyo and London.

Sara’s qualifications include AMI diplomas at both Assistants to Infancy and Children’s House levels. She holds a Master’s degree in education from Loyola College in Maryland. Throughout her career, Sara has worked extensively in various Montessori environments, including long-day care, preschools, and Montessori programs within the home. She has a wealth of experience working in Nido and Infant Communities, as well as facilitating parent-infant classes.

Residing in Sydney, Australia, Sara shares her life with her husband and three children, making her a valuable member of the Montessori community in that region. 

AMI 3-6 Trainer, Executive Director and Director of 3-6 Training at Montessori Center of Minnesota

Liza Davis attended Montessori as a child and has worked in Montessori education for over 25 years as an assistant, guide, head of school, trainer, and leader. Since joining the Montessori Center of Minnesota in 2009, she has supported the growth of Cornerstone Montessori School and Elementary School, guided adult learners in AMI training and orientation courses, and helped expand access to high-quality Montessori through outreach, mentoring, and innovative course design. Her recent work has centred on trauma-sensitive practices in Montessori, reflecting her belief in scientific research that proves the power of prepared environments to support healing and resilience. As Executive Director, she leads MCM’s efforts to broaden access to Montessori while stewarding its legacy of training, partnership, and community impact. Liza has a bachelor’s degree in Art History and American Racial and Multicultural Studies, a master’s degree in trauma and resilience in educational settings, an AMI 3-6 Diploma, an AMI Core Principles certificate, and an AMI Montessori for Aging and Dementia certificate.

Prabha Narayanan is an AMI Elementary Trainer based in Chennai, India. She is currently the Director of Training at Vivek High Montessori Institute, Chandigarh, and is part of the pedagogical team on the blended 6 -12 year course run by Alison Awes in Montessori Institute Bangalore. She completed the AMI 6 – 12 and 3 – 6 courses in Navadisha Montessori Foundation, India. She worked in Navadisha as part of the training team under Ann Dunne from 2012 to 2021. 

She has been a National Examiner on AMI Elementary courses and has conducted many Orientation courses, both online and in-person, in India and abroad. She was part of the training team that conducted the first-ever Montessori Core Principles course in India. She consults with Montessori schools supporting elementary teachers in their practice. She conducts workshops for parents and teachers, and is especially interested in the area of supporting children’s language and emotional development during the elementary years.

Dr Therese Ford has a background in classroom teaching and senior leadership in primary and secondary English-medium schools. For the past 15 years, she has worked as a researcher and professional learning development facilitator, specialising in educational leadership. Therese currently works for Te Akatea Māori Principals and Leaders Incorporated. She is the National Director of Huia Kaimanawa – the Beginning Māori Principals and Māori Emerging Leaders Programmes. 

Anita Croft is a qualified early childhood teacher with 20 years’ experience in the early childhood and tertiary sectors. In 2018 she founded Growing Kiwi Gardeners with a vision to enrich young children’s lives through gardening. She does this through a hands-on gardening programme in Christchurch, an online course, webinars, and tailored whole-centre professional learning and development for early childhood centres and kaiako across Aotearoa. She has recently launched a set of resources to teach tamariki about vegetables and growing food.

Tanya returned to Wā Ora after teaching for 6 years in the beautiful Bay of Plenty. She has a background in outdoor pursuits and is passionate about education beyond the four walls of the classroom. She believes that adolescents are generally delightful and in the power of learning from experiences that are real, raw and relevant aka – let’s go outside! 

She has two grown children who are making their own way in the world – one via volleyball and theatre, and the other via poetry and rock climbing. She fills her spare time with her own adventures, including bike packing, tramping, camping, skiing and taking her dog exploring beaches and bush. She values the way Montessori education addresses the needs of the whole child and endeavours to engage the learner with meaningful contexts and choices in order to develop better humans.