Kay Owens

Kay Owens is a Lecturer in the School of Teacher Education at Charles Sturt University, Dubbo, Australia. She has held academic positions at the University of Western Sydney and internationally at the PNG University of Technology and Balob Teachers College. Her work spans mathematics education, ethnomathematics, visuospatial reasoning, and teacher education, with strong emphasis on cultural, Indigenous, and sustainability perspectives.

• PhD in Mathematics Education, Deakin University (1993)
• MEd in Health Education Curriculum, The University of Sydney

Her research focuses on primary and secondary mathematics education, particularly how culture, context, and responsiveness shape learning. She explores ethnomathematics in Papua New Guinea, visuospatial reasoning in early childhood, and inclusive pedagogy in diverse classrooms. Her teaching includes early childhood mathematics, literacy, sustainability (HSIE), and educational research methods.

Recent publications highlight trends in cultural mathematics, decolonizing curricula, and social justice in education. Her work integrates Indigenous knowledge, critiques neocolonialism in education, and promotes global perspectives in school mathematics. She emphasizes intercultural interaction, diverse knowledge systems, and curriculum innovation.

• International Conference on Ethnomathematics (ICEM-7), Guest Editor and Chair (2022–2023)
• Editorial Board Member, Springer and Mathematics Education Research Journal (2021–2024)
• Guest Editor, Journal of Mathematics and Culture (2024)

Kay Owens has supervised postgraduate research students and served as a critical friend and evaluator for multiple educational projects, including ASISTM, AQTIP, and Bidialectal SAE programs. She has led initiatives in regional schools and with Indigenous communities, focusing on quality teaching, sustainability, and community engagement. She has organized regional forums and mini-conferences on literacy, numeracy, and environmental sustainability.

She is actively involved in professional networks, including the Mathematics Education Research Group of Australasia (MERGA), the Australian College of Educators (Orana Regional Group), and the Mathematics Association of NSW. Her work contributes to the UN Sustainable Development Goal of Quality Education through culturally responsive and socially just pedagogies.