Franco De Joya is an educator, poet and game designer. He has presented at SXSW Sydney, designed hackathon tools with UNICEF Australia and was awarded the NSW Teacher Scholarship. His dream gig: Education Impact Designer.
In his spare time he plays rugby union, DJs a bit of techno, and bounces between boardgame projects.
With over six years of experience in schools – including sharehousing with a knight in New Zealand – I’ve developed a unique approach to education, blending real classroom insights with playful problem-solving, and a deep belief that impactful change starts with listening, curiosity, and meaningful co-design.
Educator
Having stepped up on stage to present to dozens of students in the classroom, to thousands of audience members – whether it’s at The University of Sydney, SXSW, APLEC, or NSW TeachMeets – I aim to spark ideas, share stories that matter, and leave every audience with something they can action the very next day.
Storyteller
Through my academic background in designing hackathons and innovation tools for education, as well as my school experience – I’ve built resources for startups, global non-profits, and classrooms alike. Most recently I am designing The School Collaboratory, a facilitation deck helping school communities reimagine how they work, learn, and lead together.
Designer
As a facilitator, I co-create spaces where ideas spark conversation, voices are heard, and creative problem-solving thrives. Whether through grassroots education hackathons, poetry slams, a plucky debating team or tabletop games, I collaborate with a team-based mindset to enable people to be curious, open-minded and keen to share their unique perspective.