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. He is currently a PhD Candidate researching how young people learn and teach who ‘belongs’ and how.

In his spare time he plays rugby union, makes art with watercolours, and bounces between boardgame design projects.

Smiling person with glasses and a watch in a light blue shirt against a white background.

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 genuine curiosity for understanding where people are coming from.

Educator

Outdoor stage setup for SXSW Sydney 2023 with a large colorful screen displaying the event name and date. Several people are setting up equipment on stage.

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 connect earnestly with the people in front of me.

Storyteller

Group of people posing indoors at an awards event with a sign reading 'Edhance Learning, Finalist, Student Innovation Awards 2022,' surrounded by award displays and framed artworks.

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. Co-designing solutions with and not for people, is important for my practice.

Designer

A person giving a presentation in a classroom setting. They are standing at a lectern with a microphone and laptop, in front of projected slides on a screen. The slides display information about a research survey related to hackathons. The classroom has a whiteboard and several seats.

As a facilitator, I co-create spaces where there are no bad ideas. 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 open and keen to share their unique perspective.

Co-Creator