Keynote Speaker: Dr. Dean Dudley
Dr. Dean Dudley is an Honorary Associate Professor in the School of Human Movement and Nutrition Sciences at the University of Queensland and Centre of Educational Measurement and Assessment at the University of Sydney. Dean holds six degrees in total from the University of Western Sydney, University of Wollongong, University of Oxford, and Harvard University.
He is a globally recognized authority on Physical Education (PE) and Physical Literacy. With a career dedicated to deconstructing the "muddled missions" of traditional PE programs, Dr. Dudley has become a leading voice in defining what truly constitutes Quality Physical Education (QPE) in the 21st century.
His research is anchored in rigorous evidence, most notably highlighted by his landmark 2022 meta-analysis, one of the largest in the field’s history, which mapped the learning outcomes of over 42,500 participants. Dr. Dudley is the primary architect of Games-based Character Pedagogy (GBCP), a framework that intentionally integrates social and emotional learning into movement. His work consistently bridges the gap between high-level policy and the practical realities of the gymnasium, ensuring that “learning" is the explicit outcome of PE rather than an accidental byproduct.
A frequent collaborator with international bodies such as UNESCO and the IOC, Dr. Dudley’s insights help shape physical literacy frameworks worldwide. For the PHE Canada community, he brings a unique blend of data-driven precision and a profound commitment to holistic child development, advocating for a future where PE is recognized as a fundamental pillar of lifelong wellbeing.
Keynote Speech: What Drives Quality Physical Education? Best Evidence and Practice Over the Last 25 Years
Over the past quarter-century, the landscape of Physical Education (PE) has undergone a profound evolution. Once defined by a "muddled mission" of sport-centric drills and fitness testing, the discipline has shifted toward a sophisticated, multi-dimensional framework of Quality Physical Education (QPE), underpinned by the global rise of physical literacy. In this plenary address, Dr. Dean Dudley synthesizes 25 years of international evidence, headlined by his landmark 2022 meta-analysis involving over 42,500 participants, to answer the field's defining question: What actually drives student learning and development?
The research identifies that while PE is often positioned as a public health tool, its true efficacy lies in the intentional integration of four interconnected learning domains: psychomotor, affective, social, and cognitive. Dr. Dudley will detail the "high-yield" pedagogical drivers that consistently outperform traditional models,
Furthermore, the session examines the critical role of teacher professional development and evidence-informed policy in bridging the "research-practice gap." By evaluating the long-term impact of UNESCO-aligned QPE initiatives, Dr. Dudley provides a strategic roadmap for the next generation of educators. Attendees will gain a clear understanding of how to optimize the "instructional dosage" to ensure PE remains a central tenet of holistic child development and a lifelong catalyst for health.