Meet your fellow educator
Dr Greg Blackburn is a learning scientist and founder of Zaza Technologies, building teacher-first AI tools that give educators their time back.
The Journey
I built Zaza because I was tired of watching teachers drown in administrative work when technology should be setting them free.
My working life began in Hobart, Tasmania, holding a paintbrush as an apprentice painter and decorator while my father co-owned a small paint factory. After a pre-vocational course at TAFE and a four year apprenticeship at the Cascade Brewery, I realised I wanted more from both my work and my education.
Travel opened my eyes to how big the world really is and how far education can take you. I lived abroad, studied German, and eventually returned to Tasmania to study Administration, Information Systems and German at the University of Tasmania. Graduating with First Class Honours proved I could succeed academically despite early doubts and family tensions.
My career then took me to Brisbane, where I spent six years at Telstra and completed an MBA at the University of Queensland. That MBA opened doors into management roles at the University of Queensland, where I became a Business Manager and began publishing research into how people learn, solve problems and think critically in their work.
Along the way my two daughters, Viola and Solara, were born, and I later completed a PhD in Professional Education at City, University of London. My research focused on critical thinking and problem solving in student-centred e-learning. Listening to teachers and learning professionals describe late-night marking, report writing and endless admin made something very clear: we needed humane, teacher-first AI tools that give people their time back. In 2025 that realisation became Zaza Technologies.
Everything I build at Zaza is guided by one simple goal: to help teachers thrive - professionally, emotionally, and sustainably.
Every teacher deserves tools that respect their expertise, protect their students, and give them time to do what they do best: teach.Because when teachers thrive, education thrives.
Dr. Greg Blackburn, Founder & CEO
Why I Built Zaza
Three principles that guide everything we do
For Teachers, By Teachers
I've lived the teacher experience - the late nights, the endless emails, the report card marathons. Zaza is built by someone who understands because I've been there.
Boutique, Not Big Tech
We're not a massive corporation trying to sell to everyone. We're a focused team building specialized tools for one audience: teachers. Your needs come first, always.
Building a Legacy
This isn't about quick profits. It's about building something that genuinely helps teachers thrive and transforms education for the better. That's the legacy I want to leave.
A personal note from Greg
If you are reading this, you are probably a teacher who is curious about AI but understandably cautious. You care deeply about your students and your professionalism, and you do not want a tool that treats teaching as a set of prompts and templates. I share that view. Technology should serve your judgement, not replace it.
That is why Zaza is built differently. Every feature is shaped with real teachers, tested in real classrooms or real professional contexts, and refined based on honest feedback. I draw on my background in learning and development, critical thinking research and system design, but the goal is always the same: calm, trustworthy support that fits the messy reality of teaching.
I would love to hear from you – whether you have questions, feedback, or simply want to share what is happening in your classroom. My hope is that Zaza helps you reclaim time, reduce stress and feel more confident in your work. Let us build the future of teacher technology together.
Möchten Sie die ausführliche Geschichte hinter Zaza lesen? Zur ausführlichen Gründerstory.
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