We are excited to announce our 2026 conference: Connecting Through Learning to be held at UTS on 16th and 17th June 2026.

Higher education stands at a crossroads and 2026 is the year we choose a new direction. Join national and global leaders as we rethink, redesign, and renew the promise we make to every learner. This is a call to courage, collaboration and reinvention. And it starts with you.

To remain globally relevant and socially responsible, universities must move beyond incremental change and embrace bold transformation. Connecting through Learning brings together visionary leaders, employers, innovators, and—critically—students to co‑design the future of learning. Student voices will shape every conversation, ensuring solutions are not only for learners but with them.

Our next program explores five urgent priorities that emerged from last time:

• Re-centering the Student Experience – Co-designing flexible, learning and operating models that put learners first.
• Forging a New Social Compact – Rebuilding trust through serving the community and prioritising value and lifelong learning partnerships.
• Co‑Creating the Future of Learning – Embracing AI and authentic, work‑integrated experiences with students and employers as partners.
• Redefining Online and Flexible Learning – Delivering integrated, stigma‑free digital experiences for all learners.
• Leading with Urgency and Courage – Driving systemic change with bold leadership and risk‑tolerant innovation.

Join us to co‑create a higher education ecosystem that meets global demand, partners with employers, embraces technology, amplifies student voices, and remains unapologetically learner‑centric and socially relevant.

Explore the themes and lead speakers confirmed for June 2026 below.

Speakers include:

• Lisa Brodie who has just launched ASU London out of The Engineering & Design Institute London (TEDI-London)
• Scott Pulsipher leading the worlds largest online university, connecting institutional strategy with primary learner purpose at Western Governors University
• Rose Luckin connecting global thinking on AI in all levels of education through sandpits at Educate Ventures Research
• Professor Amanda J. Broderick who has transformed University of East London to be UK University of the year through a career-first strategy with industry partners
• Max Lu who leads University of Wollongong in its own transformation drawing on his recent sector-leading work at University of Surrey
• Sasha Thackaberry-Voinovich Ph.D. who has demonstrated hyper-agility in connecting action with strategy around an AI university delivering a disruptive, subscriber model of learning
• Professor Aleks Subic who will be in transition from his outstanding leadership of Aston University. Aleks led Aston as a place-based innovator committed to digital innovation to serve equity purposes for close to 4 years. He will take up his new role as Vice Chancellor of Torrens University Australia by June.We will be curating a program of keynotes, fireside chats, panels, workshops and tours that allow an engaged experience of connections with these and other global and local innovators for two glorious days in June.

Additional speakers will be added in the coming months. To keep up-to-date, bookmark this page, follow us on LinkedIn or sign up to our newsletter.