The Higher Education in the Age of AI Conference took an in-depth look at the transformative potential of AI in reshaping tertiary education and institution’s strategies to be ready to realise it.

National and international experts spoke on key themes and took part in interactive debates and networking sessions.

The full program included some of the leading global innovators in AI in public universities and other providers in Australian tertiary education including our partner and host in:

• Professor Theo Farrell VC of La Trobe University as Australia’s leading AI-first university,

They include other current institution leaders in:

• Professor George Williams leading Western Sydney University making sure it is students who they fight for and focussing relentless on their completion and well being
• Sally Curtain leading Bendigo Kangan Institute as one of Australia’s most innovative tertiary providers outside of public universities
• Professor Andrew Parfitt leading UTS and its work across an integrated tertiary sector to provide digitial skills for the future
• Sam Jacob CEO of Collarts (Australian College of the Arts) driving for improved student experiences in how AI is applied in the sector
• Professor Jessica Vanderlelie, incoming Deputy Vice-Chancellor Academic at Deakin University continuing her leadership to drive equity and excellence for students
• Dan Cockerell CEO of Torrens University Australia sharing lessons from the experiences of Australia’s fastest growing university
• Professor Pascale Quester of Swinburne University of Technology leading a strategy where people and technology combine for a better world

They include best practice global keynotes in:

• Paul LeBlanc formerly of Southern New Hampshire University now leading the AI-first university concept at Human Systems
• Tim Renick of Georgia State University leading NISS work to improve student success in global universities
• Lev Gonick as CIO at the world’s most innovative university at ASU pioneering AI across the institution in a partnership with OpenAI

They include EdTech and business leaders in:

• Sue Kokonis, Chief Academic Advisor of OES
• Colin Gneil of LinkedIn ANZ
• Yasminka Nemet of Future Skills at Microsoft

They include leaders of policy and advocacy groups in:

• Sarah Bendall the First Assistant Ombudsman from the Office of the National Student Ombudsman
• Melinda Cilento CEO of CEDA leading economic and policy debate in Australia
• Patrick Kidd OBE OAM CEO of the Future Skills Organisation advancing tertiary sector integration and the switch to a skills agenda

And they include the leaders of AI research and innovation in:

• Professor Kelly Mathews of The University of Queensland our previous hosts and a leader of the AI in HE project connecting us with the student voice.
• Dr Susan Zhang, VC’s Fellow at La Trobe University and expert in AI developments
• Phil Laufenberg, Head of Artificial Intelligence at Macquarie University pursuing an AI-enabled university
• Professor Jason Lodge of The University of Queensland leading regulatory expertise and research ventures in this field for the nation
• Professor Danny Liu the pioneer of cogniti.ai from University of Sydney
• Professor Margaret Bearman, CRADLE, Deakin University and
• Professor Michael Henderson, Digital Futures, Moash University both of the AIinHE project with an update on the student voice about AI.

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