HEDx was founded in 2020, and has established a position as a leading global thought-leader and primary content source for innovation, culture, leadership and strategy for the higher education sector. It provides a unique space for meaningful and impactful debate and action in an environment for exploration and sharing of ideas that is impacting the future of higher education globally.

HEDx is an Australian-led initiative dedicated to transforming higher education through innovation and collaboration. It serves as a platform where university leaders, practitioners, technology companies, and staff and students address the challenges and opportunities for change within the tertiary education sector.

HEDx works in partnership with sector leaders and their institutions to curate and share content about current global best practice and future solutions and innovation to lead a sector conversation and agenda around change.

Key features of HEDx include:

• Leadership Collaboration. HEDx brings together sector leaders to share insights, strategies, and best practices aimed at improving and innovating tertiary education in Australia and beyond.
• Technological Innovation. The initiative focuses on integrating advanced technologies with education. Partnering with tech companies and edtech startups, enhances learning experiences and efficiencies.
• Student-Centric Approach. Emphasising the primacy in importance of students, HEDx aims to improve support services, promote equity, and ensure accessible education for all lifelong learners.
• Events and Conferences. HEDx hosts conferences, workshops, and webinars that unite practitioners and stakeholders. Events facilitate discussions on future-ready education and collaborative solutions.
• Podcasts and Thought Leadership. Through regular podcasts, HEDx stimulates innovative thinking, and shares best practice and narratives that strengthen the social licence of higher education institutions.
• Future Solutions. HEDx is committed to building collaborative future solutions that change higher education for good, ensuring it remains relevant, equitable, and sustainable in a rapidly evolving world.

Martin has more than 40 years of experience in academic and senior leadership roles in universities in Australia and around the world. He has now built on this sector expertise to create deep relationships with university and other sector leaders around the globe and a trusted relationship with all in the sector whilst challenging it to, and helping it embrace change.

Martin Betts is an academic advisor and visiting professor to companies and universities around the world and the author of three books, Changing Higher Education for Good, The New Leadership Agenda and The New Learning Economy and co-author with Year13 of white paper, Upgrading the school to work transition for social and economic impact.

James is an arts/events producer, musician and generally a creative facilitator and organiser. He has a passion for creating conversation/ideas forums and has produced a diverse range of public programming events, variously bringing together authors, thought leaders, academics, journalists, scientists, philosophers, artists and musicians.

An active musician himself, he also performs with and co-leads long-running music collective Silver Sircus as well as his solo project Ghostwoods which was recognised with an Australian Music Prize nomination in 2023.

Janet is the former editor of Education Matters and WhichSchool? Magazines. She has written for national publications, including The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age, The Australian Financial Review, and The Guardian, as well as several Australian universities and organisations. Janet went freelance in 2020, after 15 years working in communications and marketing.

Janet is proud to utilise her education background alongside her writing and creative strategy skills to push the agenda on positive change in the higher education sector for HEDx.

Alyce has a background spanning fashion, events, marketing, and communications. 

She is passionate about understanding audiences and tailoring branding and communications to meet them where they are. Favouring visual dopamine—design that feels right and taps into colour psychology—she often thinks about how to communicate in inclusive ways, particularly for neurodiverse brains. 

Alyce is currently studying at Australian Catholic University and brings the dual perspective of designer and student to her work. She’s interested in how good design can support clarity, engagement, and connection—particularly in educational and community settings.