Colleagues and friends,
I am deeply honoured to have the opportunity to host you at AHISA’s 19th Biennial Conference from 24-27 September 2023.
There is no doubt that our Conference theme captures the urgency and importance of the present moment in educational leadership. We are living in unprecedented times, marked by the end of a pandemic, technological innovations, and evolving social and political landscapes. These changes have necessitated rapid adaptations in the way we educate our students, challenging us as educational leaders to explore new approaches to all that we do.
The present moment is marked by uncertainty, yet we are also inspired by the many possibilities that lie ahead. We recognise that education is at the forefront of shaping the future, and it is up to us as leaders to navigate these complex and evolving times with vision, creativity, and resilience. It is so often what we ask of our students, and important that we model the same initiative.
Our conference is designed to explore the key challenges facing each of us through the themes of sustainability, leadership and well-being and to provide a platform for sharing innovative ideas and best practices. Our speakers and panellists come from diverse backgrounds, representing a range of experiences and perspectives. They will share insights, strategies, and tools to help us as we ask the question in our own context, ‘What now, what next?’
Having been apart nationally for almost four years, this Conference renews our valued tradition of meeting, in person, across state, territory and even national borders. Collegiality is a core part of who we are as an organisation. If we are to seek a new way forward, then how wonderful to share the challenges and journey with those who most understand our roles.
I am extremely grateful to the Conference Committee for their help in devising a program that will allow us to explore as a collegial body the new demands on leadership and on schools. I cannot think of a better time to be meeting with you and listening to and learning from you.
Yes, we have work to do at the Conference. But the Conference Committee has selected for us a venue that offers plenty of space for quiet reflection, friendly catch-ups and the opportunity to relax and re-energise.
Your colleagues in Queensland are very much looking forward to showing off our beautiful state and our schools to you. Come and join us!
Rev. Chris Ivey
AHISA National Chair 2019-2023
Principal St Andrew's Anglican College, Queensland