Keynote Presentations

The New now. Preparing for the trends that will dominate a post-COVID world.
Michael McQueen (Keynote Presenter)

ABSTRACT:
The coronavirus pandemic acted like a time machine bringing 2030 forward to 2020. As the turmoil subsides and a new era dawns, smart leaders are turning their attention to where opportunity now lies and how to gear up for the future.

In this fast-paced & compelling keynote presentation, audiences will discover:
- The COVID-inspired shifts in consumer habits and expectations that are here to stay
- The key ways artificial intelligence, quantum computing and augmented reality accelerated rapidly during the pandemic and how this offers exciting new possibilities for those that are prepared
- The role that GEN Z are playing in redefining industry norms and how to win in a post-Millennial marketplace
- How to foster engagement, collaboration and culture when leading remote and hybrid teams

Delegates members will leave this presentation with a clear game plan for navigating the new now.

Are naïve good intentions and profit motives misleading us in the pursuit of student wellbeing? 
Dr Judith Locke

In an era where society is acutely aware of mental health issues in children, we tend to direct much effort toward identifying problems and attempting numerous solutions to help students and fix the ‘crisis’. But are we getting it right by applying science and logic to assessment and improvement, or being dazzled by phoneys and feel-goods?  

In this keynote, Dr Judith Locke, will critically examine the current definitions of ‘care’ and occasionally misleading or misled notions of best practice in mental health, including preventative steps, methods of identifying student problems, and the myriad of resolutions being offered. Most importantly, she will offer some food for thought on potentially better, longer-lasting preventative actions and solutions to do with student wellbeing.

Strive: How to create a school culture that supports change and evolution
Dr Adam Fraser

For the last 10 years Dr Adam Fraser and Deakin University have been studying how leaders and teams can evolve, innovate and be resilient in times of change to stay commercially relevant and profitable. Their research shows that the key factor allowing teams to transform and evolve is their relationship with the struggle and discomfort that accompanies any change.

For many years, we have been incorrectly taught that we should avoid struggle and challenge. We often look at those we believe have struggle free lives and we wish that our lives resembled theirs. After all, a life free of difficulties and struggle has to be a good life, right?! Wrong!

This misperception has lead people to avoid situations that push them out of their comfort zone. The problem with this? Individuals and organisations don’t get anywhere near their potential.

This presentation sheds a new light on the role challenge and struggle play in our development both personally and professionally. It will provide you with the proper tools you need to approach challenge and discomfort in a way that not only improves your performance and success, but also improves your self esteem and wellbeing.

Beauty and the Beast: How emerging technology and Industry 5.0 will allow us to be more human
Dr Catherine Ball

The Singularity: When we create an artificial intelligence of the same power as a human brain. Is this smoke and mirrors- can we truly recreate the magic of the mind? How would you teach such a thing? How do we ensure that there is diversity in this being? Who are the people creating AI? And what on earth is #AIForGood all about?

Robots, like people with English accents, are very often the baddies in the movies. AI or robots going mad and killing all the humans is something many famous Sci-Fi movies are based on.  But, in reality AI, (or IA: Intelligence Augmentation as some now refer to it) is the only way we, as humans, are going to be able to cope with an increasingly digitised world.  Some 90% of the current data that exists in the world was created in just the last two years.  Big Data and AI go together like strawberries and cream- and we need AI to help us separate the signal from the noise.

With AI and robotics doing the boring, repetitive tasks there will be more time for us to smell the roses, talk to a neighbour, hang out with the family, and/or tackle some of the hard challenges we face today such as climate change, and world peace. 

How can you get educated and up to speed with the latest hot topic and also the ethical and economic issues and opportunities they bring? What are you able to apply at work and home that can make immediate and positive changes in your life?  If you could change one thing about new technology, what would that be? And, what is the kind of tech waiting for us to call it into action?  Life on Mars? A cure for cancer? A chance of a longer, healthier, and happier life? Or just a better social media photo filter? In the end it is up to us to create the “5th Industrial Revolution”; Industry 5.0 where humans are the reason why.

Plenary Panel: The Tough Stuff
Facilitated by: Ben Tallboys, Russell Kennedy Lawyers
Featuring: Jenny Williams (Firbank Grammar School, Vic) Christopher Bradbury (Northholm Grammar, NSW) & Cameron Bacholer (Pulteney Grammar School, SA)

Reporting to a board and being accountable for the management and performance of the school is a unique feature of independent school headship, and arguably its most challenging.

Dealing with and resolving complex issues in schools is one matter, communicating and advising the Board on these issues can be quite another. quite another.

What are the perils and pitfalls, and how do Heads successfully navigate this at times difficult territory.

The Panel, facilitated by AHISA Legal Advisor, Ben Tallboys, and the Heads of three diverse independent schools consider these questions, based on significant experience reporting to Boards. Ben will pose a serious of questions which emerge from his legal work supporting Heads across the country and identify the most common and perilous issues.