Building Futures International Conference, 1-4 September 2026 | Speaker Information and Guidelines

Please review the following information for your reference.

Seating Requirements
 Rooms will be set-up theatre style or round tables for the round table sessions. Please let us know if you have any specific seating requirements.

Presentation Format
 The preferred presentation format is Microsoft PowerPoint. A template will be provided with the correct branding
 Prepare your slides using wide screen format with a ratio of 16:9
 Embedded videos are acceptable, but please let us know in advance, so that we can ensure we are set up for this. Email internationalconference@educateplus.org
 Presentations are 60 minutes in length, noting we do have 90-minute-deep dive sessions, including Q&A. Please let us know if you have any special seating requirements. We are currently working on the Program which we will send to you separately.

Presentation Submission
 Please submit your presentation to internationalconference@educateplus.org using PowerPoint template. This will be uploaded to the laptops being used in the session rooms prior to your session.
 Do bring your presentation as a backup on a USB.
 AV assistance will be available on site for you to test your presentation during the breaks or in the morning before the International Conference starts.
 Please submit your presentation in the following format: [your full name] [date of your presentation]

Document Sharing
 All presentations will be uploaded in PDF format to the Educate Plus website for the reference of our delegates and members. If you do not wish your presentation to be published, please email internationalconference@educateplus.org .

AV Equipment & Internet Access
 Equipment in each session room will include a windows computer/laptop with a screen and projecting capabilities. There will be a lectern microphone with potentially a roaming mike for Q&A for the audience (depending upon room size).

 Please email internationalconference@educateplus.org if:
● You have any AV requirements NOT included here
● You intend to use a Mac for your presentation
● Your presentation includes sound, and you require an audio set-up
● Whether you need Wi-Fi access or if you have embedded videos


Your Audience
Educate Plus is a not-for-profit membership organisation for professionals working in educational Advancement, in both the school and tertiary sectors, in the areas of:
 Admissions
 Fundraising
 Leadership
 Alumni, Community Relations and Events
 Marketing & Communications
 People & Culture

Many of the Educate Plus Chapter members work as solo operators or in small teams and have responsibilities across all areas.

The International Conference has breakout sessions during the day that will attract members specialised in certain functional roles.

Importantly, it is imperative that each presentation is aimed at offering our delegates the maximum benefit for their professional development. It is our experience that members are not particularly receptive to the promotion of individual businesses during a Summit presentation.

Please also note:
 Speakers are requested not to refer to any other member institution in their presentation without written permission from the institution.
 Speakers are requested not to use inappropriate language or make any inappropriate remarks.

Useful tips – What makes a great presentation?

 Like a good magazine article, good presentations are memorable and motivating. They bring the audience to the point where they want to take action: Let’s implement this idea at work!

 Great presentations contain minimal information. Any information that’s not 100%relevant is stripped away. When preparing and delivering your session, remember to use simple language that is clear and direct. Avoid cliché and unnecessary jargon.

 Great presentations aren’t just a list of facts. Great presentations contain stories, or even better, are stories! Unlike facts, stories speak to the heart and take the audience through an emotional journey that creates a reason to decide right here, right now.

Should I use slides?

Slides can be helpful for the audience, but they are by no means necessary or relevant to every presentation. Ask yourself: Would my slides help and clarify information for the audience, or would they distract and confuse them?

When using slides:

 Keep your visuals clean and simple

 Avoid too much data or small fonts – just present key points that you can speak to

 Prepare your slides in PowerPoint using wide screen format with a ratio of 16:9

 Capture the audience’s attention visually. Pictures set the image; your voice tells what would have been in the bullet points

 With any imagery, please ensure it is high resolution and that there are no copyright restrictions on its use

 Let us know in advance if you are using embedded videos, as we will need to have audio set-up for this.

Registration
 We encourage you to attend the Conference to interact with our delegates beyond your session.
 Please note that we require that all speakers register for the International Conference unless they are only attending the session/sessions at which they are presenting

Social Media
 Do you want to create content and generate excitement prior to your presentation? You can make use of our social media platforms to reach International Conference delegates. You can tag the Educate Plus LinkedIn and Facebook Pages and email images to our Marketing and Communications Lead, Danielle Hargrove at danielle@educateplus.org.

Once again, our sincere thanks. We look forward to welcoming you to the Building Futures International Conference in September.