DAY 1 – Session PDFs
OPENING KEYNOTE: Leading on the Edge – Rachael Robertson, Expedition Leader, Leadership and Teamwork Expert, and Best-Selling Author
| 1A Engaging Parents: For Student (& School) Success Amanda Watt, Queensland Independent School Parents Network Admissions, Marketing & Communications | 1B Future Proofing Advancement: Strategies, Challenges & Opportunities [Panel] Jennifer Karlson, QU; Dr Erin Rayment, QUT; Marcus Ward, Griffith University; Mandy McFarland, Educate Plus (Facilitator) Leadership (No Slides) | 1C Doing More with Less – A Case Study in Alumni Engagement Excellence Russell Davidson, Haileybury VIC Alumni, Fundraising | 1D Enterprise Bargaining in the Education Sector 2025 & Industrial Relations Update Alex Aspromourgos, Mapien People & Culture |
| 2A Collaboration is Key – Stirring the Melting Pot of Advancement, Finance, Boards & Beyond Dr Wendy Scaife, Australian Centre for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Studies, QUT Fundraising, Leadership | 2B How to Shoot Like a Pro Wes Tolhurst, Tolhurst Creative Marketing & Communications | 2C International Students: What Did 2024 Bring for the School Sector & Where Are We Going? David Ferguson, John Paul College Admissions | 2D Beyond the Reunion: Converting Alumni into Ambassadors, Partners, Sponsors & Donors [Panel] Myfanwy Stanfield, Ascham School; Helen Turner, St Laurence’s College; Claire Henkey, John Paul College (Facilitator) Alumni (No Slides) |
| 3A Psychometrics with Purpose: Building Stronger Teams & Leaders in Education Shannon Roberts Gibbs, Tenaxiti Business Psychology People & Culture, Leadership | 3B Planned Giving Stewardship – It’s More than a Bequest Brochure Nina Mullings, University of Queensland Fundraising | 3C Brisbane Grammar School Open Day Reimagined Steve Uscinski & Nikita Blom, Brisbane Grammar School Admissions, Marketing & Communications | 3D Global Alumni Networks: Engaging International Alumni Effectively [Panel] David Ferguson, John Paul College; Ramya Shami, Bond University; Maria Egan, All Saints Anglican School; Lara Pickering, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School (Facilititator) Alumni (No Slides) |
| 4A ‘Dragon’s Den’ Advancement Publications Edition – Make Your Pitch! Cameron Pegg, cameronpegg.com.au Marketing & Communications (No Slides) | 4B Donor Fatigue & Competing Priorities [Panel] Doreen Awabdy, Gergory Terrace; Lucy Moore, QUT; Nigel Harris AM, Giving Architects; Lina Blazak, Stuartholme School (Facilitator) Fundraising (No Slides) | 4C Resolving Grievances (Staff, Parent, Student) in the Independent Education Context Megan Kavanagh, Colin Biggers & Paisley Lawyers People & Culture (No Slides) | 4D Advancement Leaders: Strategies and Insights Required to Lead in an Ever-Changing Environment Mary Macuga, Archdiocese of Brisbane Leadership |
| 5A Balancing Wait List Priorities & Making Choices in Admissions Scott Huntington, Brisbane Christian College Admissions | 5B Engaging Alumni Across Generations: Tailoring Strategies for Boomers, Millenials & Gen Z [Panel] Russell Davidson, Haileybury; Emma Velthuis, Mount Alvernia College; Keili MacInnes, Sheldon College; David Miles, Churchie (facilitator) Alumni (No Slides) | 5c Beginning with Nothing: Building a Bursary Fund that Changes Futures Inge Iosif, Archdiocese of Brisbane Fundraising | 5D Defining Your Employee Value Proposition (EVP) to Retain & Hire Top-Tier Staff Graham Toon, John Paul College; Mara Roberts, Roberts Digital People & Culture |
DAY2 – Session PDFs
| 6A From Map to Momentum: Turning Journey Insights into Future-Ready Action Suzanne Pelizzari & Samantha Hunt, Digistorm Admissions | 6B Case for Support – It’s Not a Sales Pitch! Clive Pedley, Matthew Lang & Robert Brooke, Giving Architects Fundraising | 6C Smarter Reporting with Google Analytics 4 (GA4) Benjamin Mangold, Loves Data Handout Marketing & Communications | 6D the Sharpest Tool in Your HR Toolkit: Restorative Practices Sue Chandler, Transformative Schools Handout People & Culture, Leadership | 6E Alumni Stories that Inspire: Best Practices in Storytelling for Engagement & Development Brady Downes & Tim Nelson, Look Education Alumni | 6F Media Training Jillian Whiting & Suzanne Start, Media Potential Leadership |
| 7A Taking Your Giving Program from Good to Great: The Essential Elements of a Best Practice Major Donor Program Eliza Gooding & Luke Toebelmann, DGB Global Fundraising | 7B Campaign for Hearts – Not Just Minds – With Brand Suzanne Oxford New Word Order Admissions (Slides Coming) | 7C School Principals in Conversation on ‘The Role of Leaders in Advancement’ Toni Riordan, St Aidan’s Anglican School; Kyle Thompson, The Scots PGC College; Craig Merritt, John Paul College; Julia McKenna, St Aidan’s Anglican Girls’ School (Facilitator) Leadership (No Slides) | 7D PEERsuasian: Leveraging Student Voice in Your Marketing Bianca Coleborn, Faith Lutheran College, QLD Marketing & Communications | 7E Harnessing School Archives to Cultivate Alumni Identity & Community Mary Surtees, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School Alumni (No Slides) | 7F Strategies for Shaping Career Journeys [Panel] Janet Stewart, the Women’s College; Kate Curran, St Margaret’s Anglican Girls’ School; Graham Toon, John Paul College (Facilitator) People & Culture (No Slides) |
| 8A Data Privacy & Community Engagement: Balancing Personalisation with Compliance Claire Henkey, John Paul College Alumni | 8B Do’s & Don’ts of Admissions: The Legal Minefield in Admissions Ben Foley, EREA Colleges Ltd Admissions | 8C The Universal Guidebook for Managing Communications During a Crisis Cecelia Haddad, Marketing Elements Marketing & Communications, Leadership, People & Culture | 8D Strategic Fundraising: Separating the Wood from the Trees Alicia Watson OAM, What’s On Consulting Fundraising | 8E AI Unleashed: transforming Education Advancement with Smarter Solutions Ross Imbler, Giving Architects All Streams | Blank |
| 9A Design Your School’s DNA Blueprint: Building a Strong Brand Identity from the Inside Out Brady Downes & Tim Nelson, Look Education Marketing & Communications | 9B The Future of Hiring: AI in Action Corinne Glass, Scout Talent People & Culture | 9C Reconnecting the Dots: Strategies to Re-engage Lost Alumni Merryn Parks, ToucanTech Alumni | 9D The Responsibility Revolution: Leading Beyond Rescue Stephen Scott, ETHICLEAD Leadership | 9E Crossing Cultural Bridges: tailoring Your Donor Approach for Global Success John Godfrey Chapel&York Fundraising | 9F How to Benefit from Generational Change that Impacts Your Institution [Panel] Vanessa Saxby, Churchie; Steve Foster, Cannon Hill Anglican College; Allison McGuckin, St Paul’s School; Scott Huntington, Brisbane Christian College (Facilitator) Admissions |
CLOSING KEYNOTE: Changeability: The Mindset to Take On Anything – Julian Mather, Motivational Speaker (Former Sniper & Globe-Trotting Cameraman)
