Solutions Summit 2025 Program
Please click below to download a copy of the full program
| Monday 24 February 2025 | ||
| 1:30–5pm | Measuring research commercialisation outcomes Organised by KCA and Australian Government Dept of Education. | |
| 4–5:30pm | Equity & wellbeing: keys to sustainable universities Presented by HEDx, Welcoming Universities and Universities Enable. Please click here to confirm attendance for this session | |
| 5.30–7pm | Welcome reception Presentation of the 2024 Australian Awards for University Teaching | |
| Tuesday 25 February 2025 | ||
| 6.45am | Registration desk opens | |
| 7.15–8.15am | Breakfast address Global perspectives: challenges and changes for universities Professor Andrew J Deeks, President, International Association of Universities Gabriel Miller, President and CEO, Universities Canada Luke Sheehy, CEO, Universities Australia Vivienne Stern MBE, CEO, Universities UK | |
| 8.30–8.45am | Welcome by Universities Australia Luke Sheehy, CEO, Universities Australia Serena Williams, Ngunnawal Elder | |
| 8:45–9.30am | Keynote address Speaker Catherine Livingstone AC, Chancellor, UTS Chair Professor David Lloyd, Chair, Universities Australia | |
| 9:30–10.00am | In conversation with Kathleen Folbigg and Rhanee Rego Speakers Kathleen Folbigg Rhanee Rego, Criminal Law Solicitor Chair Clare Armstrong, National Political Editor, News Corp | |
| 10–11am | Powering productivity: unleashing skills and innovation Speakers Professor Barney Glover AO, Commissioner, Jobs and Skills Australia Danielle Wood, Chair, Productivity Commission Chair Professor Alec Cameron, Vice-Chancellor and President, RMIT | |
| 11–11:25am | Morning tea | |
| 11:25am–12:15pm | From Washington to
Canberra: understanding Trump’s America 2.0 Speakers Mick Mulvaney, former White House Chief of Staff, Director of the Office of Management and Budget, U.S. Special Envoy to Northern Ireland The Hon. Arthur Sinodinos AO, former Australian Ambassador to the United States. Chair Michelle Gunn, Editor in Chief, The Australian | |
| 12:15-12:55pm | Meeting the demand: addressing the growing need for health professionals Speakers Emeritus Professor Christine Bennett AO, Non-executive, Independent Director, Sonic Healthcare Professor Michael Kidd AO, Director, Centre for Future Health Systems, UNSW Sydney Professor Steve Robson, former President, Australian Medical Association Chair Professor S Bruce Dowton, Vice-Chancellor and President, Macquarie University | |
| 12:55–1:45pm | Lunch | |
| 1:15–1:45pm | Lunchtime Address A bold vision for the future of the National Competitive Grants Program Speaker Professor Peter Shergold AC, Chair, Australian Research Council | |
| 1:45–2:15pm | Q&A Session Speaker Her Excellency the Honourable Ms Sam Mostyn AC, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia Chair Professor David Lloyd, Chair, Universities Australia | |
| 2:15–3:00pm | Shaping tomorrow: unlocking the power and promise of Artificial Intelligence Speakers Hugh Durrant-Whyte, NSW Chief Scientist Michael Larsen, CEO, Studiosity John Paitaridis, CEO, CyberCX Natalie Piucco, AI Technology Executive & University of Wollongong Council Member Chair Professor Theo Farrell, Vice-Chancellor and President, La Trobe University | |
| 3:00–3:50pm | Voices of tomorrow: redefining the student experience Speakers Professor Ngiare Brown, Chancellor, James Cook University Ben Hallett, Co-CEO, Vygo Chris Wessells, Higher Education IT Strategist, Unisys | |
| 3:50–4:10pm | Afternoon tea | |
| 4:10–4:50pm | More than Education: The Strategic Importance of
our International Offer & Connections Speaker Her Excellency Vicki Treadell CMG, MVO, British High Commissioner to Australia | |
| 6:30–10pm | Gala dinner at Australian Parliament House Presentation of the 2024 Shaping Australia Awards Speakers The Hon Jason Clare, Minister for Education Lisa Paul AO PSM, Chancellor, University of Canberra Chair Professor David Lloyd, Chair, Universities Australia | |
| Wednesday 26 February 2025 | ||
| 7:30–8:45am | Breakfast address Are Australia’s universities building the skills for the future? Speakers Jessica Turner, CEO, QS Professor Sharon Pickering, Vice-Chancellor and President, Monash University Chair Dr Maria Spies, Chief Innovation Officer, QS | |
| 08:50 - 9:20am | Opposition Address Speaker Senator the Hon Sarah Henderson, Shadow Minister for Education Chair Professor David Lloyd, Chair, Universities Australia | |
| 9:20–9:35am | Keynote Address Speaker Christine Holgate, CEO, Team Global Express Chair Professor Carolyn Evans, Vice-Chancellor and President, Griffith University | |
| 9:35–10am | Building a future ready workforce Speakers Charlene Davison, CEO, GO Foundation Christine Holgate, CEO, Team Global Express Liam O’Brien, Assistant Secretary, Australian Council of Trade Unions Chair Professor Carolyn Evans, Vice-Chancellor and President, Griffith University | |
| 10–11am | Securing our future: challenges and strategies
in national security Speakers Jeff Connolly, Country Director & CEO, Thales Australia Air Chief Marshal Sir Angus Houston AK, AFC (Ret'd) Professor Tanya Monro AC, Australia’s Chief Defence Scientist Chair Professor Alex Zelinsky AO, Vice-Chancellor and President, University of Newcastle | |
| 11–11:30am | Morning tea | |
| 11:30-12:00pm | Concurrent Session A Partisanship, polarisation and social cohesion – what does the research tell us? Speakers Matt Crocker, Susan McKinnon Foundation John Scales, Founder, JWS Research | |
| 11:30-12:00pm | Concurrent Session B Universities as changemakers: building connections, driving impact Speakers Sue Cunningham, President and CEO of the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) Verity Firth, Chair, Engagement Australia Katherine Teh, Principal, TEH & CO Chair Professor Zlatko Skrbis, Vice-Chancellor and President, Australian Catholic University | |
| 11:30-12:00pm | Concurrent Session C The Experience Advantage: Student Engagement as a Catalyst for Success – Global Insights and Local Applications Speaker Patricia Hubbard, Head of ANZ Consulting, Gallup | |
| 12:00–1:30pm | Lunch – National Press Club address streamed in
Royal Theatre | |
| 12:30–1:30pm | National Press Club address Speaker Luke Sheehy, Chief Executive, Universities Australia | |
| 1:30-2:00pm | Concurrent Session D Towards a tertiary harmonisation roadmap: raising opportunity and productivity Speaker Professor Barney Glover AO, Commissioner, Jobs and Skills Australia | |
| 1:30-2:00pm | Concurrent Session E Beyond Borders: How Transnational Education is Leveraged for Global influence Speakers Jamie Arrowsmith, Director, Universities UK International Leighton Ernsberger, Director Education East Asia, British Council Chair Saskia Loer Hansen, Deputy Vice-Chancellor International and Engagement, RMIT | |
| 1:30-2:00pm | Concurrent Session F Generative AI Frameworks and Solutions: Higher Education Leaders Share Institutional Approaches Speakers Herk Kailis, Chief Executive Officer, Cadmus Professor Gregor Kennedy, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), University of Melbourne Professor David Sadler, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic), University of Notre Dame Chair Professor Karen Nelson, Acting Vice-Chancellor, the University of Southern Queensland | |
| 2.05-2.10pm | Deloitte survey interim results | |
| 2.10–3pm | Strengthening regional communities – building for the future Speakers David Jochinke, President, National Farmers' Federation The Hon Fiona Nash, Regional Education Commissioner Michael Schneider, Managing Director, Bunnings Group Chair Professor Tyrone Carlin, Vice-Chancellor and President, Southern Cross University | |
| 3-3.10pm | Keynote Address His Excellency Mr Gabriele Visentin, EU Ambassador | |
| 3.10–4pm | Australia's path to becoming an energy superpower Speakers His Excellency Mr Gabriele Visentin, EU Ambassador Stephanie Bashir, Principal, Nexa Advisory Michael Frangos, CEO, Indigenous Energy Australia Innes Willox AM, Chief Executive, AiG Chair Professor Margaret Sheil AO, Vice-Chancellor and President, QUT | |
| 4–4:10pm | Summit close Speaker Professor David Lloyd, Chair, Universities Australia | |
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