If you like to spend your days listening to stuff you already know, then this conference is probably not for you.
But if you think that one of the most turbulent years in higher education suggests the need for some fresh perspectives and cutting edge solutions that you haven’t heard elsewhere, then it’s time to come to HE FEST.
We have just released the HEFEST program for 2026, with more than 30 speakers ready to bring you insights with capacity to reshape your perspectives on the future of higher education. We shaped the program with insights from a wide range of staff this year and are delighted to be hosted at Macquarie University’s northern Sydney campus on 22-23 September.
HE FEST is a conference that embodies our mission at Future Campus – to bring you valuable insights that you won’t find anywhere else and a price that makes us as accessible as possible to the sector.
Each session is crafted to focus on issues relevant to tertiary sector staff right now, with opportunities to join the conversation through Q&As planned into each session.
Speakers include:
- News Corp Australasia Chair Michael Miller on Truth in an AI World
- Xero Chair and University of Sydney Chancellor David Thodey on five things that tertiary education needs to change
- UK HE thought leader Zeenat Fayaz
- Science Communicator and lecturer Vanessa Pirotta
- HE policy unicorn Andrew Norton
- Senior HE journalists
- AI and Curriculum guru Mollie Dollinger
- Vice-Chancellor, Deputy Vice-Chancellors, and senior marketing, communications and fundraising practitioners drawn from a third of the nation’s universities
- Indigenous thought leaders Maree Meredith and Heather McGregor
- Leading High School Principals providing insights as to what the world looks like from secondary schools
Access the program and buy tickets via the button below.