{"id":1834,"date":"2025-12-03T13:56:55","date_gmt":"2025-12-03T02:56:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/educateplus-nsw-act\/?post_type=article&p=1834"},"modified":"2025-12-04T10:50:01","modified_gmt":"2025-12-03T23:50:01","slug":"nsw-act-summit-2025-two-days-of-making-tomorrow-together","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/educateplus-nsw-act\/article\/nsw-act-summit-2025-two-days-of-making-tomorrow-together\/","title":{"rendered":"NSW\/ACT Summit 2025: Two Days of Making Tomorrow, Together\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"

From the moment delegates arrived, the energy was unmistakable. Junkyard Beats opened Day 1 with vibrant percussion, rhythm and audience interaction that set a lively tone for the two days ahead.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Twenty-five years after winning gold at the Sydney Olympics, Kerri Pottharst OAM OLY took the stage as the keynote, not to reflect on the past, but to explore what it takes to build what comes next. Momentum, mindset and the quiet discipline behind every high-performing team shaped her keynote. It was the perfect beginning for a Summit centred on the theme Make Tomorrow: Creating the Future Together.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

More than 300 delegates gathered for two days of conversation, learning and connection. With five robust learning streams: Admissions, Alumni & Community Engagement, Fundraising, Marketing & Communications, and People & Culture, the program reflected a profession deeply invested in shaping what schools will need tomorrow, not simply responding to today.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Across the program, one idea continually resurfaced: <\/span>tomorrow doesn\u2019t arrive fully formed.<\/span><\/i> It is made\u2014through decisions, leadership, creativity, insight and action taken today, grounded in the needs of our unique communities.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Admissions<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Admissions stream embodied this future-making mindset. Discussions around AI, disability inclusion, enrolment decision-making and data strategy were not simply operational, they focused on designing better pathways for families, clarity for schools and sustainable growth. Sessions such as AI for Admissions, Enrol Me In!, and Admissions with Intention highlighted how enrolment teams are rethinking processes for the decade ahead.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Alumni & Community Engagement<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

In the Alumni stream, practitioners explored how to build communities that remain connected long after graduation. Archives, mentoring, digital engagement and renewed approaches to storytelling all pointed toward strengthening communities that endure because people feel seen, valued and included.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fundraising<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Fundraising sessions continued the forward-looking theme. From generational giving to major gifts, delegates examined not only <\/span>how<\/span><\/i> donors give but <\/span>why<\/span><\/i>. Long-term stewardship, clarity of purpose and authentic relationships emerged as essential foundations for tomorrow\u2019s fundraising success.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Marketing & Communications<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Marketing practitioners leaned into innovation and adaptability. Conversations around emotive storytelling, savvy rebranding and the practical realities of paid social media prompted lively discussion. These sessions went well beyond tactics, challenging delegates to think strategically about building school identities that connect meaningfully with the families of the future.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

People & Culture \u2014 A Standout Stream Shaping the Future<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The People & Culture stream quickly became one of the standout successes of the Summit. Sessions on staff wellbeing, recruitment, retention, legal responsibilities and leading through change were packed from start to finish. Delegates spoke candidly about the pressures facing school teams and the need for cultures that support people as well as performance.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Day 2 opened with Dr Adam Fraser, whose keynote on <\/span>The Third Space<\/span><\/i> invited delegates to consider the moments in between\u2014the mental reset that allows individuals and teams to shift gears with intention. It was a grounding and reflective start to the day.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Breakout sessions spanned global student belonging, milestone celebrations, AI-enabled marketing, leadership through uncertainty and the complexities of international philanthropy. Delegates moved through sessions with a shared sense of purpose, openly exploring challenges and exchanging ideas.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The Summit closed with Mark McCrindle, who zoomed out to reveal the societal patterns influencing schools today\u2014generational shifts, community expectations and demographic change. His keynote mapped out the demographic and generational trends reshaping the educational landscape, giving delegates the context needed to plan for what lies ahead.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thank You<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Thank you to everyone who contributed, presented and attended the 2025 Summit. Delegates returned to their schools with fresh insight, renewed momentum and a shared commitment to <\/span>Make Tomorrow\u2014and make it together.<\/span><\/b>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

From the moment delegates arrived, the energy was unmistakable. Junkyard Beats opened Day 1 with vibrant percussion, rhythm and audience interaction that set a lively tone for the two days ahead.\u00a0 Twenty-five years after winning gold at the Sydney Olympics, Kerri Pottharst OAM OLY took the stage as the keynote, not to reflect on the […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"featured_media":1835,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","class_list":["post-1834","article","type-article","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/educateplus-nsw-act\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article\/1834","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/educateplus-nsw-act\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/article"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/educateplus-nsw-act\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/article"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/educateplus-nsw-act\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1834"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/educateplus-nsw-act\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/1835"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thebuzz.net.au\/educateplus-nsw-act\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1834"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}