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Friday 28th March 2025
Central Queensland University, Bundaberg
Program
Coming to Bundaberg in 2025, the Future Of Education Summit will provide regional educators with new ways to engage students, scale their impact, and collaborate with peers across Queensland. As a satellite city of the National Summit in Brisbane, Bundaberg’s event will be uniquely designed by and for regional educators.
Find out more about what we have in store for our attendees by exploring the program below!
7:30am - 8:00am
Registration Open
For attendees wanting to beat the traffic, we will be hosting an optional 'Coffee And Conversations' session before the official program. Grab a coffee and a bite to eat as you network and hear from an insightful panel discussion to prepare you up for the day ahead!
8:00am - 8:30am
Innovating Within The System Panel Discussion
Des Pidgeon | Lecturer At CQUniversity
Nicole Amey | Deputy Principal At Urangan State High School
Amanda Kelk | Gateway Coordinator At Bundaberg Christian College
Scott Millar | Chief Executive Officer At BOP Industries
Trying to innovate within the education system can at times feel like trying to turn a cruise ship. It's big, it's complex, it can be slow to respond, and you have to bring a whole raft of people along for the ride.
Our 'Innovating Within The System' panel discussion has been created to feature educators from primary, high school, and tertiary levels as they share their journeys of innovation within traditional and regulated education systems.
Discover their strategies for challenging the status quo, embracing creative approaches, and fostering future-focused learning experiences that prepare students for an ever-changing world.
Through stories of resilience, collaboration, and bold experimentation, this session will offer practical advice and fresh perspectives on how to push boundaries and ignite meaningful change in education.
8:30am - 9:00am
Coffee & Networking
Post panel, our attendees will have time to grab a coffee and network with fellow delegates.
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8:30am - 9:00am
Registration Open
Registration will remain open for all attendees from 7:30am with coffee and a selection of hands-on activations available for attendees once they arrive. Please ensure you have arrived and registered in time for our official welcome at 9:00am.
9:00am - 9:15am
Summit Introduction
Scott Millar | Chief Executive Officer At BOP Industries
9:15am - 9:20am
Welcome To Country
Nikkiya Broome Tiger | Cultural Leader At Kepnock State High School
9:20am - 9:30am
Official Welcome
Mayor Helen Blackburn | Mayor Of Bundaberg Regional Council
9:30am - 10:00am
Exoskeletons In Our Services: Enhancing A Future Queensland Workforce
Jimmy Tarbit | PhD Candidate At The University Of Queensland
10:00am - 10:30am
Unlocking Regional Potential In Education
Luke Sinclair | Associate Vice-President - Gladstone and Wide Bay Burnett At CQUniversity
Greg Goldsworthy | Practice Manager At Sugarland Animal Hospital
Christopher Gill | Coordinator, Bundaberg Educational Precinct At Department of Education
Danita Kiriazis | Technical Manager at Alpha HPA
Our Summit Emcee, Scott Millar, will be officially opening the inaugural Future Of Education Summit Bundaberg 2025 as he welcomes attendees, and provides an overview of what to expect in the day ahead.
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We'll be starting our program with a welcome of country from traditional owners of the land on which we will be gathering.
Before our opening speaker, we will have an official welcome to the Summit from key stakeholders.
In building a future workforce that addresses key skill gaps and alleviates pressure of an aging population, exoskeleton technologies offer the potential to make our student trainees stronger and more capable than ever before. However, our work at UQ found that exoskeletons unexpectedly do a whole lot more than augment our strength. In fact, they augment us socially – our students could be seen as superhumans, robots, or even something completely indescribable in the eyes of the public.
This keynote session will discuss these influences called Augmented Social Presence, outline effective use cases for exoskeletons, and provide recommendations for educators looking to upskill trainee students in usage of exoskeletons technologies.
Our opening panel discussion will see industry and education leaders from across regional Queensland for an engaging panel discussion on how regional educators can tap into the unique strengths of their local communities.
From leveraging regional industries to fostering meaningful partnerships, this discussion will explore practical strategies for creating rich, place-based learning opportunities.
Hear from leaders who have successfully bridged the gap between education and industry, unlocking the potential of regional "superpowers" to inspire students and drive local innovation. Whether you’re an educator or community advocate, this conversation will empower you to embrace your region's unique identity and turn it into a catalyst for future focused learning experiences.
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10:30am - 11:15am
Morning Tea
We'll be breaking for morning tea to give attendees the opportunity to get a bite to eat, network and engage with our hands on activations.
11:15am - 12:00pm
First Round | Future Focused Learning Experiences
We will have a selection of 40 Minute Future Focused Learning Experiences running concurrently for our attendees to select from. Each experience will be an opportunity for attendees to get hands on as they learn from leading educators as they share their insights, advice and experiences on a topic of expertise.
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Kepnock State High School
How Hollywood Helps High Schools
CQUniversity
Designing Innovative Learning With Makerspaces: Empowering Regional Students With Future Skills
Impact Community ACADEMY
Preparing Tomorrow’s Schools: Cultivating Social And Emotional Development Vs. Academic Ranking
12:00pm - 12:45pm
Second Round | Future Focused Learning Experiences
We will have a selection of 40-minute Future Focused Learning Experiences running concurrently for our attendees to select from. Each experience will be an opportunity for attendees to get hands on as they learn from leading educators as they share their insights, advice and experiences on a topic of expertise.
Queensland Virtual STEM Academy
Enrichment Through Innovation: Inspiring Passion And Aspiration
Kalkie State School
Fostering A Future-Ready Skillset Through Game Design
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FisherONE Online Education
Fostering Innovation: Integrating Technology To Empower Cross-Curricular Learning
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12:45pm - 1:30pm
Lunch
We'll be breaking for lunch to give attendees the opportunity to get a bite to eat, network and engage with our hands on activations.
1:30pm - 3:00pm
Roundtable Discussions
We will have a selection of three interactive Roundtable Discussions running concurrently to provide attendees an opportunity to connect, collaborate and co-create as they explore a topic of interest to them. Our 2025 Roundtable Discussions can be found below:
Roundtable One:
Building Digital Champions In Your School Community
Join us for a dynamic roundtable discussion on 'Building Digital Champions in Your School Community', designed for primary and high school educators eager to harness the power of technology in teaching.
This session will explore practical strategies for integrating digital tools into the classroom to inspire and empower students as creators, problem-solvers, and critical thinkers.
Share insights, challenges, and successes with fellow educators as we discuss how schools can cultivate a culture of innovation, support professional growth, and leverage technology to build a future-ready learning environment. Leave with fresh ideas and actionable steps to champion digital transformation in your school community.
Speakers Include:
Samantha Pickering | Chief Operating Officer At Queensland Computers
Abbott Haron | Education Manager At Queensland Computers
Simon Lowe | CEO At People Tech Revolution
David Brown | Account Executive At Lenovo Australia
Roundtable Two:
Empowering Futures: Creating Pathways For Every Student
Join us for a thought-provoking roundtable discussion on 'Empowering Futures: Creating Pathways for Every Student'.
This session will delve into the diverse journeys students embark on after school, whether pursuing further education, entering the workforce, or exploring alternative opportunities. Together, we’ll examine how schools can better prepare students for the dynamic demands of the future workforce, fostering skills like adaptability, innovation, and resilience.
Share experiences, ideas, and challenges with fellow educators as we explore strategies to create meaningful, personalised pathways that empower every student to thrive in a rapidly evolving world.
Speakers Include:
Scott Millar | Chief Executive Officer At BOP Industries
Jodie Siggers | Transformer Program Manager At Bond University
Shelley Pisani | Business Manager At Bridges Health & Community Care.
Kelli Parr | Head of Engagement Year 9 & 10 At Kepnock State High School
Roundtable Three:
Creating A Culture Of Future Thinking
Explore the theme of 'Creating a Culture of Future Thinking' in this engaging roundtable discussion designed for forward-thinking educators.
Together, we’ll examine how to foster innovation within your school community by building supportive teams, engaging parents as partners in progress, and inspiring colleagues to embrace change.Discover strategies for launching and sustaining impactful innovation projects that prepare students for the challenges of tomorrow.
Share insights, collaborate on ideas, and leave with practical tools to cultivate a culture of future-focused education that thrives on collaboration and creativity.
Speakers Include:
Nicole Amey | Deputy Principal At Urangan State High School
Rowena Barrett | Pro Vice Chancellor (Entrepreneurship and Regional Innovation) At QUT
Linda Pfeiffer | Deputy Dean Research, School of Education and the Arts At CQUniversity
Damien Tracey | Chief Executive Officer At Community Lifestyle Support
3:00pm - 3:20pm
Harnessing Your Regional Superpower
Julia Spicer | Director at Engage and Create Consulting Pty Ltd
To finish the day, we will be coming back together to hear from a Julia Spicer. In this keynote, Julia will talk with the Summit participants around how they can make the most of their regional experiences, what superpower being regional brings and how they can be part of shaping the future of their community.
3:20pm - 3:50pm
Bridging The Gap: Industry Partnerships Panel Discussion
Scott Millar | Chief Executive Officer Of BOP Industries
Julia Spicer | Director At Engage and Create Consulting Pty Ltd
Michael Dart | Chief Customer Officer At Energy Queensland
Jen Hoyle | Deputy Director Skills, Education and Diversity at Queensland Resources Council
For our final panel discussion, we will discover how strategic partnerships between schools and local organisations can transform education experiences for our students.
Featuring a panel of industry leaders, this discussion will feature practical insights on how we can form impactful and mutually beneficial collaborations between education and industry in order to strengthen the link between the classroom and industry. During this discussion, attendees will gain inspiration from real-world success stories and learn how to connect classroom learning with authentic, community-driven experiences.
3:50pm - 4:00pm
Summit Wrap Up
Scott Millar | Chief Executive Officer Of BOP Industries
From there, our summit MC, Scott, will be rejoining us to provide a recap on an action-packed day of connection, collaboration and learning. Our summit MC will then be closing the official program for the summit and inviting attendees to join us for a celebratory drink and some music to finish the day.
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4:00pm - 5:00pm
Post Summit Celebrations
As the official summit program concludes, we will be inviting attendees to join us for some music and drinks as we share our learnings from the day, and celebrate the hard work being done by innovative educators across the country!
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We've got an action-packed day planned for our Future Of Education Summit Bundaberg 2025 and we hope we can see you there! Tickets are on sale now and selling quickly. Make sure to grab yours now!
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