PROGRAM

The 2026 AISSA Governance Conference Beyond the Horizon: Strategic Foresight for Boards and Education Leaders is an immersive, future-focused professional development opportunity designed to strengthen governance and leadership in a time of rapid change.

Back by popular demand, Dr Kai Riemer returns, this time joined by Dr Sandra Peter, his colleague from Sydney Executive Plus at the Sydney Business School. Together, they will share insights into the 2026 Skills Horizon Report, explore how the global forces reshaping work, leadership and organisational capability are redefining the role of the educational leaders in stewarding schools now and into the future.

The program will engage participants through keynotes, interactive workshops and provocative scenario exploration, embedding futures thinking into board practice.

There will also be an opportunity to step into a futures lab where participants will build capability in futures thinking, using the Signals Method and scenario analysis to address emerging challenges and strengthen governance practice.

This is an opportunity not to be missed!

Who should attend:

This conference offers an outstanding opportunity for boards and executive teams to grow together.

The program is designed for boards, principals, executive teams, human resource professionals and business managers. It is equally valuable for aspiring and emerging leaders. We know that shared participation strengthens alignment, deepens understanding and builds collective leadership capacity.

Attractive Group Discounts Available
When purchasing four or more tickets in one transaction, all tickets will have 20% discount applied. Group discounts are provided to encourage and support attendance of whole boards and executive teams.

Full Program is available!

We are pleased to present the 2026 AISSA Program, an impressive and thoughtfully curated schedule designed to showcase the very best of this year’s event.

You can download the full program using the button provided, and a detailed version is also available below.

Program

Friday, 18 September 2026
Location: The National Wine Centre, Adelaide

8:00am	Registration Opens - Tea and coffee on arrival
8:45am	Welcome to Country
9:00am	Conference Welcome Anne Dunstan, Chief Executive, Association of Independent Schools of South Australia
9:10am	Platinum sponsor welcome
9:15am	2026 Skills Horizon – What school boards and education leaders need to know The forces reshaping work, leadership and organisational capability are already transforming schooling. This session will explore what boards and education leaders need to understand now - from AI to emerging workforce trends and steward their schools into the future. Dr Kai Riemer & Dr Sandra Peter, Co-Directors of Sydney Executive Plus, Experts in Emerging Technology, Generative AI & the Future of Work
10:45am	Morning Tea - Sponsored by Metro Canteens
11:15am	Gold Sponsor - ngs super reflection
11:20am	Futures Thinking – From concept to boardroom and leadership practice What is 'futures thinking' and why does it matter for boards and education leaders today? Explore how to embed futures thinking into governance and leadership practice and build capability in signals method. Dr Kai Riemer & Dr Sandra Peter, Co-Directors of Sydney Executive Plus, Experts in Emerging Technology, Generative AI & the Future of Work
12:35pm	Networking Lunch - Sponsored by Metro Canteens
1:20pm	Provocative scenario analysis Step into a hands-on 'futures lab' where your board and leadership team will tackle real emerging issues facing education. You will apply the core practices of futures thinking to a set of provocations representative of near future scenarios. Dr Kai Riemer & Dr Sandra Peter, Co-Directors of Sydney Executive Plus, Experts in Emerging Technology, Generative AI & the Future of Work
2:35pm	From insight to action Share key insights and takeaways from your scenario analysis and hear perspectives from across the room. This closing session connects learning to action and helps delegates identify practical next steps to strengthen future-focused school governance and leadership. Dr Kai Riemer & Dr Sandra Peter, Co-Directors of Sydney Executive Plus, Experts in Emerging Technology, Generative AI & the Future of Work
3:20pm	Thank you and conference close - Anne Dunstan
3:30pm	Networking Drinks
5:00pm	Close

PROGRAM

Attractive Group Discounts Available When purchasing four or more tickets in one transaction, all tickets will have 20% discount applied. Group discounts are provided to encourage and support attendance of whole boards and executive teams.

Program

Attractive Group Discounts Available
When purchasing four or more tickets in one transaction, all tickets will have 20% discount applied. Group discounts are provided to encourage and support attendance of whole boards and executive teams.