Plenaries  

This year, AIEC plenary sessions will commence on Tuesday afternoon at 4pm with further sessions scheduled in the morning on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday. All plenaries will be held in the Royal Theatre.

View conference schedule

NEW Tuesday 14 October – Welcome Plenary

Join us for the official Welcome to Country, followed by welcomes from Tennealle O’Shannessy, CEO of IDP Education and Professor Ren Yi, President of IEAA. 

We will also celebrate our colleagues for the IEAA Excellence Awards.

Ministerial Address

We are glad to welcome The Hon. Chris Steel MLA, Treasurer of the Australian Capital Territory to give a welcome address during the plenary.  

Wednesday 15 October – Opening Plenary

Ministerial Address

We are pleased to welcome The Hon Julian Hill, Assistant Minister for International Education and Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, who will deliver a ministerial address at the Opening Plenary.

Keynote - Dr Gill Hicks

We are honoured to welcome Dr Gill Hicks to the opening keynote of our conference. Dr Hicks, a renowned advocate for peace and resilience, will share her inspiring journey and insights on resilience and innovation.

Thursday 16 October – Townhall

The Townhall Forum on Thursday will be highly interactive, where you can ask questions, discuss challenges, offer ideas, provide comments. This session will be audience-driven and facilitated by our MC so come ready to participate!

Speakers

Jane Favaloro, General Manager, Partnerships, Iglu Student Accommodation
The Hon. Phil Honeywood, CEO, IEAA
Jane Johnston, Chief Executive, StudyAdelaide
Karen Sandercock, First Assistant Secretary, International Division, Higher Education, Research and International Group, Australian Government Department of Education
The Hon. Tim Watts MP, Special Envoy for Indian Ocean Affairs, Australian Government

Friday 17 October – Closing Plenary

Meet the Ambassadors - journeys that connect the world

Join us for a relaxed fireside chat as the Ambassadors to Australia of the Republic of Indonesia, Cambodia and the Republic of Chile share their personal journeys as international students and reflect on the role of international education in connecting people, cultures, and nations - a conversation hosted by our conference MC Janice Petersen.

Moving to heal - trauma informed dance education

Suara Indonesia Dance perform an energetic mix of dance, body percussion and song, blending traditional and contemporary influences from their Indonesian heritage and Australian upbringing. Prepare yourself to embark on a spectacular journey with this highly talented troupe.  Immediately following the performance, the founder, Alfira will be interviewed by our MC, Janice Petersen, about the inspiration behind her artistic work and the aspirations she has for helping individuals and communities navigate change and heal after trauma.

Keynote - Prof Peter Greste

Join us for the closing keynote with Prof Peter Greste, renowned journalist and advocate for press freedom. Peter will share his experiences and insights on the importance of truth and resilience in journalism. This session will reflect on the critical need for integrity and courage in today's world.

Farewell

Please ensure you RSVP for the lunch, which will be served in the foyer. 

View conference schedule

Last updated: 22 September 2025

Key dates

11 February - Call for proposals opens

14 March - Call for proposals closes

May - Registration open

mid-June - Program released

31 July - Super early bird registration closes

12 September - Early bird registration closes

14–17 October – AIEC 2025

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