The two day Universities Australia Higher Education Conference 2016 brings together over 50 Australian and international speakers to discuss the sector’s opportunities, challenges, and the increasingly crucial role of universities in shaping Australia’s future prosperity.

Themed Transforming Australia: universities and their communities, this year’s conference will have a particular emphasis on universities and innovation at a time of major economic and social transformation.

The 20 plus sessions include: Universities, innovation and relevance; new industries/new jobs; universities and reshaping regional economies; the coming decade for Australia’s third largest export sector – international education; the sector’s Respect. Now. Always. campaign; STEM, philanthropy; quality assurance and advocacy in a time of austerity.

The exceptional line-up of national and international speakers include:

• Senator Simon Birmingham, Minister for Education and Training, who will deliver the keynote speech in the Great Hall of Parliament House at the conference dinner on Wednesday evening.
• Senator Kim Carr, Shadow Minister for Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Industry.
• Prof. Barney Glover, Chair, Universities Australia.
• Lieutenant General David Morrison AO (ret), Australian of the Year, Former Chief of Army.
• Dr Alan Finkel AO, Australia’s Chief Scientist.
• Prof. Jo Ritzen, Professional Fellow of the International Economics of Science, Technology and Higher Education, Maastricht University, Netherlands.
• Prof. Robin Grimes, Foreign and Commonwealth Office, Chief Scientific Adviser, UK.
• Prof. Carl Wieman, Nobel Prize Winner, Prof. Physics & Graduate School of Education at Stanford University, US.

Universities Australia Chief Executive Belinda Robinson said that as well as delving into the key issues facing the sector, the conference will analyse how universities are transforming Australia’s workforce, industries and the economy.

“Australia is entering a period of seismic economic and social change and the role of our universities in both driving and responding to this transformation cannot be overstated,” Ms Robinson said.

“With a stellar line-up of speakers – including political and business leaders, two Nobel Prize winners and the current Australian of the Year = this year’s conference will help shape the national agenda.”

Universities Australia’s Executive Women Group, the most senior executive women from across the university sector, will also meet during the event.

The conference is a windfall for the local Canberra economy with an estimated $500,000 to be injected into the ACT over the two days.

The conference is running today and tomorrow at the National Convention Centre Canberra. For more information, click here.