Melbourne
EdTech Summit

8-10 September 2020

Celebrating Australian EdTech & Innovation in Education

The Melbourne EdTech Summit will bring together leaders from Australia’s EdTech ecosystem and hand-picked global innovators to explore the education innovation agenda.

The summit offers education providers, industry participants and EdTech entrepreneurs a place to develop a vision for the education and skills sector and its connection to the future of work.

Join us over three days to learn from leading thinkers in digital education and build connections in the EdTech community.

Each day will include a mix of keynotes, panel discussions and fireside chat-style sessions, along with workshops and deep-dives covering the overarching conference themes of:

  • Engaging offshore learners with digital education delivery
  • Employability and the future of work
  • Teaching skills in a digital world
View ProgramWatch Sessions

Speakers

Prof. Susan Elliott
Deputy Vice Chancellor, Monash University

Emeritus Professor
Beverley Oliver

Prof. Ken Henderson
Chancellor & Senior Vice President Learning, Northeastern University

Abhishek Gupta
Managing Partner, TVentures

Sally-Ann Watts

Austrade

Phalgun Kompalli

upGrad

Vivienne King

Box Hill Institute

Colette Rogers

Deloitte

Michael Priddis

Faethm AI

Genevieve Gregor

Colinton Capital

Adam Brimo

Open Learning

Andrew Barnes

GO1

Anthony Morris

Cahoot Learning

Beau Lesse

Practera

Bev Hudson

Navitas

Bianca Raby

Oppida

Caroline Hartnett

Global Victoria

Carmel Price

Caulfield Grammar School

Catherine Newington

ACS

Chie Adaci

Deakin University

Cheyne Tan

Potentia

Claire Field

Claire Field & Assoc.

David Linke

EduGrowth

Dan Ingvarson

MoxieReader

Dino Willox

University of Queensland

Elaine Starkey

Global Study Partners

Ellisa Newall

Edified

Fiona Letos

Global Victoria

Hayley Bolding

Practera

Helen Partridge

Deakin University

Ivar Begret

OES

Karen Bohm

Pangea Impact Investments

Lindy Richardson

Maddocks

Lyn Hay

Leading Learning Institute

Maria Spies

Holon IQ

Mark Pettitt

Edified

Mark Lamont

EduGrowth

Matt Riddle

Curio Group

Owen Firth

Readygrad

Patrick Brothers

Holon IQ

Pauline Farrell

Skill 4 the Future

Robert Gregory

Maddocks

Sam Harris

Amazon Web Services

Sean Steele

Past CEO EdventureCo

Simon Hann

Chartered Accountants ANZ

Srdjan Dangubic

Five V Capital

Tim Dodd

The Australian

Tim Power

Inquisitive

Tim Praill

Faethm AI

Trevor Fairweather

ReadyTech

Zoe Milne

LoopLearn

Program partners

Stream 1

Education thought leadership
0

This stream brings Australia’s leading education and EdTech thought leaders together to explore the education innovation agenda.

Agenda

 

9.00am

 


Australian EdTech Ecosystem

The Australian EdTech sector has enjoyed significant growth and maturity in recent years,  almost doubling in size and reporting a greater number of EdTech organisations progressing from startups to scaleups. This session will examine the current state of affairs in the Australian EdTech Ecosystem with reference to research conducted by EduGrowth and Deloitte between 2017 and 2019.

Colette Rogers
Partner & Education Sector Lead, Deloitte
David Linke
Managing Director, EduGrowth
  

9.30am

 


Taking Australian Education Global Through Digital Transformation

Australia enjoys a global reputation for high quality education. Australian universities and the wider tertiary sector are well-placed to optimise this opportunity and export education to the world in a new way. This session will explore a new wave of borderless digital engagement and delivery within the tertiary sector.

 Prof. Susan Elliott
Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Education), Monash University
Prof. Beverley Oliver
Emeritus Professor
Bev Hudson
CEO University Partnerships Australasia, Navitas
  

10.30am

 


Engaging Offshore Learners with Digital Delivery

No longer constrained to the classic catchment, Australian universities and higher education can look to attract a far more diverse cohort of learners with digital delivery. Technology provides a powerful force, enabling students from new and emerging markets the chance to compete in the global environment. This session will explore the characteristics and trends in the offshore international education market and the opportunities for Australian education.

Ivar Berget
Executive Director of Strategy, OES
Adam Brimo
CEO, Open Learning
Caroline Harnett
Manager Strategy & Policy, Global Victoria
  

11.00am

 


Innovation to Engage the Modern Learner

The modern student expects a great deal from their university or TAFE. They have progressive motivations for their learning and they demand choice and control over their learning journey. This session will explore the evolving models that are delivering real engagement for modern learners, whilst also reflecting on how the learnings from the COVID-19 experience can inform better models for student engagement.

Prof. Helen Partridge
Pro Vice-Chancellor Teaching & Learning, Deakin University
Elissa Newall
Partner, Edified
  

11.30am

 


Australia’s place in the Global EdTech Ecosystem

With an increasing demand for learning online, there have been shifts in the Global EdTech sector. This session will give an overview of the Global EdTech environment and explores how Australia fits into this picture.

Maria Spies
Founder, Holon IQ
David Linke
Managing Director, EduGrowth
  

 

Agenda

 

9.00am

 


The Evolution of the Workforce

The increasing automation and replacement of jobs by machines and artificial intelligence highlights the change in skill sets required for jobs of the future—and we have the skills necessary for the next wave of employment. This session will discuss how we can better understand that skill base and the future options.

Michael Priddis
CEO, Faethm AI
Lindy Richardson
Partner, Maddocks
  

9.30am

 


The Key Bridge to Graduate Employability

Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts is a global research university that has a distinctive, experiential approach to education. They integrate traditional classroom study with opportunities for professional work, research, service and global learning. Drawing on the Northeastern model, this session will discuss the impact of this approach on student employability.

 Prof. Kenneth Henderson
Chancellor & Senior Vice-President Learning, Northeastern University
Tim Dodd
Higher Education Editor, The Australian
  

10.30am

 


Experiential Learning across Australia

Australian universities recognise the benefits of practical experience in learning to enhance student employability. This has resulted in the adoption of experiential learning in their student experience. This session will discuss experiential learning for educators, industry, and the learner in the Australian context.

Dr Dino Willox
Director Student Employability, University of Queensland
Beau Lesse
CEO & CoFounder, Practera
  

11.00am

 


The Future of Work is Now

The way we live and work has fundamentally shifted with increased globalisation, digitisation and now COVID-19. Rapidly changing workforce requirements—where jobs evolve and skill sets aren’t keeping up—are driving a new paradigm. This session will discuss the gap between formal education, corporate education and future-proofing employment. How do we reskill, upskill and drive entire workforces towards a life-long learning mindset?.

Andrew Barnes
CEO & Founder, GO1
Lindy Richardson
Partner, Maddocks
  
11.30am

Employment Futures: The role of employers in the education of their future workforce

What is the future of work shaping up to be? Digital collaboration creates innovative opportunities beyond just employment.

Fiona Letos
Director International Education, Global Victoria
Hayley Bolding
National Programs Manager, Practera
  

Agenda

 

9.00am

 


Is Regulation Helping or Hindering Education Innovation

Education is a highly regulated sector; the VET and Skills training sub-sector is not exempt, undergoing multiple reviews in recent years. Enrolling over 4 million students annually and growing, this session will review innovations in the VET and Skills sector and how government regulation at state and federal levels is helping and/or hindering education innovation for learners.

Claire Field
Principal, Claire Field & Associates
Ewa Kuriata
Senior Trade Manager, International Education, Global Victoria
  

9.30am

 

Bridging Gaps: Study, Employability and Innovation

There is an exciting opportunity for educators to collaborate and engage with industry to design authentic, blended learning experiences. Real partnerships with industry will contribute to learning and skills outcomes and drive student employability and job readiness. This session will look at successful education and industry partnership models and how innovation is engaging the learner in the process.

Vivienne King
CEO & Managing Director, Box Hill Institute
Trevor Fairweather
Managing Director, ReadyTech
Claire Field
Principal, Claire Field & Associates
  

10.30am

 

Global Trends in Online Skills Education

New skills will be required to respond to a changing economy not only domestically, but globally. This session will discuss international trends in the skills education sector, specifically looking at online delivery and the new cohorts of learners that will require access to the skills education sector for upskilling and reskilling.

Sean Steele
CEO, EdventureCo
Pauline Farrell
Managing Director, Skills 4 the Future
  

11.00am

 

Adapting Learning to an Online Environment

Effective online teaching begins with understanding how content translates to a digital environment. Using education technology and online learning tools open significant opportunities for educators. They can now re-imagine how they teach, optimising the genre and improving learning outcomes and efficiencies. This session will discuss the process of adapting learning to an online environment with consideration for effective assessment and the construct of digital certification.

Anthony Morris
CEO & Founder, Cahoot Learning
Bianca Raby
Founder, Oppida
  
11.30am

Innovation across the International student experience

The international education industry must recognise the student experience extends beyond campus life, looking toward full immersion with access to social, cultural and employment opportunities. This discussion will explore how connection between international students to Australian education can be enhanced with innovative technologies.

Elaine Starkey
Co-Founder and CEO, Global Study Partners
Owen Firth
Chief Employability Officer, Readygrad

Mark Pettitt
Founder, Edified

 

Stream 2

Entrepreneurship
0

This stream is focussed on entrepreneurship and capacity building through keynotes, panels and workshops.

Agenda

 

3.00pm
Australia’s EdTech Capability

Australia is uniquely positioned to impact learners around the world. The combination of high quality education system, connection to international markets and technology innovation allows us to impact learners across the world.

Tim Beresford
Acting CEO, Austrade
Mark Lamont
Chair, EduGrowth

 

3.25pm

 


International Investor Lens

Hear from the investor who backed the biggest EdTech in the world! Abhishek Gupta has a unique insight into India’s EdTech sector being a key player in early stage companies, growth investing and leading a corporate venture capital entity. Abhishek has invested in over 60 startups, boasting a healthy exit number and a high IRR. In this session, Abhishek will offer his expert insight as an international investor.

 Abhishek Gupta
Managing Partner, TVentures
David Linke
Managing Director, EduGrowth
  

4.10pm

 


UpGrad, success through aligning today’s education with the jobs of the future

Hear from the cofounder of upGrad, India’s biggest Online Program Manager (OPM). Phalgun Kompalli founded upGrad in 2015 after recognising the potential in online education and the lack of a credible, and scale provider in the space. UpGrad has since impacted over half a million people globally via programs designed and delivered in collaboration with university partners and industry. Phalgun will share his startup story, major learnings and the importance of being creative and relentless in executing your startup idea.

Phalgun Kompalli
CoFounder UpGrad
  
  

 

Agenda

 

3.00pm

 


Taking Victorian EdTech Global

Victoria is a leading Australian EdTech ecosystem with deep capability that can support learners across the globe. This session will discuss the characteristics of the Victorian sector including strengths, key capability areas and how Victorian EdTech can export globally.

Caroline Hartnett
Senior Analyst International Education, Global Victoria
David Linke
Managing Director, EduGrowth
  

3.25pm

 


Mathletics: Idea to Exit

Hear from the co-founder and former CEO of one of Australia’s biggest EdTech successes: Mathletics. Tim Power founded 3P Learning, best known for Mathletics, in 2005. With a clear vision and strategy, Tim built and scaled the business to a $320 million IPO with 350 staff. Tim will share his founder story, providing insight into how he built an effective EdTech company using an operating framework characterised by focus and speed.

Tim Power
Founder & CEO, Inquisitive
David Linke
Managing Director, EduGrowth
  

4.10pm

 


The Voice of the Customer

Connect directly with educators to understand the challenges and priorities current and relevant to their sector. The voice of the customer is key to unlocking product market fit in the early stages of building a company. The best products are developed with customers as testers, collaborators and co-creators.

Using a break-out style format, participants will join one of three in-depth sessions where they will meet educators from higher education, K-12 schools and workforce education.  

 

Higher Education
Lyn Hay
Leading Learning Institute		Chie Adaci
Deakin University		Matt Riddle
Curio Group
   
K12 Schools
  
Catherine Newington
ACS		Carmel Price
Caulfield Grammar School		Dan Ingvarson
MoxieReader
   
Workforce
  
Pauline Farrell
Skills 4 the Future		Simon Hann
Chartered Accountants ANZ		Jeannette Tran
EduGrowth

Agenda

 

3.00pm

 


Navigating Capital Raising

Capital raising is one of the most arduous and complex processes most EdTech entrepreneurs face. This session will discuss the characteristics of the local capital market, various investment structures and what to expect when dissecting, understanding and negotiating a term sheet that balances your interest over the short and long term.

Tim Praill
COO, Faethm AI
Genevieve Gregor
Partner, Colinton Capital
Robert Gregory
National Education Leader, Maddocks
  
  

3.45pm

 


Investor Panel

Learn what investors look for in an EdTech investment. This session draws on the experience of three investors and their approach to investing in EdTech companies. Understand how your team, product and marketing strategies impact potential investment.

Srdjan Dangjubic
Partner, Five V Capital
Cheyne Tan
Operating Partner, Potentia
Karen Bohm
Founding Partner, Pangea Impact Investments
Patrick Brothers
CoFounder, Holon IQ
  

4.30pm

 


Pitch Competition

Ending the conference program will be live EdTech company pitches to the Investor Panel as judges! Pitches will undergo Q&A from some of Australia’s most successful EdTech investors.

Conference Recordings

Day 1 - 8th September 2020

Day 2 - 9th September 2020

Day 3 - 10th September 2020

With thanks to program partner, Global Victoria

learn more about Global Victoria and opportunities to partner with Victoria’s edtech sector