30 July - 1 August 2025 | Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast
Queensland Independent Schools Summit (QISS)
Future Growth, Propelling School Leaders
Venue: Sheraton Grand Mirage Resort, Gold Coast.
Join us at the Queensland Independent Schools Summit (QISS), a premier leadership event tailored specifically for independent school professionals from across Australia and abroad. With a thoughtfully curated program, exceptional speakers, and a world-class venue, QISS promises to deliver powerful insights and practical strategies you can take back to your school community.
Day one of the conference will focus on the theme of ‘RISK’, featuring keynote speakers such as Dr Richard Harris SC OAM, who will discuss navigating risk and leading from the front, and Justine Flynn, who will address the importance of personal and team wellbeing to avoid burnout.
On day two, the theme shifts to ‘GROWTH’, with Dr Catriona Wallace exploring transformational leadership and informative decision-making for growth, and Simon Kuestenmacher discussing population and economic growth and the future of education.
Click here to book your place now!
Don’t miss this opportunity to elevate your impact in education!
View the agenda (subject to change):
| Date | Time | Session | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wednesday 30 July | 14:00 | Registration Opens | |
| 14:30–17:00 | Masterclass | This exclusive masterclass equips school leaders with essential knowledge and practical tools to optimise their property assets, secure appropriate funding, manage risks, and make informed decisions about their facilities. Designed specifically for Principals, Business Managers, and School Board Chairs, this session addresses the diverse knowledge levels and challenges faced by independent schools. By bringing together expertise in Block Grant Authority, valuations, asset management, and insurance, participants will gain actionable insights that lead to cost savings, enhanced learning environments, and sustainable asset management. | |
| Wednesday 30 July | 18:30 | Welcome Reception | |
| Thursday 31 July – Morning | 06:30 | Yoga or Beach Walk | Yoga or beach walk and whale watching from the shore |
| 08:00 | Arrival Tea and Coffee | ||
| 08:30 | Opening | Dr Phillip Moulds OAM, Chairman, Independent Schools Queensland (ISQ) | |
| 08:35 | Acknowledgement to Country | By St Peters Lutheran College Springfield | |
| 08:40 | Keynote Address | Keynote speaker to be announced | |
| 08:50 | Keynote - Dr Richard Harris: Navigating Risk & Leading from the Front | Dr. Richard Harris, an anaesthetist known for making high-stakes decisions, played a pivotal leadership role in the Tham Luang Thai Cave Rescue. He had to carefully balance the risks to the trapped boys, their coach, his team, and himself. In a session reflecting on this experience, he shares insights into leadership and risk management, drawing from both his own experiences and interviews with notable risk-takers like climber Alex Honnold, sailor Jessica Watson, and filmmaker James Cameron. His talk offers a unique perspective on handling risk in high-pressure situations. | |
| 09:50 | Keynote - Justine Flynn: Don’t Risk Burnout. Personal & Team Wellbeing and Culture | Justine Flynn, Co-Founder of Thankyou, a social enterprise dedicated to ending extreme poverty, shares her journey of building a globally recognized brand that has raised over $18.5 million. In her session, she reflects on the intense pressures of leadership, her personal experience with severe burnout, and offers valuable insights on balancing leadership with self-care—especially relevant for independent school leaders. | |
| 10:30 | Morning Tea | ||
| 11:15 | Panel: Risking Change | Hear from our panellists who are taking calculated risks in the pursuit of excellence. MC: Yvonne Ries, Education & School Services Director, ISQ; Panellists: Anthony Micallef, Joy Geyer, Richard Harris, Justine Flynn | |
| Thursday 31 July – Afternoon | 12:15 | Keynote - Mike Hennessy: The State of the Queensland Education Sector Workforce | Join Mike Hennessy from PeopleBench as he unveils the findings of the State of the Queensland Independent Sector Workforce project. This comprehensive survey of schools and staff across Queensland’s independent schools highlights the unique characteristics of the sector. |
| 13:15 | Lunch | ||
| 14:00 | Workshop - Simon Mitchell, Senior Policy Adviser, AICD: Cyber Security Governance Principles | Simon Mitchell is a Senior Policy Adviser in the Education & Policy Leadership team at the AICD. With a keen focus on cyber security, critical infrastructure, data governance, and financial services, Simon examines how policy and governance developments in these areas impact AICD members. | |
| 14:00 | Panel: Understanding the Internationalisation of Education | Panellists: Rebecca Hall, Jonathan Chew, Lucy Blakemore; Facilitator: Angelin Achari | |
| 15:00 | Workshop: Managing Reputational Risk | In an era of growing accountability, school boards and leaders must effectively manage personal information. This expert-led workshop will guide participants through their responsibilities in establishing strong data protection policies and procedures. It will also explore leadership roles during a data breach, featuring an interactive cyber security scenario involving a ransom demand. Attendees will gain practical insights into navigating such incidents while minimising reputational risk. | |
| 15:00 | Panel: Leadership in Schools with a Global Perspective | Join us for an engaging panel of school principals who will share their invaluable experiences and insights on leading schools in a globalised and rapidly evolving world. They will delve into best practices, tackle the challenges faced and explore innovative strategies to prepare students for the future. |
|
| 16:00 | Networking in Expo | ||
| Thursday 31 July | 19:30 | Gala Dinner | |
| Friday 1 August |
06:30 | Yoga or Beach Walk | Yoga or beach walk and whale watching from the shore |
| 07:30 | Networking Breakfast in Expo | ||
| 08:30 | Amanda Watt: Partnering with parents for student (and school!) success |
In this panel discussion, Amanda Watt, Executive Director of the Queensland Independent Schools Parents Network will speak with school principals Dr Linda Evans and Dr Phillip Moulds OAM, ISQ’s Jacky Dawson, and parent Gayle Pacchini to explore how meaningful parent engagement can boost student academic and wellbeing outcomes, enhance teacher satisfaction, and build stronger school communities. | |
| 09:00 | Dr Phillip Moulds OAM: AI in schools isn’t just about cheating | Dr Phillip Moulds is a seasoned educational leader with a rich background in teaching, leadership, and academic development. He also lectures in educational leadership and data-informed learning at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Education. Holding a PhD in Education from the University of Queensland, Phillip also has qualifications in Music, Science, and Educational Studies. | |
| 09:30 | Keynote - Dr Catriona Wallace: Transformational Leadership - AI, Ethics and the Role of the Future Leader | Dr Catriona Wallace is a globally recognised leader in responsible technology and innovation. Known from Shark Tank Australia, she founded the Responsible Metaverse Alliance and Ethical AI Advisory, and chairs Boab AI. As one of the first women to lead an ASX-listed tech company, she is a prominent voice on AI, the metaverse, and ethical leadership. In this session, she will explore how inclusive, values-driven leadership can shape the future in a tech-driven world. | |
| 10:30 | Morning Tea | ||
| 11:15 | Keynote - Simon Kuestenmacher: Population & Economic Growth and the Future of Education | Simon Kuestenmacher, Director and Co-founder of The Demographics Group, is a globally recognised data expert whose insights reach over 35 million people monthly. In this session, he’ll share engaging data-driven insights into Australia’s population and economic trends—particularly in Queensland—and what they mean for the future of independent education and strategic school planning. | |
| 12:00 | Panel: Infrastructure Required for the Future of Education | MC: Gary Adsett; Panellists: Bronwyn Dolling, Simon Kuestenmacher, Scott Hutchinson, Catherine O'Sullivan, Don O'Rorke | |
| 13:00 | Callum Bentley: What Parents Want | Launch of the 2025 What Parents Want Survey results | |
| 13:30 | Closing remarks and networking lunch in Expo |