Largest to date: 2026 AISSA Governance Conference

More than 220 education leaders, board members, principals and business managers gathered at the National Wine Centre on Friday for our largest Governance Conference to date, creating a vibrant day of learning, discussion and future-focused thinking.

Supported by 14 conference sponsor  Priority Partners, the conference brought together governance and leadership professionals from across South Australia to explore one critical question: how can school leaders effectively govern and lead in an increasingly uncertain and complex future?

Preparing for an uncertain future

This year's conference challenged attendees to think differently about the future of leadership, governance and decision-making.

Internationally recognised futurists Associate Professor Sandra Peter and Professor Kai Riemer guided delegates through thought-provoking sessions that explored uncertainty, disruption and the capabilities leaders need to thrive in rapidly changing environments.

Through a combination of research, practical examples and interactive discussion, attendees were encouraged to move beyond traditional planning approaches and develop strategies that enable more agile, adaptable and resilient leadership.

Meaningful Engagement and Practical Takeaways

One of the standout features of the day was the exceptional level of engagement from attendees.

Throughout the conference, participants actively contributed to discussions, shared experiences with peers and reflected on the challenges and opportunities facing their schools and governing bodies.

Thank you

Feedback following the event has been overwhelmingly positive, with attendees describing the conference as both inspiring and challenging. Many noted that the sessions provided practical tools, fresh perspectives and actionable strategies they can apply in their own contexts to better navigate complexity and uncertainty.

Thank you to all who made the Conference such a terrific success, including our members who thoughtfully engaged, our facilitators who challenged, and sponsors and partners who thoughtfully created activities and supported the event.