HEUG ANZ Regional Programme

ANZ
Brisbane

Technology, Trust and the Future of Universities

Dates
9-10 September 2026
Venue
Griffith University, Nathan Campus
Region
Australia & New Zealand

Two days with your ANZ higher education community. The colleagues who understand your context, the conversations that move the work forward, and this year a whole new stream dedicated to how our sector is putting AI to work right now. Grounded in our 2026 theme, Technology, Trust and the Future of Universities, every session is designed to help you navigate change, build confidence in new tools, and keep students at the centre of the work..

Call for Papers
Accepting proposals 15 June through 12 July 2026
Learn More →
Career Development
Diverse portfolio of campus IT sessions and professional development tracks
Explore →
Registration
Register by 8 September to save!
Register →
Queensland
Queensland,
Australia
2026
About the Programme

Bringing Together
Industry Experts

HEUG ANZ is where campus IT leaders, ERP administrators, registrars, and functional staff from across Australia and New Zealand come together. Not to sit through vendor pitches, but to genuinely connect and learn from each other.
Every session is peer-led by someone who works at a university just like yours, navigating the same systems, the same constraints, and the same pressure to do more with less. You will leave with practical ideas, a clearer sense of where the sector is heading, and a few more colleagues in your corner.

Grow Communication Network Hub
What to Expect
  • The people who get it: a connected community of ANZ higher education professionals. Colleagues you will recognise and new connections worth making.
  • Take it back on Monday: sessions built around what is actually happening in ANZ institutions right now, practical and designed so you can act on them immediately.
  • Made for our sector and our region: ANZ policy context, local case studies, and regional challenges. This programme is built by and for the ANZ community.
  • Worth the trip: two focused days of learning and peer connection, with a justification letter available if you need to make the case to your manager.
Call for Papers

Be a Presenter

The best sessions at HEUG ANZ come from people in the room. Colleagues who have worked through a challenge, implemented something meaningful, or have an idea worth sharing with the community. This year, we are especially interested in stories that speak to our theme, Technology, Trust and the Future of Universities. How is your institution navigating change, building trust in new technologies, or putting AI into practice in ways that keep students at the centre?

  • AI in Higher Education
  • Student Information Systems
  • Student CX
  • Technical Implementations 
  • Workforce & Change Management
  • Data & Analytics
  • Finance & HR

Submit a Proposal

We welcome submissions from all ANZ higher education institutions. Whether it is a live implementation, a lessons-learned story, a research project, or a work in progress, we would love to hear from you.

Presenter
Submit before 12 July

Selected presenters receive complimentary registration and recognition in programme materials. Speakers will receive the ANZ branded PowerPoint template with multiple slide layouts to suit their content.

Registration

Register for the Event

All registration prices are in AUD. Includes access to all sessions, meals, and networking events. Need help convincing your boss? Download the Justification Letter.

Subscriber Members
$600 AUD
Early Bird (until 8 September) $600
On-Site Rate (9-10 September) $700
Day Pass
$300 AUD
Early Bird (until 8 September) $300
On-Site Rate (9-10 September) $400
Limited Time
Save $100 by Registering Early

Register online by 8 September and receive $100 off.

Value packs available: 5-Pack $2,000 AUD or 10-Pack $4,000 AUD. Please contact regional-support@heug.org for value pack enquiries. No on-site registrations or refunds for unused registrations.

Schedule

Schedule of Events

Subject to change. All times local (AEST).

General Session — Room 0.11
Track 1 — Room -1.22
Track 2 — Room -1.12
Meals / Additional Room — Room 1.19
Day 1Wednesday, 9 September 2026
8:30 AM – 10:00 AM
Exhibitor Bump-In
ModWest Deck
9:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Registration Check-In
ModWest Deck
9:00 AM – 10:10 AM
Morning Tea & Coffee
ModWest Deck
10:10 AM – 10:20 AM
Welcome & Objectives
Jodie Davis
General Session — Room 0.11
10:20 AM – 11:10 AM
Student Panel — Students as Co-Designers: Shaping the Future University (UQ & Griffith)
Facilitated by Sara Ardern, Manager, Student Voice & Partnerships, Griffith
General Session — Room 0.11
11:10 AM – 11:50 AM
General Session
Culture Change in Action: Using the Denison Model to Lift Team Performance
Todd Rogers, Bond
Track 1
UniSC Presentation — Credit
Track 2
TBA
11:50 AM – 12:20 PM
Meet & Greets — Getting to Know You
Multiple rooms — Room 1.19, Track 1, Track 2 & Track 3
12:20 PM – 1:00 PM
Lunch
Room 1.19
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Session 1
Track 1
From Credits to Competencies: SMU's Real-Time, Zero-Integration Degree Planner
Yuchun Qiu, Singapore Management University
Track 2
Learning Together – Could a Peer-Led AI Fluency Development Program Work for Professional Staff?
Sam Doherty, University of Newcastle
2:00 PM – 2:45 PM
Session 2
General Session
UNSW's Custom Academic Success Monitor
AI-assisted solution that monitors and nudges against key academic success criteria for students at risk
Track 1
Reimagining eCAF: Integration with Impact
Lynn Hopman, University of Queensland
Track 2
Transforming Academic Advising with AI
Pradeep Varakantham, Singapore Management University
2:45 PM – 3:15 PM
Afternoon Tea Break with Exhibitors
Room 1.19
3:15 PM – 4:00 PM
General Session
Panel Discussion — One Policy, Many Paths: How Universities Implemented the Commonwealth Prac Payments (CPP)
Emma Drake, University of Newcastle
Track 1
Student CX and Success: The Role of Degree Planning
Graham Ashford, StudyPlanner
Track 2
The Evolution of VAL
Michael Hewitt, RMIT
4:00 PM – 4:45 PM
Session 3
General Session
From Sticky Notes to Strategy: Using AI for Process Mapping, Personas & Problem Framing
GU P&A Team
Track 1
Overwhelmed to Streamlined: Transforming Assessment Extension Requests at Scale
Diana Velez, University of Queensland
Track 2
Research Presentation — Degree Planning
Ben Shelton, University of Newcastle
4:45 PM – 5:00 PM
Wrap Up of Day
General Session — Room 0.11
5:00 PM - 6:30 PM
Networking Reception
ModWest Deck
Day 2Thursday, 10 September 2026
9:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Registration Check-In
ModWest Deck
9:00 AM – 9:30 AM
Morning Coffee & Tea
ModWest Deck
9:30 AM – 10:15 AM
Opening Keynote
General Session — Room 0.11
Shaun Ewen, Griffith University
10:15 AM – 10:45 AM
Session 4
Panel Discussion — Technology, Trust and the Future of Universities
General Session — Room 0.11
10:45 AM – 11:15 AM
Coffee & Pitstop — Break with Exhibitors
Room 1.19
11:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Session 5
Track 1
Government eCAFs and How We Manage Them
Anita Schreiber, Federation University Australia
Track 2
UniSC Presentation — HeadStart Admissions
12:00 PM – 12:45 PM
Session 6
Track 1
Future-Proofing Campus Payments: Trends and Innovations to Super Charge Growth
Joe Egan, TouchNet
Track 2
In-Flight Project: Replacing the PeopleSoft SIS at University of Newcastle
12:45 PM – 1:15 PM
Lunch
Room 1.19
1:15 PM – 2:00 PM
Session 7
General Session
AI as a Practical Team Member: Designing Agents to Support Project Management
Track 1
Object Orientated Design in PeopleSoft
Michael Sweetlove, University of Southern Queensland
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Session 8
General Session
Designing With, Not For: Practical User Involvement in Higher Ed Systems
Cordelia Prangley, University of Newcastle
Track 1
CPP: Using AI in the Student Application Process
Oliver Whitely, HES
2:30 PM – 3:15 PM
Birds of a Feather
Room 1.19
Technical Leads
General Session
General Interest
Track 1
SIS Leads
3:15 PM – 3:35 PM
Wrap Up & Thank You
Jodie Davis
General Session — Room 0.11
Keynote Speaker

Professor Shaun Ewan

Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education) at Griffith University

Professor Shaun Ewen commenced his appointment at Griffith as Deputy Vice Chancellor (Education) in January 2022. Prior to joining Griffith, Professor Ewen was Pro Vice-Chancellor (Place and Indigenous) (2017-2022) and Foundation Director of the Melbourne Poche Centre for Indigenous Health, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, (2015-2022) at the University of Melbourne. In 2020 Professor Ewen was visiting Professor of Indigenous Health and Leadership in the School of Global Affairs, King’s College London.

Shaun has degrees in Applied Science (Physiotherapy) and International Studies from the University of South Australia, and a Doctorate of Education from Melbourne University. Shaun’s research interests are in Indigenous health workforce development, and health professional education. He has provided the academic and Indigenous leadership for the Leaders in Indigenous Medical Education (LIME) project, a bi-national project bringing together all medical schools across Australia and New Zealand.

Shaun is a Board Member of Queensland Museum Network, Director of the Australian Medical Council (and Chair of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Committee), and Board Member of the Menzies Australia Institute, King’s College London, and Member of the Australasian Strategic Advisory Board (ASAB) for Advance HE.


Shaun is passionate about the importance of diversity and inclusion as a precondition for excellence in higher education.

Venue

Griffith University's Nathan Campus

Set amongst the natural bushland of Toohey Forest, Griffith University's Nathan Campus is a welcoming and well-equipped venue for two days of peer learning. Modern facilities, easy access from central Brisbane, and a relaxed campus environment make it an ideal setting.

 170 Kessels Road, Nathan, QLD 4111 Australia
Griffith University
Griffith University Nathan Campus — Nathan, QLD

Exhibitors

Discover the technology and services driving higher education forward

Silver Exhibitors
Silver Sponsor
Silver Sponsor
Bronze Exhibitors
Bronze Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Bronze Sponsor
Partner With Us

Sponsorship Opportunities

Connect your brand with higher education IT leaders from across Australia, New Zealand, and beyond.

Silver
$6,000 USD
  • 3 complimentary registrations
  • Ability to submit sessions (not guaranteed)
  • Attendee List
  • Logo on pre-conference website
Bronze
$3,500 USD
  • 2 complimentary registrations
  • Attendee List
  • Logo on pre-conference website

Additional Brand Opportunities

Name Badge Sponsor
$1,500
Break Sponsor
$1,000
Lunch Sponsor
$2,000
Reception Sponsor
$5,000
From our last gathering

The ANZ community, by the numbers

HEUG ANZ brings together people from across the higher education ecosystem in Australia, New Zealand and beyond. Universities, implementation partners and technology vendors, with exactly the decision-maker spread sponsors look for.

15 Institutions represented
230+ Total attendees
20+ Vendor & partner orgs
4+ Countries · AU NZ HK ZA

Who was in the room

Systems / Technical 55
Consultant / Partner 45
Project / Business Analyst 35
Manager 30
Blank / Other 30
Leadership / Director 28
C-Suite / CEO / Founder 10

Institutions in attendance

Griffith University University of Queensland UNSW University of South Australia University of Newcastle University of the Sunshine Coast Deakin University University of Adelaide University of Sydney University of New England University of Auckland Murdoch University RMIT University HKUST University of Pretoria
Largest delegations
Griffith University20+
University of Queensland15+
UNSW12+
University of South Australia12+
University of Newcastle8+

Conference Team

Jodie Davis
Griffith University
Christopher Dell
Griffith University
Caitlin Anderson
University of Auckland
Jason Dolan
University of New South Wales
Nikki Gaertner Eaton
Adelaide University
Clinton Lamont
Griffith University
Ben Shelton
University of Newcastle
Sherelle Norman
University of the Sunshine Coast
Sonya Grieve
Griffith University