EDUtech is breaking new ground in 2025, with five high-calibre headline speakers, plus a new Tech Buyers Program and tech user workshops expected to draw strong attendance.
Organisers behind Australia’s largest education event have announced California-based Mr Sal Khan, founder and CEO of Khan Academy, will once again present the keynote address in a speaking engagement exclusive to EDUtech.
EDUtech Australia will take place at the International Convention Centre in Sydney from 11-12 June. The event will feature 350+ speakers, 320 exhibitors, 50 start-ups, and attract more than 10,000 attendees.
Alongside it, the NSW EdTech Summit will be held in Sydney from 10-13 June 2025. The summit is sponsored by StudyNSW and delivered in partnership with EDUtech Australia.
Ms Natalie McClelland, spokesperson for Terrapinn, which organises EDUtech Australia, says Mr Khan is returning by popular demand following his keynote speech at EDUtech 2024 in Melbourne.
“Sal’s session was completely sold out in Melbourne last year. We received incredible feedback from attendees and we’ve managed to get him back again,” she says.
“We can’t wait to have him in Sydney, with more new content to share with the audience a year after his first visit.”
Joining Mr Khan in opening the plenary sessions are headline speakers Professor Rose Luckin, Ms Kellie Britnell, Dr Mark Williams and Mr Adam Goodes.
Known for his sporting prowess – he is a dual AFL Brownlow Medallist and premiership player for the Sydney Swans – in 2009, Mr Goodes set up the Goodes-O’Loughlin Foundation (GO Foundation) with former Sydney Swans teammate Michael O’Loughlin. The GO Foundation’s vision is to create a brighter future for Indigenous children through education.
Named Australian of the Year in 2014 in recognition of his community work and advocacy in the fight against racism, he also co-founded the Indigenous Defence and Infrastructure Consortium (iDiC) in 2016 that provides education, skill training and employment opportunities for Indigenous Australians to support large defence and infrastructure projects.
EDUtech has introduced a free expo seminar on First Nations this year, designed for educators to explore creating culturally safe classrooms, embedding Indigenous perspectives, language revitalisation, and educator cultural competency. Sessions will cover student wellbeing, community engagement, Indigenous STEM initiatives, and career pathways, highlighting the role of Elders and community leaders in enhancing education for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander students.
Best-selling author and professor of cognitive neuroscience Dr Mark Williams is presenting a session titled ‘How our brains construct reality in the age of modern technology’, as well as taking part in a panel discussion with Mr Joe Lynch, Deputy Principal at Scone Grammar School, and Ms Donna Davies, Director of Wellbeing at Loreto Mandeville Hall Toorak.
Dr Williams draws on his extensive scientific background to work with organisations to develop evidence-based practices using neuroscience to improve productivity, innovation and mental health.
He regularly runs programs on the neuroscience of learning, the neuroscience of emotions, neuroscience of communication, how to hack your habits, and how our brains create our reality.
With more than 25 years’ experience conducting behavioural and brain imaging research focusing on social skills and how we learn, Dr Williams has received numerous awards for teaching and research.
Manager of Awareness and Capability for the eSafety Commissioner, Ms Kellie Britnell, is giving a presentation on building safe digital spaces and empowering educators to protect students in an evolving online world.
Ms Britnell has more than 15 years’ experience working in the online safety space and leads a talented team supporting eSafety’s awareness and capability initiatives.
Prior to joining eSafety, Ms Britnell taught in several schools both in Australia and overseas. In her time at eSafety, she has developed and delivered professional learning and resources to a wide range of audiences and sectors including principals and leadership teams, student wellbeing officers, parents and carers, elite sporting teams, law enforcement and members of the judiciary.
She has developed key partnerships with universities, education bodies, sporting organisations and support services. A career highlight includes representing the agency on the online safety expert panel for the Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse.
Headline speaker Professor Luckin is an internationally respected academic and influential communicator about the future of education and technology, particularly Artificial Intelligence (AI).
As a highly sought-after speaker, she regularly delivers keynotes and public lectures across the globe on AI, ethics, and the future of education.
Founder of Educate Ventures Research at University College London, Professor Luckin is giving two presentations at EDUtech, with the first titled ‘AI: Learn fast, act more slowly’ and the second ‘AI-powered pedagogical transformation’.
Her most recent book, AI for Schoolteachers, published in 2022, is an essential and accessible guide to AI for anyone involved in education.
A new feature in the paid conference at EDUtech this year is a 30-minute leaders panel, which will take place on day one in the plenary.
Titled ‘Defending Childhood in the Digital Age: Australia’s Social Media Age Restriction Strategy’, the session will be moderated by Ms Yasmin London, CEO of The Digital Fluency Group, alongside Mr Andy Mison, President of the Australian Secondary Principals’ Association, and Ms Aleesha Rodriguez, tech-sociologist and Associate Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for the Digital Child at QUT.
Tech Buyers Program and workshops
New to the event this year, the Tech Buyers Program is tailored for tech buyers from K-12, higher education, and vocational education institutions. It offers an opportunity to explore and evaluate the latest in educational technologies and solutions.
This pass is available to tech buyers from institutions directly involved in procuring educational technology.
Applicants should hold decision-making authority or have significant influence over tech procurement and be actively seeking to evaluate and acquire new solutions.
Valued at $950, the Tech Buyers Program pass includes full access to the two-day conference and exhibition. It also includes VIP access to network with peers and potential partners in an exclusive lounge, and priority Gala Dinner access.
Pass holders can connect with top solution providers and key stakeholders in dedicated one-on-one sessions, tailored to help buyers explore products they’re interested in buying, all organised by EDUtech’s networking team.
EDUtech Australia is also launching tech user workshops at EDUtech this year, created directly from delegate feedback.
“Attendees are craving deeper, hands-on engagement with trusted brands, and this is their chance to be the go-to solution in the room,” the event organiser said.
For 60 focused minutes, six select brands will lead a session for 70-80 decision-makers, with all other event content paused.
“It’s a powerful opportunity to connect, inspire, and build trust with an audience ready for real solutions,” it said.
Each of the six workshops is tailored to an EDUtech conference track, bringing select brands directly in front of their ideal audience, including school leaders, teachers, ICT and Vocational Education and Training (VET) leaders.
Registration
EDUtech Australia will take place from 11-12 June at the International Convention Centre, Sydney. Register at www.terrapinn.com/exhibition/edutech-australia/index.stm
