Challenges and opportunities faced by the higher education sector, which is already navigating state and federal reviews and complex regulatory reforms, will be the focus of a summit hosted at The University of Western Australia this month.
The UWA Public Policy Institute Higher Education Summit 2025 – Fit for Purpose? The Future of Governance, Regulation and Impact of the Australian Higher Education Sector will bring together some of the nation’s leading thinkers and decision-makers to explore the future direction of higher education policy in Australia and the role of universities in the wake of ongoing policy reforms.
The summit, to be held on Thursday 20 November, will feature keynote addresses from distinguished speakers including: Robert French AC, former Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia and former Chancellor of UWA, Professor Alex Robson, Deputy Chair, Productivity Commission; Melinda Cilento, Chair, expert council on University Governance; Professor Glenn Savage, University of Melbourne, Libby Hackett, CEO, Australian Public Policy Institute; and Vicki Thomson, Chief Executive, Group of Eight Australia.
Associate Professor Paul Maginn, Director of the UWA Public Policy Institute said the summit was happening at a pivotal moment for the higher education sector.
“With the Australian Government’s Expert Council on University Governance recently handing down its final report and the WA Government exploring possible university mergers, this summit offers an opportunity for reflection, debate and forward thinking about how universities can remain fit for purpose in a rapidly changing world,” Associate Professor Maginn said.
Key areas of focus include:
• The Australian Constitution and university governance and regulation
• Student demand, supply and allocation
• Funding, accountability and the future role of state and federal governments
• Balancing institutional autonomy with national priorities
• Positioning Australian universities in an evolving global higher education landscape
“Higher education teaching and research underpins the nation’s future prosperity and social cohesion,” Associate Professor Maginn said.
“This summit is about ensuring that the governance and policy settings of our universities evolve to meet the needs and expectations of Western Australians over the coming decades.”
The summit will be held on Thursday 20 November from 8am to 6pm at UWA’s Fox Lecture Theatre in Crawley. More information and registration available here.