Leading AI in Education Symposium

The Leading AI in Education Symposium is a day of thought leadership designed to equip leaders to make confident, informed decisions about AI.

In his first keynote, The Near Future of Artificial Intelligence, Dr Leon Furze brings a research-informed approach to the future of AI and what new developments mean for educators and leaders across all sectors, shifting our focus beyond chatbots to the long-term implications of these technologies, including 'agents'.

His second keynote, Is Generative AI a 'Normal' Technology?, examines what it means for policy and practice if powerful AI recedes into everyday school life, and why school and system leaders are well-placed to act proactively.

Please note: This symposium focuses on strategic leadership and does not include hands-on AI tool demonstrations.

• AI in Teaching and Learning: Implement AI in ways that strengthen teaching and learning rather than distract from pedagogy.
• AI in Ethics: Leading safe, ethical and policy-aligned AI use in school settings.
• AI in Assessment and Planning: Review assessment, feedback and planning practices in an AI-rich environment. 
• AI in Strategy: Support school leaders to make strategic decisions about staff capability, governance, equity and risk. 
• Practical Applications of AI: Showcase examples of AI use that are practical, bounded and credible.

• Format: Full day, hybrid event
• When: Tuesday 27 October 2026 (week 4 term 4), 9.00 am to 3.00 pm
• Where: 603 Queensberry Street, North Melbourne VIC 3051 and simulcast to regional academy centres across Victoria (Bairnsdale, Ballarat, Bendigo, Geelong, Mildura, Moe, North Melbourne, Wangaratta)

Roles

This symposium is recommended for all Victorian educators and school leaders, including:

• principals and assistant principals
• teacher leaders and teachers
• system leaders and education support staff.

School sectors

This program is designed for a range of school sectors:

• Victorian Government
• Catholic
• independent. 

Dr Leon Furze is an international consultant, author, and speaker with over 15 years of experience across secondary and tertiary education leadership. He is currently completing his PhD on the implications of Generative AI in education and writing instruction.

Leon has held school leadership roles including Director of Teaching and Learning, Head of English, and eLearning, alongside non-executive board directorships. A regular state and national conference speaker, Leon provides consultancy and professional learning to help K–12 and tertiary educators, businesses and leadership teams understand the implications of Generative Artificial Intelligence in education. 

Leon is the author of several books, articles and courses which have reached international audiences, including Practical AI Strategies, Practical Reading Strategies and Practical Writing Strategies.

Note: Victorian Government school participants may be eligible for additional subsidies. A small school CRT subsidy is available for Victorian Government school participants that come from schools that have less than 100 students and covers the costs of employing a Casual Relief Teacher (CRT). 

This program is grounded in the Australian National Framework for use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Schools, and the Victorian Government Policy and Advisory Library, Generative Artificial Intelligence. This ensures all strategies meet national safety and ethical standards.

Find out more:

• Australian National Framework for use of Generative Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Schools
• Policy and Advisory Library, Generative Artificial Intelligence