Driving value through organisational transformation in Higher Education. Why the human element matters.

For those working in higher education, the challenges faced as we head into 2026 are clear. We must modernise legacy operating models while continuing to invest in digital and data capability, lift student and academic experience in an increasingly complex landscape of industrial, regulatory, and reputational risk.

There is no silver bullet. While sequencing, focus, and disciplined execution are essential, they are not sufficient on their own. In our experience, the human elements are critical, change fatigue, siloed teams and cultural resistance are real inhibitors and leadership-led cultural change is critical for unlocking the value.

Yet many institutions are navigating these pressures in isolation, with limited opportunity to learn from peers facing the same realities.

As part of our ongoing commitment to the sector, we are bringing together senior leaders for a complimentary exclusive roundtable discussion, creating space for open, experience-led dialogue on what it truly takes to drive value through this Organisational transformation and how leadership led cultural change can enable success. This is not about theory or prescribed models, but about sharing lessons, challenges, and practical insights from those actively charting this path.

The task ahead is not incremental change, but sustainable transformation. One that requires institutions to:

• Simplify operating models before adding technology
• Invest in digital only where value is clear and measurable
• Reduce low-value work to free capacity for teaching and research
• Treat people and culture as primary enablers of value
• Govern transformation as a portfolio, not a collection of disconnected projects
• Extend transformation from projects to BAU and create opportunities for continuous value creation

This conversation is designed for leaders who are focused on delivering outcomes that protect institutional purpose and align to organisational values.

Why Attend

You’ll leave with:

• Practical insights grounded in real-world experience
• A clearer view of the biggest risks and failure points to avoid
• A stronger understanding of how to align people, process, technology, and governance around value
• A peer-led conversation focused on insights and lessons learned

Date: Thursday 5th March
Time: 12 – 2pm, Light lunch provided
Location: Level 9, 383 Kent Street, Sydney

Who Should Attend

This session is designed for:

• Vice-Chancellors and Deputy Vice-Chancellors
• CFOs, CIOs and COOs
• Strategy, transformation, change and operations leaders

Seats are limited.

Reserve your place to be part of a candid, senior-led conversation on how higher education institutions can drive value and navigate complexity with confidence.