Category: Conference 25

We are getting ready to welcome our wonderful NEAS community to the 2025 NEAS Conference, happening next week at the UTS Aerial Function Centre in Sydney. 

Whether this is your first time or you have attended in the past, we are so pleased to have you join us. It is going to be a fantastic opportunity to reconnect, share ideas, and reflect on the future of English Language Teaching together.

To those attending

To everyone travelling to Sydney, we wish you a safe and smooth journey. Your participation helps make this conference such a valuable and engaging experience. We are looking forward to seeing familiar faces and meeting new ones as we come together to celebrate our shared commitment to quality in education.

Check the Program

Take a moment to review the conference program so you are across all the sessions, presentations and activities happening over the two days. Planning ahead will help you make the most of your time at the conference and ensure you don’t miss the sessions that matter most to you!

Visit the Exhibitor Booths

Be sure to stop by the sponsors’ booths during the conference! Our sponsors are an integral part of the ELT community, offering a wide range of products and services that support our sector. Take the time to connect, ask questions, and discover how they’re contributing to the growth and quality of our industry.

Many sponsors have also generously donated prizes to be drawn at the Networking Event on Thursday afternoon. Don’t forget to pick up your raffle ticket at the registration desk!

Can’t make it this year?

We are sorry you won’t be with us in person, but there’s still a little time left to register if your plans change!

Otherwise, stay connected via our social media channels where we will be sharing conference highlights, photos and key moments. We hope to see you in 2026.

Supporting students through complex learning journeys requires a commitment to care and quality. The 2025 NEAS Conference sessions highlighted this week explore how reliable systems and people-centred practices are making a difference across international and transnational education settings.

A Transnational Delivery Experience

How do you develop and implement a General English program in a different country while maintaining NEAS Quality Assurance standards? In this session, Savvas Papandony shares the story of a growing transnational partnership between the Australian Academy of Commerce and BOYA Institute of Technology in China. This session offers a practical look at cross-border collaboration, stakeholder engagement, and the benefits of working towards NEAS endorsement for transnational delivery.

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Whole-person and in-community learning and support as a basis for enabling student success

Supporting students means looking beyond academics: it’s about seeing the whole person. Join Jo Kwai, Ash Moor, and Jane Roberts as they explore what it takes to guide international students through complex educational pathways. Drawing on perspectives from different areas of ELT, this panel considers new ways to foster confidence, wellbeing, and success in every learner.

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What happens when students don’t feel like they belong? When they’re misunderstood, isolated, or unsure of their place in a new learning environment? This week’s Speaker Spotlight highlights sessions focused on community engagement and student support, to help students feel like they belong.

Community Engagement Through Language Projects and Outreach

In this session, Zoe explores how adults learn best when their experiences shape the learning process. Drawing on Malcolm Knowles’ andragogical principles, she demonstrates how real-world, problem-based language activities improve communication outcomes and encourage students to co-design their own learning goals, building confidence and a deeper sense of ownership in the classroom.

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Finding your place when you don’t belong

In “Finding your place when you don’t belong”, Leisl Bruhn, Jo Kwai, and Vanessa Newbery, share practical approaches to re-engaging disengaged students. From homestay and wellbeing initiatives to academic and pastoral care, these educators present best practice models for supporting young international students.

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Creating spaces where students feel seen, heard, and valued is a leadership imperative. This topic lies at the centre of our next speaker spotlight at the 2025 NEAS Conference, exploring how leadership and peer engagement can create inclusive, student-centred environments where learners thrive.

Leadership in ELT: Creating Cultures of Belonging in University English Language Centres

Creating a sense of belonging is essential to student wellbeing and academic success. In this session, Zoe Hancock explores the role of belonging in the language learning journey. Backed by current research and student insights, Zoe shares eleven ways students experience belonging and offers practical strategies to build inclusive cultures in university English language centres.

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Building Bridges – Fostering Belonging Through Peer-Driven Engagement in International Education

What does belonging look like from a student’s perspective? This panel discussion explores how peer-to-peer engagement and community-driven models shape a sense of inclusion, connection, and success for international students. The panel will present best practices in student communication, community engagement, and co-creation of content to amplify authentic student voices.

With expertise spanning student services, research, marketing, and international health, these industry leaders will share practical tips on building trust and connection through student-centred communication strategies.

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We are thrilled to bring to you the 2025 NEAS Conference keynote speakers!

Technology is transforming education, breaking down barriers, and creating new ways for students and teachers to connect. But as digital tools become more embedded in English Language Teaching (ELT), we must ask: is technology truly enhancing learning and community-building, or are we losing something in the process?

The Need for Oracy in the Age of AI

Cathy Jones
Assessment Development Specialist, LANGUAGECERT

Have you ever wondered if our students are truly ready to communicate in a world full of AI, deep fakes, and fake news? At the 2025 NEAS Conference, Cathy Jones, an Assessment Development Specialist from the UK, introduces a fresh perspective on the importance of strong oracy skills.

In her session, Cathy explains why live, spoken assessments can better reveal students’ critical thinking and genuine communication skills compared to traditional written tests. More importantly, she explores how oracy builds community: creating spaces where every voice is heard and authentic dialogue leads to deeper connections between educators and learners.

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AI Agents in the English Language Sector:
Our New Robotic Colleagues

Jarrad Merlo
AI Product Manager at Pearson’s Accelerator, Pearson

We’ve all seen what ChatGPT can do – and where it falls short. But the next wave of AI innovation is here, and it’s far more powerful than anything we’ve seen before. Say hello to “agentic AI” – large language models with tools, memory, autonomy, and the ability to perform real-world actions. These aren’t just poem-writing chatbots; they’re multitasking digital workers that can research, plan, execute, and collaborate – outperforming humans in terms of speed and cost, and competing on quality.

In this provocative yet practical keynote, Jarrad Merlo will show you exactly how ‘AI agents’ work and how they’ll begin to transform the English language sector. From automating admin tasks to generating assessments at scale, AI agents are poised to become your most productive new team members.

Whether you’re a teacher, test developer, or decision-maker, this session will help you make sense of this powerful – and potentially uncomfortable – technology. Jarrad won’t push a vision; he’ll simply demonstrate what’s already possible, share some examples, and invite you to consider the near-term impact of agentic AI on your context.

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We are excited to have Luke Kennedy as our closing plenary speaker. Luke’s journey reminds us that our toughest challenges can actually open doors to new growth and opportunities. His message of resilience encourages us to embrace change, look past difficulties, and draw strength from the communities we build together.

Luke Kennedy
Motivational Speaker

A Story of Profound Transformation

Luke Kennedy is far from your typical inspirational speaker. His story stretches from street survival and near-death experiences to becoming a best-selling author, a successful corporate trainer, and a mentor for young people. Luke shows us that overcoming hardship isn’t just possible, but it can inspire personal and professional growth. A message that feels especially relevant now,  as the international education sector in Australia faces critical, make-or-break challenges.

The Power of Resilience and a Transformative Mindset

Luke’s story offers a fresh perspective on the power of mental strength and transformative mindset shifts. His approach goes beyond just managing difficulties; it’s about thriving amidst uncertainty. By addressing wellness and mental health, he offers practical strategies to build emotional and mental resilience, nurture a sense of purpose, and cultivate environments where people feel connected and ready to embrace change.

A Closing Plenary Speaker Who Delivers More Than Inspiration

Luke isn’t just here to talk about resilience: he’s here to show us how to live it. As the closing plenary speaker at this year’s NEAS Conference, Luke will go beyond motivation, providing real strategies to help us navigate change and uncertainty. His engaging, no-nonsense approach will provide us with the tools to turn adversity into opportunity and strengthen our sense of community, connection, and belonging.

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With so much change and uncertainty in Australia’s international education sector, Luke’s message couldn’t be more timely. His story is a powerful reminder that resilience isn’t just about getting through tough times, it’s about moving forward with purpose. 

Join us at the 2025 NEAS Conference and gain real, practical strategies to navigate change. Luke’s session will help you shift your mindset, adapt, and turn challenges into opportunities. As a community, we will come together to embrace change and shape the future of international education, stronger and more connected than ever.

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At the 2025 NEAS Conference, we will discover how building strong networks can improve homestay experiences and provide greater support for EAL/D students in mainstream education.

School Accommodation: Rethinking Homestay

This panel discussion will feature voices from every corner of the homestay community. Hear real stories and practical ideas on how collaboration across ELT can really enhance the international student experience.

Our experts will discuss managing risks, ensuring student safety, and finding creative ways to improve homestay programs. Come away with practical insights and new perspectives that can help you build stronger support networks and create a welcoming, inclusive environment where every student feels at home, both in the classroom and out.

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Professional Learning Teams – Creating a Supportive Community with ELT and Mainstream Teachers of EAL/D Students

In this session, discover how inclusive teaching transforms classrooms into communities where students from diverse language backgrounds can truly thrive. By blending ELT methodologies with everyday teaching practices, educators can create supportive spaces where every EAL/D student feels valued and ready for success.

You’ll come away with practical tips and strategies to boost language development, build confidence, and drive academic achievement, all while nurturing a community where every student feels at home.

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The 2025 NEAS Conference will include panel discussions that bring together government regulators, and international student leaders, to share their knowledge on the changing education industry. These sessions will explore key challenges and opportunities in the sector, giving attendees a chance to hear directly from those who shape and experience it firsthand.

Government Voices Panel

In this facilitated discussion between a sample of our members and our guests from government, we will take a close look at the challenges facing the sector. Representatives from ASQA and the Tuition Protection Service (TPS) are confirmed to join us, with TEQSA participation pending confirmation. We all know that NEAS membership enhances and complements regulated compliance by embedding continuous improvement. This session will explore how we can best define and maintain quality in an environment of uncertainty and change.

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International Student Voices Panel

In this panel we will hear the journey of two international students from arrival to belonging, highlighting the challenges they face and the contributions they make to the community.

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Join the conversation

Excited about the 2025 NEAS Conference? So are we!

Be part of the journey by:

• Following us on LinkedIn and Facebook for updates and sneak peeks
• Spreading the word with #NEAS2025 #PathwaysToBelonging, and sharing our social media banners
• Visiting neas.org.au/conference-25 for more information

See you at NEAS 2025!