31 Jul Engagement Australia Conference 2026 Wrap-Up
Universities Engaging All of Us: Committing to Trust, Purpose and Impact
23 and 23 July 2026 I University of Melbourne
The 2026 Engagement Australia Conference brought together 250 university leaders, practitioners, academics, community organisations and partners from across Australia to explore how universities can build trust, demonstrate impact and deepen engagement in an increasingly complex environment.
Hosted by the University of Melbourne, delegates spent two days sharing research, practice and perspectives on the role of universities in their communities and the opportunities ahead for the sector.
We thank Professor Glyn Davis AC for his warm welcome and the University of Melbourne for hosting this year’s conference. The University has a long-standing commitment to engagement and partnership, making it a fitting venue for conversations about the future of university-community engagement.
The conference opened with a keynote conversation between Professor Barney Glover AO, the inaugural Chief Commissioner of the Australian Tertiary Education Commission and Professor Michael Wesley, Deputy VC Global Culture and Engagement at the University of Melbourne, reflecting on the vital role universities play in strengthening democracy, fostering civic participation and building trust and social cohesion in an increasingly complex and divided world. They explored the opportunities presented by Mission-Based Compacts and challenged universities to be bold in articulating their distinctive contributions. The discussion highlighted the importance of universities engaging both locally and globally, and of demonstrating their impact in ways that matter to the communities they serve.
A powerful First Nations Voices on Treaty and Education session, superbly chaired by Professor Tony Birch, invited delegates to reflect on the history of Indigenous research and education, celebrating stories of resistance while exploring the important role universities play in preserving archives, knowledge and cultural memory.
The Implementing Engagement at Scale panel and workshop encouraged delegates to consider how institutions can move beyond pockets of excellence and embed engagement across university-wide strategy, culture and practice. Concurrent sessions showcased innovative examples from across the sector, creating valuable opportunities for practitioners and academics to share experience, build connections and learn from one another.
A recurring theme throughout the conference was the importance of listening to communities. A Community Perspective panel challenged universities to reflect on how they are perceived externally and how engagement can be strengthened through collaboration, responsiveness and mutual accountability. Throughout the conference, discussions reinforced the importance of genuine partnership, listening and learning.
One of the conference’s most popular sessions was the Listening and Learning conversation with artist Lamine Sonko, which highlighted the value of creativity, reflection and different forms of knowledge in strengthening community engagement.
The Welcome Reception, generously supported by the City of Melbourne, featured remarks from Lord Mayor Nick Reece on the role of education in vibrant, connected and inclusive cities, alongside memorable performances from the Pasefika Vitoria Choir and musicians Lamine Sonko and Anita Quayle.
Day Two opened with a candid discussion on universities in uncertain times, reflecting openly on what we do well and where we can improve. The popular session featured Prof. Carolyn Evans (VC Griffith University, VC-designate at Melbourne University), Prof. Bill Shorten (VC Canberra), Prof. Renee Leon (Charles Sturt University) and Prof. Verity Firth (VP Societal Impact, Equity and Engagement UNSW) who reflected on the important role universities play in building trust, responding to community needs and demonstrating public value, while also acknowledging the challenges facing the sector. The conversation reinforced that engagement is central to how institutions build relevance, impact and connection. This panel will be aired later this year on ABC Big Ideas.
The conference concluded by hearing from industry leaders and researchers on the opportunities and challenges presented by artificial intelligence. These conversations highlighted both the transformative potential of emerging technologies and the need for careful consideration of ethics, trust and responsible use.
On behalf of Engagement Australia, thank you to our speakers, delegates, sponsors, partners and volunteers for making this year’s conference such a success. We are particularly grateful to the University of Melbourne for hosting us, and Nous Group, Beaumont People and GivePulse for their support.
We look forward to building on that momentum together as we continue to strengthen engagement across the higher education sector.