Have you ever wondered what it takes to be a great leader? Join us at our inaugural Leadership Summit for two transformative days exploring and developing the crucial skills that define exceptional leaders.
Through a mix of keynote talks, panel discussions, and hands-on activities, you’ll hear from people who have led with purpose across careers, communities and causes.
The two-day program includes an experience in design thinking, empathy mapping, creative ideation, and pitch preparation. You’ll work in small groups, tackle real-world challenges, and even have the chance to share your ideas with peers and facilitators in a supported setting.
Tickets are $25 per person, which will be fully refunded upon your attendance at the summit.
Morning: UniSA Involvement
9:00am – 9:30am | Welcome to Country & event overview
An official Welcome to Country, followed by an introduction to the summit's theme, objectives, and a walkthrough of the two-day program.
9:30am – 10:15am | Keynote address – Michelle Perugini
A keynote presentation by Michelle Perugini, reflecting on UniSA’s journey, key achievements, and how leadership has shaped its legacy. Insights will focus on leading through periods of change and transition.
10:15am – 11:45am | UniSA success stories
A showcase of innovative student projects, research breakthroughs and alumni contributions. This session highlights UniSA’s real-world impact and inspires you to continue this legacy.
11:45am – 12:25pm | Lunch
Refresh and network informally with your peers over catered lunch.
Afternoon: ASE Design Thinking Lab – Leading Through Change
12:30pm – 1:00pm | ASE Welcome & Icebreaker
Participants are welcomed by the Australian School of Entrepreneurship (ASE) team and introduced to the purpose of the Design Thinking Lab. Through an interactive icebreaker, students build rapport with peers and begin cultivating the collaborative mindset essential for navigating change as a leader.
1:00pm – 2:00pm | Session 1: Understanding Design Thinking
This session introduces the five stages of Design Thinking (Empathise, Define, Ideate, Prototype, and Test) and explores their application in solving complex leadership challenges. Students will learn how this process empowers leaders to make meaningful progress in times of change.
2:00pm – 2:15pm | Mini Break
Short refreshment break.
2:15pm – 3:00pm | Session 2: Empathy Mapping & Problem Definition
Participants engage in empathy mapping to gain a deeper understanding of the needs, fears and motivations of key university stakeholders (e.g. students, staff, academics) during a time of institutional change. Participants will identify specific leadership challenges, such as communication gaps or disengagement.
3:00pm – 3:15pm | Mini Break
3:15pm – 4:00pm | Session 3: Ideation
Teams brainstorm a wide range of creative and actionable solutions to the leadership challenges identified. This session encourages students to embrace ambiguity, think boldly, and practice collaborative innovation, all critical leadership behaviours when guiding others through transition.
4:00pm – 4:30pm | Day 1 Wrap-Up
The day concludes with a reflective discussion, where students share key learnings and insights about leading through change. The wrap-up sets expectations for Day 2, including how participants will bring their ideas to life through prototyping, testing, and pitching.
4:30pm – 6:00pm | Networking Drinks at the Gallery
An informal networking session where students, alumni, staff, and industry guests can connect, share experiences, and build meaningful relationships.
Morning: UniSA Involvement
9:00am – 9:30am | Debrief & overview
Recap of day 1 highlights and an outline of day 2 activities, preparing you for deeper engagement.
9:30am – 10:30am | UniSA success stories (continued)
A continuation of UniSA’s impact stories, focusing on student-led initiatives and alumni leadership in community and industry contexts.
10:30am – 11:45am | Leadership panel: Perspectives on leading through change
A panel discussion featuring industry leaders and UniSA alumni, including James Brooks from CEDA, offering diverse perspectives on effective leadership during times of transformation and uncertainty.
11:45am – 12:25pm | Lunch
Afternoon: ASE Design Thinking Lab – Leading Through Change
12:30pm – 1:00pm | Motivational Speaker & Day 1 Recap – Jahin Tanvir
Jahin Tanvir, CEO of the Australian School of Entrepreneurship, shares his personal story of overcoming challenges, leading with purpose and advocating for change as a young leader. His reflections inspire students to see themselves as change-makers within the evolving university landscape and provide renewed focus for Day 2 of the Lab.
1:00pm – 2:00pm | Session 4: Prototyping
Students begin to transform their ideas into tangible concepts by developing simple prototypes, such as visual mock-ups or diagrams, that bring their solutions to life. This hands-on process emphasises experimentation and reinforces the importance of taking action, testing assumptions and adapting to real-world feedback.
2:00pm – 2:15pm | Mini Break
2:15pm – 3:00pm | Session 5: Testing & Feedback
Teams present their prototypes to other participants and facilitators to gather insights and constructive critique. Through this process, students practise receiving feedback with openness and refining their solutions, skills that are central to effective leadership in rapidly changing environments.
3:00pm – 3:15pm | Mini Break
3:15pm – 4:00pm | Session 6: Pitch Preparation
In this final preparation stage, teams refine their messaging, sharpen their storytelling and align their pitches to highlight the leadership impact of their ideas. They’re coached on communicating the “why” behind their solutions and demonstrating how their approach fosters positive change within the new university.
4:00pm – 4:45pm | Pitching to Guest Judges
Each team presents their solution to a panel of guest judges, showcasing their creativity, leadership potential and capacity to drive meaningful change. Judges provide feedback on the viability and impact of each idea, creating an opportunity for students to celebrate their growth and receive recognition for their leadership contributions.
4:45pm – 5:00pm | Summit Closing Remarks
The summit ends with final reflections, acknowledgements and a celebration of the student voice. Participants leave with a toolkit of leadership strategies and a deeper belief in their ability to lead through change, both at university and beyond.
Can’t attend in-person? Register for an online leadership masterclass with the Australian School of Entrepreneurship on Wednesday 16 July.
