William Walker Oration:
A decade of disorientation: what you need to know next

As leaders we are entering a decade of disorientation. You’ll be constantly challenged to pinpoint what will matter next. We will unpack how the world is changing, and focus on the five shifts—the values shift, the technology shift, the accountability shift, the trust shift, and the energy shift—that will make it more difficult than ever to lead. These shifts will cause fractures, complexity, uncertainty. But they’ll also spawn more ideas, more creativity, more innovation. While the future is messy, it’s also filled with opportunity. We’ll look at the skills needed and face into the challenges of deciding how to lead through it all.

SANDRA PETER

Dr Sandra Peter is the Director of Sydney Executive Plus and Associate Professor at the University of Sydney. She leads executive and leadership development in cutting edge areas of business, technology, and society. Her research focuses on engaging with the future in productive ways, the impact of emerging technologies and AI. Sandra has led strategic initiatives and worked on executive programs with business, research organisations, governments and Defence. She has published in leading business journals and worked on a wide range of educational research initiatives and programs, including work with UNESCO and the Department of Education. She is a sought-after keynote speaker and regularly contributes commentary, interviews and research in national and international media. Most recently, Sandra co-authored The 2025 Skills Horizon report, a dynamic guide to the skills leaders and executives need to lead through the next decade.