The ACEL National Conference is Australia's premier gathering of education leaders—where ideas, influence, and leadership come together to shape the future of the profession. ACEL conferences are known as the place:
This year, we are not simply calling for presentations. We are seeking examples of courageous leadership to curate a program that highlights evolution in education.
In 2026 we intend to present a program that showcases bold thinking, evidence-informed practice, and exceptional presentation design— crafted to challenge, inspire, and move a national audience of decision-makers.
If you are leading change, advancing practice, or reimagining what education can be, we invite you to submit a proposal that aligns with the following conference themes and sub-themes.
Bold Leadership: New Frontiers in Education
Navigating Complexity with Courage and Agency
Boldness in educational leadership requires courage in uncertainty and confidence in complexity. This sub-theme invites contributions that show how leaders take informed risks, challenge entrenched practices, and foster cultures of innovation and agency. It highlights ethical decision-making, leading through disruption, and insights from diverse contexts—where boldness is often expressed through adaptability, resourcefulness, and deep community connection.
Expanding Who Leads and How
Leadership in contemporary education is increasingly distributed, relational, and diverse. This sub-theme explores how leadership is enacted across roles, contexts, and identities—by teachers, students, communities, and systems working together. It highlights the critical role of emerging and aspiring leaders, and invites contributions that examine how leadership is developed, shared, and sustained through inclusive, culturally responsive, and place-based practices that reflect and serve diverse communities.
Reimagining Education for an Uncertain Future
New frontiers in education reflect the challenges and possibilities shaping the future of learning. This sub-theme invites forward-thinking, evidence-informed exploration of innovative models, systems, and practices responding to technological change, workforce shifts, and questions of equity and access. It values national and international perspectives that illuminate place-based learning, digital possibility, global connection, and sustainable futures—helping to reimagine education beyond traditional boundaries.
To create a dynamic and engaging program, we invite submissions across a range of session types:
Big ideas that challenge assumptions and spark new thinking
A structured session where speakers share information and stories, drive discussion and provide tangible resources.
Participants actively engage in discussion, activities or practical tasks to build knowledge, skills or strategies and artefacts.
ACEL is known for exceptional presentation quality. We are interested in presenters who:
All submissions will undergo rigorous peer review.
An engaging three-day event you won't want to miss.