IEAA Student Life Forum 2026

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IEAA Student Life Forum 2026 First and Last(ing) Impressions 18 Jun 2026, Brisbane City

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First impressions are instant. Lasting impressions are earned. Are you getting both right?

The 2026 IEAA Student Life Forum is back. For the first time in 7 years, we’re bringing the sector together in person for a highly interactive, future-focused day at Kaplan Business School, Brisbane.

This year’s theme, First and Last(ing) Impressions, dives into the moments that shape the entire student journey. Expect a forum that’s anything but standard. Through hands-on sessions, interactive discussions, and direct student perspectives, we’ll explore what truly creates belonging, confidence, and long-term connection. Our speaker lineup brings together leaders from across the sector.

You’ll leave with fresh ideas backed by practical tools, actionable insights, and the connections to make them happen. Join us as we rethink the moments that make or break the student experience.

Program

Thursday 18 June 9:00am - 5:00pm AEST

9:00am	Registrations open
9:30am	Welcome and IEAA Update Susan Schlinker, Alex Reeman-Clark, Hon Phil Honeywood
10:00am	First Impressions Matter: Supporting Student Health, Wellbeing and Belonging from the Start Kevin Schefe
10:45am	Morning tea
11:00am	If I Were in Charge: A Student Ambassador’s Take on Belonging and the First Impression That Matters Most Chamalee Karunanayake
12:00pm	Lunch
1:00pm	Before Hello, After Goodbye: Designing 6 Touchpoints That Drive Belonging, Retention and Employability Josh Farr
2:00pm	More than welcome: Activating goodwill across campuses to support the arrival of new refugee students Sally Baker, Corinne Francken, Natasha Kronenberg, Leyali Talebi
2:45pm	Afternoon tea
3:00pm	From Final Year to Future Career: Making Employability a Lasting Impression Will Phelan, Susan Schlinker
3:45pm	Closing Comments Alex Reeman-Clark, Susan Schlinker
4:00pm	Networking Drinks
5:00pm	Young Professionals Combined Networking event

Audience

This forum is targeted at:

New and experienced international education professionals
Providers and professionals working in employability, graduate outcomes and alumni engagement
International student support and advising staff
State-based study hubs, government departments connected with employability programs
Student unions and volunteer organisations
Orientation and pre-departure practitioners
Marketing and recruitment staff

Outcomes

Forum participants will come away with a better understanding of:

How early-stage interactions shape student expectations, belonging, and confi dence across the student lifecycle
Applying evidence-based strategies to enhance student belonging
Evaluating and redesigning touchpoints across the student journey
Implementing practical tools for improving student experience
Considering the lasting impacts of a well-honed first impression

This event is led by IEAA ’s Student Life Network and supported by Allianz Partners Australia.

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Forum Registration 0 Remaining $370
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Kaplan Business School 369 Ann St Brisbane City 18 Jun 2026 100 You can earn up to 100 fellowship points.

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Event Speakers

Event speaker details will be updated as they are confirmed.

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	Dr Sally Baker Co-Lead, Refugee Student Settlement Pathway Skill Path Australia Dr Sally Baker is a co-lead of the Refugee Student Settlement Pathway with Skill Path Australia. Sally is also the CEO of Refugee Education Australia, and an Adjunct Associate Professor of Education and Migration with the University of New South Wales.
	Josh Farr Founder Campus Consultancy Josh Farr is the Founder of Campus Consultancy, a #1 Amazon Bestselling Author, 2x TEDx Speaker, and recognised LinkedIn Top Voice in Leadership Development. Over the past 9 years, Josh has delivered 1,600+ workshops to more than 100,000 students and staff across 40+ universities. Beyond the classroom, Josh is a podcast host of the #1 student leadership podcast in Australia called Better Student Leaders, interviewing CEOs, University Vice-Chancellors, Olympians and leaders across all sectors to share wisdom, tips and tricks. His mission is simple: to help you connect with confidence, lead with clarity, and create the future you desire. New in 2026, he has commenced his PhD endeavouring to prove - once and for all - that what university student leaders do outside the classroom is the key to university, career and life success.
	Corinne Francken Senior Manager, Widening Participation and Success University of Queensland (UQ) Corinne Francken is an experienced higher education professional with over 15 years of leadership across widening participation, international recruitment, and global engagement. Currently Senior Manager, Widening Participation and Success at The University of Queensland, she is passionate about creating equitable access to education and developing opportunities that empower students from underrepresented groups to thrive personally and professionally. Her expertise spans strategic planning, partnership management, impact reporting, and leading culturally diverse teams. Having lived and worked across Europe, Asia, and Australia, she brings a deep understanding of intercultural communication and the role of education as a transformative force in students’ lives. Fluent in Dutch, French, and English, and conversational in Indonesian, Corinne brings a multilingual and multicultural lens to her work.
	Hon Phil Honeywood, IEAA-SF Chief Executive Officer International Education Association of Australia Phil has been IEAA's Chief Executive Officer since November 2011. Previously, he was a Member of the Victorian State Parliament (1988–2006), Minister for Tertiary Education, Training and Multicultural Affairs (1996–1999) and Deputy Leader of the Opposition (2002–2006). Since retiring from politics, Phil worked at Stott’s Business College and Cambridge International College. Phil is the Chairman of the Roundtable of International Education Peak Body CEOs and a member of the Tuition Protection Service Board. Phil is also a Board member of the Bennelong Philanthropic Foundation and the Bangarra Group Board.
	Chamalee Karunanayake Partnerships Director - APAC IDP Education Chamalee Karunanayake is a strategic sales and partnerships leader with expertise in higher education and digital marketing. As Partnerships Director at IDP Education & The Ambassador Platform, she drives revenue growth and client engagement across the APAC region. Previously, she led Customer Success & Sales at Social Garden, managing key university accounts and driving impactful marketing and recruitment strategies. She also held key roles at Deakin University in Business Partnerships and Student Recruitment, building industry relationships and driving student enrolment growth.
	Natasha Kronenberg Student University of Queensland (UQ) Natasha is a psychology and political science student who's passionate about community engagement and the power of creativity to connect groups of people. Currently, she is a co-lead of the UQ RSSP program who welcomed Beheshta and Elma this year to Brisbane. Outside of this, Natasha is involved with many organisations including policy non-profit FORE Australia, youth marketing agency Newish Communications, Sexual and Reproductive Health Australia, and other artistic companies.
	Will Phelan National Manager, Employability & Work-Integrated Learning Kaplan Business School Will Phelan is the National Manager, Employability & Work-Integrated Learning at Kaplan Business School, where he leads employability and WIL strategy across six Australian campuses. A registered Career Development Professional and internship lecturer, he specialises in bridging education and industry to support student career readiness and professional transition. Will represents KBS on the NAGCAS Institutional Representative Committee and collaborates nationally on careers and employability initiatives. He is passionate about practical, student-centred approaches that help students recognise, translate, and activate their employability skills.
	Alex Reeman-Clark General Manager, Student Experience, Kaplan Business School Kaplan Australia Alex Reeman Clark is the General Manager, Student Experience at Kaplan Business School, where he leads a national team of over 80 staff across six campuses. With more than 15 years of leadership experience spanning the sporting, medical, and education sectors, Alex is passionate about creating authentic student engagement and fostering inclusive, high-performing teams. Under his leadership, KBS has received global recognition, including the 2021 PIEoneer Award for Student Support and the 2024 Business School of the Year. A recipient of the Kaplan Way Award for Student Success, Alex is driven by purpose, empathy, and a focus on continuous improvement.
	Kevin Schefe, IEAA-AF Acting Head of International Health & Education Allianz Partners Australia Kevin Schefe leads the health portfolio at Allianz Partners Australia, overseeing Overseas Student Health Cover and the Visitor market nationally. He works closely with sector across Australia, supported by a geographically diverse team, to drive improved health outcomes for international students. Kevin is a strong advocate for a proactive approach to student health and wellbeing and is particularly passionate about improving access to health services for international students. He brings a deep understanding of the unique challenges within this market, which spans both metropolitan and regional locations and often involves differing health needs and access considerations. Prior to joining Allianz Partners Australia eight years ago, Kevin built a strong foundation in the education sector, holding several leadership roles that continue to inform his collaborative and partner‑focused approach.
	Susan Schlinker, IEAA-AF Senior Talent and Employability Officer Study Queensland, Trade & Investment Queensland With nearly eight years’ experience in international education, Susan Schlinker is a passionate advocate for international talent and student experiential learning. As the Senior Talent and Employability Officer at Study Queensland, she developed and managed the ‘Talent-Ed’ employability program connecting international students with employers and industry across Queensland. Susan previously coordinated the Higher Degree Research (HDR) Industry Engagement program, and the Creative Industries Mobility program at QUT. Susan currently serves as the Deputy Co-Convenor of the IEAA Student Life Network, and as a Queensland Committee Member for Work Integrated Learning Australia. She previously contributed as the IEAA Qld Young Professionals Co-Chair 2021-2022.
	Leyali Talebi Student University of Queensland (UQ) Leyali is a final year mechanical engineering student, and a Co-lead of the Student Welcome Groups at UQ. Leyali’s grandparents on both sides were refugees, which was their main motivation for volunteering for the program.

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