IEAA Pathways Forum 2026

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IEAA Pathways Forum 2026 Think Pathways 27 Aug 2026, Brisbane City

Description

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The IEAA Pathways Network Forum, Think Pathways, brings together international education professionals to explore the rapidly evolving landscape of Pathways Programs in Australia and internationally. As student mobility increases and new models of academic transition emerge, the Pathways sub-sector is experiencing significant shifts that require fresh thinking, and innovation. This year’s forum takes a broad look at the full suite of Foundation and Pathways Programs, including enabling programs, foundation studies, diplomas, ELICOS and alternative pathway designs.

With growing international competition, evolving quality expectations, providers must adapt to meet changing student needs and ensure strong academic and wellbeing outcomes. Through presentations, collaborative discussions, and expert panels, participants will explore developments in student success and support, examine the future direction of Foundation and Pathways Programs, and engage with emerging quality assurance considerations relevant to diverse pathway models.

Program

Thursday 27 August 9:00am - 6:00pm AEST

9.00am	Registration
9:30am	Opening Comments and CEO Update Hon Phil Honeywood, Dom Harden, Dr Myesa Mahoney, Kate Gresham
10:00am	Beyond Entry Scores: Future Value and Impact of Direct Entry ELICOS Katherine Olston, Iain Mathieson, Jennifer Coster, Professor Thomas Roche
10:30am	From Scores to Skills: Embedding English Language Development in Pathway Programs Dr Myesa Mahoney, Melinda Villamizar
11:00am	Morning tea
11:15am	Embedded, Collaborative, Transformative: The Business Edge Support Model Lachlan Page, Amelia Mercieca
11:45am	Pathway Education in the Generative AI Era: From Tools to Learning Ecosystems Michael Klaehn
12:15pm	Beyond Upskilling: Building GenAI Teacher Capability Inez Chai, Lorna Clark
12:45pm	From Fragmented to Focused: Improving Student Engagement in Education Pathways at ACU Fleur Morgan, Dr Matthew Sweeney
1:15pm	Lunch
2:00pm	Engaging International Students with Place, History, and Photography on Wadjemup (Rottnest Island) Arun Raj
2:30pm	Employability Starts Here: The Evolving Role of Pathway Providers Casey Parkes, Magalena Hoeller
3:00pm	Three years ahead: what Zhongkao data reveals about China's pathway future Dr Phillip Allen
3:30pm	Afternoon tea
4:00pm	Think Pathways 2035: From Competition to Collective Impact Lori Hocking, Malcolm Baigent
4:30pm	Developing Leadership Capability in Pathways Institutions through Tailored Professional Development Andrew Foley
5:00pm	Networking

Audience

The forum is targeted at professional and academic staff working across a broad range of roles in the pathways sector of Australian international education, including:

Leaders and practitioners from Pathways Programs (university and non-university providers, onshore and offshore)
Academic and professional staff responsible for pathway curriculum design, teaching quality, assessment, moderation, and academic governance.
Admissions, articulation, and progression teams involved in pathway-to-degree mapping and student transition.
Student success, advising, wellbeing, and support professionals working with pathway cohorts
Quality assurance, compliance, and risk teams supporting pathway delivery and continuous improvement.
Sector representatives and policy stakeholders with an interest in pathways strategy, standards, and future directions.

Outcomes

Forum participants will come away with a better understanding of:

Explore the future direction of Pathways Programs, including emerging models, market pressures, and evolving student expectations.
Understand how quality and standards are being applied to pathway delivery, including approaches to governance, assurance, evidence, and continuous improvement.
Identify strategies that strengthen student success and support, including proactive interventions, wellbeing approaches, and transition-to-degree practices
Examine the impact of overseas pathway certification frameworks on Australian providers, including risks, opportunities, and potential sector responses.
Connect with peers and sector leaders to share practices, build partnerships, and contribute to a coordinated approach across diverse pathway models.

This event is led by IEAA ’s Pathways Network supported by Navitas

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Event Speakers

Event speaker details will be updated as they are confirmed.

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	Dr Phillip Allen, IEAA-F Manager, Data Analytics and Insights UTS College Dr Phillip Allen leads Data and Analytics at UTS College, covering market intelligence, enrolment forecasting and commercial analysis. His recent work on the China pathway market uses Zhongkao cohort data rather than commencement-level reporting to provide a forward view of demand three to five years ahead. Phillip holds a PhD from UNSW and is an IEAA Fellow. He presents regularly at AIEC and has a long background in foresight and scenario analysis, focused on turning complex data into practical decisions for recruitment and planning.
	Inez Chai Lead Educational Developer Navitas Ltd Inez Chai (FHEA) is the Lead Educational Developer at Navitas Learning and Teaching. She has over two decades of experience in higher education, with a focus on student success, curriculum design, and academic capability building. Her work centres on humanising learning through inclusive, evidence-based practices and supporting educators to respond to emerging challenges, including the integration of AI in teaching and learning
	Lorna Clark Curriculum Lead Navitas Ltd Lorna Clark is the Curriculum Lead at Navitas Learning and Teaching. She is currently completing her doctorate in Education. Lorna's research is focussed on international education, pathway programs and critical thinking. Lorna's key interests include developing greater understanding of international students and the strengths they bring into Western education systems.
	Jennifer Coster, IEAA-F Director, English and International Academic Partnerships Monash College Jennifer Coster is Director, English and Academic International Partnerships, with more than 25 years’ experience in international education, transnational partnerships, and English language program leadership. She has led strategic collaborations across higher education and pathway sectors, with a focus on student experience, academic quality, and intercultural engagement. Jennifer’s work explores innovative approaches to partnership development, curriculum design, and international student success. She is particularly interested in the role of transnational education in strengthening institutional collaboration and building global educational communities.
	Andrew Foley, IEAA-SF Director and Principal, Flinders University Academy Flinders University Andrew Foley is the Director and Principal of the Flinders University Academy, the University-owned pathway into Flinders University degree programs. Andrew has been involved in international education for more than two decades, starting in teaching and moving on to school leadership, including working overseas in places as diverse as the United Kingdom, Spain and Cambodia. Andrew has considerable expertise in assisting students with their education journeys in Australia and has been an enthusiastic supporter of the international student sector through involvement with professional associations such as English Australia and IEAA, including a past stint as Convenor of the IEAA Pathways Network. Andrew has undertaken postgraduate studies in linguistics and business administration. His interests are in critical discourse analysis, professional ethics, and the use of analytics in educational decision making.
	Kate Gresham Academic Director INTO Australia/UWA College Kate is Academic Director, UWA College. She has previously held roles at the University of Western Australia, Monash College, and Curtin University.
	Dom Harden, IEAA-AF College Director Swinburne College Dom Harden is the College Director of Swinburne College, where she leads the strategic direction, academic delivery, and operational performance in partnership with Swinburne University of Technology and UP Education. She is responsible for driving academic excellence, governance, compliance, and sustainable growth, with a strong focus on student success and progression. Previously Academic Director at La Trobe College Australia, Dom brings extensive senior leadership experience across pathways education, with a proven track record in improving retention, progression, and academic quality. She has also held roles including Acting College Director and Director of Student and Academic Services. Dom is passionate about advancing innovative, student‑centred pathway education and enhancing outcomes for international students.
	Lori Hocking Pro Vice Chancellor, Global Partnerships Adelaide University Lori Hocking has been operating as a senior leader in the Australian education sector for over two decades spanning higher education, Vocational Education and Training (VET), and lifelong learning. Lori is currently the Pro Vice Chancellor – Global Partnerships, at Adelaide University, and was previously the Executive Director, Education Transformation at the University of Adelaide, where she has led national and institutional reform initiatives and held key leadership roles in strategic partnerships across government, industry, and international stakeholders. She has managed high-value commercial and academic agreements across regions such as the China, India, the Middle East, and the broader Asia-Pacific, aligning with (localised) national priorities and international education standards. The Pro Vice Chancellor role for Adelaide University oversees the governance and delivery of complex global education initiatives, and strategic global partnerships, including transnational education, international articulation pathways, international pathways, and capability development programs for government and enterprise clients.
	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.
	Dr Myesa Mahoney Academic Director Griffith College, Australia Dr Myesa Mahoney is the Academic Director at Griffith College in Queensland Australia. She has over fifteen years experience teaching in Australian universities and pathway colleges and most recently in an academic leadership position. She is passionate about assuring the quality academic programs in the pathway space and ensuring student experience remains at the heart of higher education.
	Iain Mathieson Associate Director for English Pathways and Programs UQ College Iain Mathieson is Associate Director for English Pathways and Programs at UQ College with overall responsibility for quality assurance, curriculum, and administration of English language programs. During his 25 years working in the English Language sector, Iain has worked in a diverse number of roles including teacher, examiner, teacher trainer and manager in Australia, Asia, Europe and South America. He holds a B.Ed. (Hons), a M.Ed. in Teaching Second Languages and Cambridge DELTA, and has also completed the International Diploma in Language Teaching Management (IDLTM) and the AICD Foundations of Directorship program.
	Casey Parkes, IEAA-AF Director, Academic Strategy and Quality Kaplan International Pathways, Australia & New Zealand Casey is currently Director, Curriculum, Teaching and Learning at Kaplan Australia. She previously held the position of Academic Director at the University of Newcastle College of International Education, the Kaplan operated international pathway college of the University of Newcastle. She comes from an English teaching background and taught in Mongolia for two years and with Kaplan Business School in Sydney for six years. Before working within education, she worked in the tourism sector, including positions with Tourism Australia and Booking.com
	Prof Thomas Roche Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic Quality) Southern Cross University Professor Thomas Roche is Pro Vice-Chancellor (Academic Quality) at Southern Cross University. He leads the University’s education quality initiatives, including its innovative Immersive Block Curriculum, Transnational Education (TNE) partnerships, and the University’s Scholarship of Learning and Teaching (SoLT). As Dean, SCU College he also leads the University’s pathways, including Diplomas, fee-free uni-ready and ELICOS programs, empowering diverse students gain access to and succeed in university study. His research interests include academic literacies, language assessment, and block curriculum design. He is a TEQSA expert and Co-President of the International Block and Intensive Learning and Teaching Association (IBILTA).

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