Face
the facts.

ASPIRE Conference
16–17th February 2027

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Shape
the future.

About

Confronting the grave challenges facing Australia, exploring solutions, and equipping leaders to deliver change.

Australia needs leadership. At a time when social trust is weakening, educational standards are slipping, economic pressures are mounting and confidence in our institutions is under strain, the question is not simply what challenges we face, but who will take responsibility for addressing them. The future of our nation will be shaped by leaders of character across society, prepared to serve with wisdom, courage and conviction.

Previous Years

ASPIRE 2026 Retrospective

Looking back at ASPIRE 2026: Hundreds of leaders across generations came together to face the hard facts confronting our nation. Through thought-provoking keynotes, deep-dive elective sessions and opportunities to build connections, we equipped these change-makers not only to understand Australia’s challenges, but to take action in helping to shape its future for the better.

What future

are we
building?

Conference

ASPIRE 2027 brings leaders together to shape Australia’s future.

ASPIRE 2027 will do more than name the problems. Together, we will face the realities confronting Australia and ask a deeper questions: What kind of future are we building? As our nation is reshaped by technological, economic and cultural change, are we building a society that helps people live well, supports strong families and communities, and enables future generations to thrive? ASPIRE will explore practical solutions and equip leaders to take responsibility for shaping a future worth building.

Mountain View
“How Australia reveals itself is not preordained. It is the sum of all our efforts. We each determine the country we aspire to be.”
- The Honourable David Hurley AC CVO DSC (Retd)
“It’s worth remembering that it is often the small steps, not the giant leaps, that bring about the most lasting change.”
- Queen Elizabeth, From the Queen’s Christmas speech, 2019
“The good of man must be the end of the science of politics.”
- Aristotle
“An opal-hearted country,
A wilful, lavish land –
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand…”
- Excerpt from ‘My Country’ poem by Dorothea MacKellar
“Well, Australians should speak for the national interests of Australia, and whatever role former Australian prime ministers may have, one of the things you do is speak frankly about the country as you see the country’s best interests”
- Paul Keating, Australia’s 24th Prime Minister
“Liberty cannot be preserved without a general knowledge among the people, who have a right … and a desire to know.”
- John Adams, 1765
“Society is a partnership between those who are living, those who are dead, and those who are to be born.”
- Edmund Burke

Our Approach

Our Approach

Identify Challenges

Face the facts. Understand the serious challenges confronting Australia and the consequence of inaction.

Explore Solutions

Shape the future. Explore practical solutions to build a future which serves Australia’s people and future generations.

Equip Leaders

Take Responsibility. Equip leaders across society with the conviction, relationships and tools to shape a future worth building.

Intention

A Future Worth Building

ASPIRE 2027 brings together leaders from across Australia to face the realities confronting our nation and ask a deeper question: What kind of future are we building? Through thought-provoking keynotes, practical solutions, new connections, ASPIRE equips leaders to shape a future worth building.

Intention

Renewing Australia’s Future

Foundations
ASPIRE marks the beginning of a concerted effort to renew the social, cultural, and economic foundations of Australia. We are bringing together some of the brightest thinkers and leaders from Australia and around the world to address the future-defining issues shaping our nation:
Intention

Renewing Australia’s Future

Social Fabric
ASPIRE marks the beginning of a concerted effort to renew the social, cultural, and economic foundations of Australia. We are bringing together some of the brightest thinkers and leaders from Australia and around the world to address the future-defining issues shaping our nation:
Intention

Renewing Australia’s Future

Economy
ASPIRE marks the beginning of a concerted effort to renew the social, cultural, and economic foundations of Australia. We are bringing together some of the brightest thinkers and leaders from Australia and around the world to address the future-defining issues shaping our nation:
Intention

Renewing Australia’s Future

Technology
ASPIRE marks the beginning of a concerted effort to renew the social, cultural, and economic foundations of Australia. We are bringing together some of the brightest thinkers and leaders from Australia and around the world to address the future-defining issues shaping our nation:
Intention

Renewing Australia’s Future

Security
ASPIRE marks the beginning of a concerted effort to renew the social, cultural, and economic foundations of Australia. We are bringing together some of the brightest thinkers and leaders from Australia and around the world to address the future-defining issues shaping our nation:

Foundations

Free People: Civic Trust, Freedom, and Human Dignity

Social Fabric

Connected People: Strong Families, Education, and Future Generations

Economy

Flourishing People: Work, Affordability, and Enterprise

Technology

Empowered People: Innovation, Governance, and Human Limits

Security

Resilient People: Sovereignty, Supply Chains, and Stability

Stream Past Sessions

Watch ASPIRE

Explore keynote addresses, panel discussions, and key insights from past ASPIRE conferences.

Parenting Expert: The Key to Raising Healthy Children | Erica Komisar
23:20
Parenting Expert: The Key to Raising Healthy Children | Erica Komisar
ASPIRE Conference
7.6K views • 5 months ago
History Is Repeating Itself — And the West Isn’t Ready | Sir Niall Ferguson
11:29
History Is Repeating Itself — And the West Isn’t Ready | Sir Niall Ferguson
ASPIRE Conference
195.6K views • 7 months ago
"Sex Is Changeable": The Court Case That Echoed Around the World | Sall Grover
14:30
"Sex Is Changeable": The Court Case That Echoed Around the World | Sall Grover
ASPIRE Conference
62.2K views • 5 months ago
How We Can Turn Australia's Economy Around | Peter Costello
17:30
How We Can Turn Australia's Economy Around | Peter Costello
ASPIRE Conference
74K views • 8 months ago
Play Video

Speakers & Program

Speakers and Conference Schedule Announced Soon

World-class Speakers

World-class keynote speakers and leading voices from Australia and around the world.

David Hughes

David Hughes

Dr Steve Koonin

Dr Steve Koonin

Gerard Holland

Gerard Holland

Claire Lehmann

Claire Lehmann

Nial Ferguson

Nial Ferguson

The Hon John Anderson AC

The Hon John Anderson AC

David Hughes

David Hughes

Former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia

Dr Steve Koonin

Dr Steve Koonin

Director of NYU

Gerard Holland

Gerard Holland

Founder & Editor of Quilette

Claire Lehmann

Claire Lehmann

Senior Faculty Fellow

Nial Ferguson

Nial Ferguson

Senior Faculty Fellow

The Hon John Anderson AC

The Hon John Anderson AC

Former Deputy Prime Minister of Australia

Program

What To Expect

Tuesday 16th February
7:00

Arrivals & Check-In

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8:30

Formal Commencement

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9:00
Session 1

Foundations – Free People

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10:00

Morning Tea Served

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11:00
Session 2

Social Fabric I – Connected People

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12:30

Luncheon Served

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1:30
Session 3

Social Fabric II – Connected People

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2:30

Our Political Moment

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3:15

Afternoon Tea Served

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4:00
Session 4

Economy – Flourishing People

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5:00

Formal Conclusion

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6:30—10pm

Formal Dinners (Optional)

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Wednesday 17th February
6:30

Morning Reflection Service (Optional)

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7:00

Arrivals & Check-In

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8:30

Formal Commencement

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9:00
Session 5

Technology – Empowered People

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10:00

Deep Dives & Workshops 

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11:00

Morning Tea Served

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12:00
Session 6

Security – Resilient People

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1:00

Luncheon Served

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2:00

Deep Dives & Workshops 

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3:00

Afternoon Tea Served

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4:00
Session 7

A Call to Action

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5:00

Formal Conclusion

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5:30–7pm

Networking (Optional)

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Questions

Submit an enquiry

Have a question about the ASPIRE conference? Feel free to drop us a message, and we’ll see what we can do.