The annual HERDSA Queensland Professional Development & Networking Day, held on Friday, 20 March 2026, at The Ship Inn, South Brisbane, brought together colleagues from across the higher education sector for a collegial and energising day of scholarship, reflection, and connection.

The program opened with a keynote by Professor Kelly Matthews from The University of Queensland, which set a thoughtful tone by inviting participants to reconsider scholarship beyond outputs, as relational, evolving, and grounded in practice. Drawing on the idea of scholē as time, she encouraged participants to value time for reflection, inquiry, and conversation, and to see scholarship as something that moves through people, relationships, and practice. (Kelly reflects further on this idea in her recent LinkedIn post —>) This framing carried through the day, particularly as discussions engaged with the changing landscape of higher education, including the implications of generative AI.

A diverse program of roundtables, showcases, and workshops highlighted current priorities and challenges in the sector. Sessions explored academic identity, translanguaging pedagogies, integrity in the context of generative AI, and student experiences of learning, placement, and assessment. Equity and inclusion were key themes, with a number of contributions focusing on intersectionality, neurodiversity, and first-year student success.

Interactive workshops provided opportunities for deeper engagement, with participants noting the value of “practical strategies I can take back to my teaching” and “space to genuinely reflect with colleagues”. The relational focus of the day was particularly appreciated, with one attendee reflecting that “the conversations felt meaningful and grounded in real practice”, while another highlighted “the sense of community and openness across sessions”.

The day also created space for informal networking, with many participants valuing “the chance to reconnect and build new collaborations” and observing that the event was “well-paced, welcoming, and thoughtfully organised”.

We extend our sincere thanks to the HERDSA Queensland Branch, presenters, and participants for contributing to such a vibrant and engaging day. The day underscored the strength of the HERDSA community and its ongoing commitment to collaborative, reflective, and inclusive approaches to higher education.

Authors: Ruth Greenaway, Kelley Burton, Trisha Poole