Sr Nathalie Becquart XMCJ, the Vatican’s Undersecretary for the General Secretariat of the Synod, will bring a message of hope to an anticipated 1500 delegates at the 2025 Australian Catholic Education Conference, to be held in Cairns from August 20–22. Source: NCEC.
Sr Nathalie will deliver the opening keynote on how insights from the Synod on Synodality (2021–2024) and the Vatican’s 2022 Instruction on Catholic Identity offer a blueprint for renewing Catholic education.
She will explore how synodal conversion can breathe new life into Catholic educational communities, preparing students to bear witness to hope in an ever-changing world that requires new approaches of leadership.
National Catholic Education Commission executive director Jacinta Collins said Sr Nathalie’s keynote would offer practical ways for Catholic educational leaders to embed synodality into their local contexts.
“Sr Nathalie’s experience in leading global synodal processes and her long-standing work with young people will offer Catholic educators and leaders valuable insights into how we can build more inclusive and responsive school communities,” Ms Collins said.
“Her perspective is especially relevant as we look for practical ways to engage students and their families, strengthen their sense of belonging, and support their formation and the formation of staff in our shared mission.”
Dylan Wiliam, emeritus professor at UCL Institute of Education, will explore equitable approaches to formative assessment and school accountability through his keynote, masterclasses and full day workshop.
Family engagement expert Dr Steve Constantino will provide a keynote and masterclasses on strengthening family engagement and parent partnerships; and Dr Simon Breakspear, founder of Strategic Schools, will present a closing keynote on how collective interactions and daily practices support sustained progress in school improvement.
“Our speaker lineup brings together a number of internationally respected voices in education,” Ms Collins said.
“Under our theme ‘hope, anchored in faith’, which is aligned to the Jubilee Year theme, ‘Pilgrims of Hope’, this three-day event will also include 70 presentations, workshops, masterclasses, and panel discussions, which will explore our three strategic [aims] – Faith, Excellence and Access – and provide great stimulus for reflection, engagement and action.”
Registrations for in-person registration will close at 5 pm AEST on August 15. An on-demand ticket is also available. Details and registrations: Australian Catholic Education Conference website.
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Synodality leader to open the 2025 Australian Catholic Education Conference with message of hope (NCEC)
