Public Schools Alliance | Leading Queensland communities to make a difference

High Quality Professional Learning for Future Focused School Executive and Senior Leadership Teams
Extended opportunities for Student Captains and Aspiring School Leaders
Open to all Public Schools in Queensland across Primary, Secondary and Special School sectors
Collaborative Network of peer expertise with provocative bold ideas worth sharing
No hidden agendas—just a shared passion for school improvement.

Thought Leaders 2026

Peter Baines

Humanitarian leader and founder of Hands Across the Water, leading with compassion and integrity in crisis-affected and high-risk contexts.

Trent Dalton

Award-winning Australian journalist and bestselling author of 'Boy Swallows Universe', renowned for his deeply human storytelling that explores resilience, kindness and the power of hope.

Shane Fitzsimmons

Former Commissioner of Fire and Rescue NSW and national resilience leader, widely respected for calm, values-based leadership during crisis.

Astrid Jorgensen OAM

Founder of Pub Choir, demonstrating how joy, belonging and psychological safety unlock extraordinary collective performance.

Dr Gemma Munro

Performance psychologist and leadership coach who brings clarity, courage and practical strategies to help people and teams perform at their best.

Holly Ransom

Globally recognised leadership expert, CEO, and board director, known for her work on courageous leadership, influence, and leading through uncertainty.

Garry Ridge
(virtual)

Former long‑time CEO of WD‑40 Company, sharing how trust, learning and values create cultures where people and performance thrive.

Cameron Schwab

Veteran AFL executive and leadership thinker with decades of experience leading high-performance organisations in unforgiving environments.

Adam Voight

Nationally respected education leader and founder of Real Schools, renowned for strengthening culture through trust, relationships and clarity of purpose.

Milo Wilkinson

Leadership coach and author specialising in decision-making, clarity of purpose, and navigating complexity in high-pressure environments.

UPCOMING EVENTS

Year 6 & Year 9 Student Leadership Conference

The 2026 Conference is designed for Year 6 and Year 9 student captain cohorts.

Wednesday 25 February 2026
OR
Thursday 26 February 2026
9.30am to 2.30pm

QUT Kelvin Grove Campus
Morning tea and lunch included.

Get ready for an inspiring, future-focused experience as the Alliance once again partners with QUT Kelvin Grove to deliver our Student Leadership Day. A dynamic program designed to ignite student agency, sharpen leadership mindsets, and strengthen community impact. This energising event gives young leaders the chance to step outside their everyday roles and step into a space that challenges their thinking, broadens their perspective, and amplifies their voice.

Target Audience:

Year 6 Primary School Leaders & Year 9 Secondary School Leaders

Attendance:

Each Alliance member school may send up to four students from their student leadership cohort.

What to Expect

Collaboration & Design Thinking: Students will work closely with peers from their own school and others across Queensland, exploring real leadership challenges through design thinking, teamwork, and shared problem‑solving.

Inspiring Voices: Hear from engaging, credible speakers who understand the power of student voice. Their stories and practical insights will help spark new ideas and broaden each student’s leadership lens.

A Confidence-Building, High-Energy Program: The day is intentionally designed to build confidence, stretch thinking, and encourage students to lead with purpose and positivity, both in their classrooms and across their school communities.

Leadership Beyond the Ordinary: We move far beyond fundraising ideas and time capsules. Students will reflect deeply on their agency, influence and responsibility, exploring how leadership can shape school values, community connection, positive cultural change and student voice in staff decisions.

Practical, Action-Ready Initiatives: Every student leaves with clear next steps and concrete leadership actions they can bring to life back at school—turning ideas into impact and shaping their own leadership legacy.

Facilitated by

Maddie Scott-Jones
Leading expert in Student agency, VP, Learning & Content, Education Changemakers

Please RSVP by Friday 13 February 2026 via the registration form link below.

If you have any questions, contact Charlotte Chamier, Alliance Project Manager - via email – cdupr9@eq.edu.au

Unwind, Reflect & Reconnect

Join Us for the PSA Collegial Dinner

Sunday 15 March 2026
6.00pm to 9.30pm

sAme sAme Private Dining Room
Shop AM3 Ada Lane, 46 James St, Fortitude Valley

The evening before the Breakfast and Leadership Day, relax in one of Brisbane’s most iconic and vibrant dining destinations. Set on a private balcony overlooking James Street, sAme sAme is renowned for its electric atmosphere and contemporary Asian flavours.

This is a relaxed evening designed for principals and senior leaders who value great conversation in a great setting. This event will reach capacity quickly so register early to avoid missing out.

$50 per person – Member Subsidised Rate
Registration includes a banquet set menu. Please bring cash for individual payment of beverages.

Reserve Your Seats Now

The Stories We Lead By

Leadership Breakfast
Celebrating with Year 12 Student Captains

Monday 16 March 2026
6.45am to 8.15am

Boulevard Room, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre

Principals and executive teams joined by Year 12 Student Captains

GUEST SPEAKER

Trent Dalton

Award winning Australian journalist and bestselling author of Boy Swallows Universe

This is a rare and special opportunity to hear from one of Australia’s most loved storytellers. Trent Dalton’s work has touched millions through its raw humanity, generosity of spirit and unwavering belief in hope, kindness and the power of voice.

In this intimate breakfast conversation, Trent will explore how stories shape who we are, how leaders create belonging, and why hope and moral courage matter more than ever in our schools and communities. It is a shared leadership moment designed to inspire both experienced school leaders and student leaders, reminding us that the stories we choose to tell and live by can change lives.

Alliance Leadership Day

Relational Leadership Under Pressure: How trust, culture and moral courage shape leadership in complex systems

Monday 16 March 2026
8.45am to 2.45pm

Boulevard Room, Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre

Adam Voight

Nationally respected education leader and founder of Real Schools

How intentional culture building and relational leadership sustain schools when expectations, accountability and complexity collide.

Cameron Schwab

Veteran AFL executive and leadership thinker

What moral courage, relational trust and clear values look like when leaders perform under constant scrutiny and pressure.

Peter Baines

Humanitarian leader and founder of Hands Across the Water

Leading with humanity, empathy and courage when decisions carry real moral weight and human consequence.

The Power of Connected Leadership

The Great Barrier Reef: A Living Mosaic of Connected Strength

Stretching 2,300 km along Australia’s coast, the Great Barrier Reef is a breathtaking example of interconnected life. Though made up of countless corals and species, it thrives as one vast, interdependent ecosystem. Coral colonies grow together, share nutrients, and protect one another. When one area is stressed, healthier sections help regenerate it through the flow of larvae, nutrients, and biodiversity. Its beauty lies in this collective harmony: a shimmering mosaic that survives, adapts, and flourishes through connection.

The Great Barrier Reef shows us that the most beautiful outcomes emerge when individuals connect deeply and collaborate intentionally.

PSA’s Wisdom Community

We’ve gathered a cross-section of inspiring, relatable school leaders to share their insights, laughs, and lessons in leadership.

Over eight weeks, we’re rolling out bite-sized video interviews that shine a light on the real stories and practical wisdom that may inspire. From navigating challenges to celebrating wins, this series is all about learning from each other.

Part 1 – The one piece of leadership advice they live by
Part 2 – The change they’d make in education overnight
Part 3 – Go-to strategies for inspiring a team
Part 4 – Influential books, podcasts & articles
Part 5 – Education trends they’re excited about
Part 6 – Their “other life” career path
Part 7 – Challenges school leaders face today
Part 8 – Leadership in three words

Follow along each week as PSA’s Wisdom Community shares their voices.

This week's video:

View the other video interviews in this series

EVENT PHOTOS

PSA Leadership Day, March 2025 at Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

PSA Leadership Breakfast, March 2025 at Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre

Student Leadership Conference 2025 at Queensland University of Technology

Public Schools Alliance Sharepoint(for Queensland teachers)

We are an inclusive leadership learning community open to ALL Queensland Public Primary, Secondary and Special Education Schools – wherever you are on your school improvement journey. We see this diversity as a strength and celebrate the distinct nature of each school. Public Schools Alliance has no political or industrial affiliations. We look forward to giving you a warm welcome, irrespective of status.

For enquiries or further information about the Public Schools Alliance please contact:

Charlotte Chamier Alliance Project Manager

Visit PSA Sharepoint

Enquiries

For enquiries or further information about the Public Schools Alliance please contact:Charlotte Chamier, Alliance Project Manager - cdupr9@eq.edu.au

Thought Leaders 2026

Peter Baines

Trent Dalton

Shane Fitzsimmons

Astrid Jorgensen OAM

Dr Gemma Munro

Holly Ransom

Garry Ridge(virtual)

Cameron Schwab

Adam Voight

Milo Wilkinson

UPCOMING EVENTS

Year 6 & Year 9 Student Leadership Conference

Wednesday 25 February 2026 OR Thursday 26 February 2026 9.30am to 2.30pm

Join Us for the PSA Collegial Dinner

Sunday 15 March 20266.00pm to 9.30pm

Leadership BreakfastCelebrating with Year 12 Student Captains

Monday 16 March 20266.45am to 8.15am

Alliance Leadership Day

Monday 16 March 20268.45am to 2.45pm

The Power of Connected Leadership

PSA’s Wisdom Community

EVENT PHOTOS

Enquiries

Acknowledgement of Country

Garry Ridge
(virtual)

Wednesday 25 February 2026
OR
Thursday 26 February 2026
9.30am to 2.30pm

Sunday 15 March 2026
6.00pm to 9.30pm

Leadership Breakfast
Celebrating with Year 12 Student Captains

Monday 16 March 2026
6.45am to 8.15am

Monday 16 March 2026
8.45am to 2.45pm