Council Connect – April 2025

The HEIA Council has confirmed Sydney as the destination for our 2027 national conference. Expert Events has been engaged as our professional conference organiser, with whom we have worked closely on many conferences over the years. We are also delighted that HEIA(NSW) will be the host division, and we look forward to working with Dr Lissa Carter in her role as president of the host division. The conference will be held from Sunday 4 July to Wednesday 7 July 2027. Thanks to those who volunteered for the Academic Program Committee and Host Committee—we are thrilled to have your responses, so stay tuned for more details.

HEIA also launched the Flavour Forecast Recipe Challenge and the Tertiary Flavour Forecast Recipe Challenge with McCormick on 1 April. There are plenty of resources available to support schools, and the competition has been modified based on member feedback. Be sure to check out the updated criteria and the fantastic resources to help schools participate available on the HEIA website. Remember, all students who submit an entry—whether complete or not—will receive a participation certificate. HEIA is delighted to be working with McCormick Foods on this amazing culinary challenge again.

HEIA has joined the Australian Alliance of Associations in Education (AAAE) and we are pleased to have Kate Meakins (HEIA[SA]) as our representative. AAAE is an alliance of national professional teacher associations that works to ensure the voices of teachers are heard by relevant authorities, aiming to improve Australian educational policy and practice. It also explores formal partnerships between teacher associations and education entities to enhance student learning and teaching excellence.

Dr Leanne Compton
HEIA President