What to expect?

This is not your typical student conference.

Future Forte Conference 2025 brings together international students, alumni, creators, educators, and changemakers for a powerful day of real stories, big ideas, and bold connections.

Whether you're figuring out your place in Australia, exploring your identity, or dreaming of what’s next - this is a space where you’ll feel seen, heard, and inspired. Expect inspiring speakers, creative sessions, and practical takeaways for your life, study, and career.

You’ll walk away with new confidence, fresh perspectives, and a community that gets it.

What you’ll get

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    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

  • ✺

    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

  • ✺

    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

  • ✺

    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

  • ✺

    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

  • ✺

    It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

Agenda

8:30 AM

9:00 AM

9:20 AM

10:00 AM

9:50 AM

11:00 AM

9:00 AM

Settle In

Start your day with a Future Forte goodie bag. Enjoy refreshments, music, and the chance to meet other international students and community members before the program begins.

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Welcome

Receive a warm welcome from leaders who champion international students. This session sets the tone for the day - recognising your presence, your journey, and the role you play in shaping a more inclusive future.

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Keynote + Fireside Chat

Alice brings to the stage a deeply personal reflection on navigating identity, culture, and ambition as someone who grew up between worlds. Through wit, wisdom, and lived experience, she shows how embracing your story, in all its complexity, can become a powerful force for creativity, leadership, and change.

Following the keynote, Alice sits down with Alexis in a unscripted and honest dialogue, exploring the intersections of culture, courage, and storytelling. Expect heartfelt laughter, candid truths, and reflections that will make you feel seen.

Whether you’re still figuring out who you are or learning to be proud of it, this keynote will stay with you long after the day ends.

Panel - Skills That Travel

Moderated by Prof. Sherman Young, Pro Vice-Chancellor, RMIT University
How do international students go from classroom to boardroom, lab, studio, or start-up? This panel showcases real stories of alumni who’ve transformed their studies into impactful careers in tech, STEM, business, and the arts - all while staying true to their identity and culture.

Whether you’re just starting out or thinking about your next step, this session offers insight, encouragement, and a clear message: you don’t have to compromise who you are to succeed.

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Energiser Activity

Facilitated by our favourite dynamic science communicator, Shaz Sivanesan, join us in a light, interactive activity to help you meet others in the room. No awkward icebreakers - just something playful and low-pressure to build community and shake off nerves. You never know who you’ll sit next to for the rest of the day.

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Workshop – title tbc

Facilitated by Asami Koike, Founder of Shapes and Sounds

This guided workshop is a safe and empowering space to reconnect with your identity, culture, and inner voice. Through creative reflection, grounding exercises, and gentle facilitation, you’ll explore the parts of yourself that often go unspoken in lecture halls and job interviews.

Perfect for those feeling lost, disconnected, or overwhelmed - this session is designed to leave you feeling grounded, proud, and more confident in the journey you're on.

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Closing Reflections

We end the day with a moment of heart and clarity. First, you’ll hear directly from Harika Potnuru, an international student, a peer in the room, sharing a powerful story of resilience, identity, and what it means to find belonging in a place far from home.

Following that, Dr. Sonja Hood, CEO of the Scanlon Foundation, offers closing reflections on leadership, inclusion, and the impact international students have on the social fabric of Australia.

This final session is more than just a wrap-up - it’s a reminder that your presence here matters, your story is powerful, and your future is already unfolding.

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Want More? Limited Enrolment to Youth Climate Workshop |

Want More? Limited Enrolment to Youth Climate Workshop |

✺ Frequently asked questions ✺

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.

  • It all begins with an idea. Maybe you want to launch a business. Maybe you want to turn a hobby into something more.