Online Events

Welcome to AAIR: Connect, Learn and Get Started

20 August 2026 (11am – 12pm AEST / 1–2pm NZST)

Online

LIVE WEBINAAIR

Note: Earlier Timeslot

Facilitators:

• Sharon Liddell (AAIR Executive Committee member), Surveys Coordinator at University of Technology Sydney, Australia
• Alexandra Simpson (AAIR Executive Committee Observer), Senior Data Analyst at Bond University, Australia

New to AAIR? A friendly introduction to institutional research in higher education

Whether you’re brand new to the Australasian Association for Institutional Research or simply looking to reconnect, this welcoming session is designed to help you feel confident, informed and part of the community.

We’ll introduce you to institutional research in the higher education context, explain how AAIR supports your professional growth, and show you how to get the most value from your membership. You’ll meet fellow members, learn about our Special Interest Groups and events, and have the opportunity to ask questions in a relaxed, supportive environment.

New members are especially encouraged to attend, and long-standing members are warmly invited to join us to share their experience and connect with our newest colleagues.

Come along, say hello and start building your AAIR network.

Pricing:

• Members: FREE
• Non-members: Also FREE

THIS IS A LIVE WEBINAAIR. A RECORDING WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE.

Institutional Research Showcase 2026

28 August 2026 (12–1 pm AEST / 2–3pm NZST)

Online

LIVE WEBINAAIR

Facilitator: Lester DSouza, Manager, Government Reporting at University of Technology Sydney

More than a dashboard: Bringing multiple data sources together for better decision-making

Ansha Baniya, Analytics Lead, Data Excellence at Australian Catholic University
Uzzal Roy, Data Engineering Lead, Data Excellence at Australian Catholic University

This presentation shares the development of an integrated reporting solution that brought together data from multiple sources, including data warehouse views, internal semantic models, and externally managed semantic models. In a decentralised reporting environment, where data, reports, and business definitions were maintained across different areas of the institution, the project focused on transforming fragmented information into a trusted and accessible reporting framework that supports evidence-based decision-making.

The session will discuss the challenges of integrating diverse data sources, establishing consistent business definitions, and balancing stakeholder needs with reporting governance. It will also reflect on lessons learned in stakeholder engagement, iterative development, and building trust in institutional data through a single, governed source of truth.

Attendees will gain insights into approaches for delivering integrated reporting solutions that improve data accessibility, strengthen governance, and support better decision-making across the institution.

About Ansha

Analytics Lead specialising in Power BI reporting solutions, and data visualisation. Experienced in bringing together complex data from multiple sources to create trusted reporting frameworks that support evidence-based decision-making. Skilled in stakeholder engagement, reporting governance, and translating technical data into meaningful insights that drive institutional planning and strategic outcomes.

About Uzzal

Data Engineering Lead specialising in Data Architecture, Data Warehousing, Data Engineering, Business Intelligence, and Analytics. Trusted advisor to business and technical stakeholders, with extensive experience in delivering scalable, data-driven solutions that enable informed decision-making and drive organisational success. Passionate about leveraging modern data platforms and advanced analytics to unlock the value of data, empower insights, and support strategic outcomes.

From comments to conversations: developing an AI-enabled approach to QILT qualitative analysis

Nathaniel Lewis, Director, Educational Data and Insights at UNSW

Open-text QILT Student Experience Survey comments contain valuable insight into why students respond as they do, but their scale and complexity make consistent analysis challenging. This presentation traces UNSW’s journey from manual comment review through topic discovery, structured theme development and thematic dashboards to an AI-enabled conversational insights tool. We will share what we learned from testing techniques including BERTopic, machine-assisted classification, sql-based analysis and conversational AI. The session will consider the tension between stable institutional themes and emerging student issues, approaches to representative comments and longitudinal comparison, and the governance required when using AI with sensitive qualitative data. The focus is on the broader analytical maturity journey, and building a repeatable and trustworthy way to translate student voice into evidence that supports educational improvement.

About Nathaniel

Nathaniel Lewis is Director, Educational Data & Insights at UNSW, where he leads the development of institutional analytics, AI-enabled insight products and decision-support capabilities. He has more than 20 years’ experience across Australian higher education, national education reporting and educational measurement. His current work focuses on applying enterprise data tools, generative AI and conversational tools to qualitative feedback, survey analysis and institutional decision-making. Nathaniel previously held senior data and reporting leadership roles at the University of Sydney and the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority.

This could be your spot!

Vacant

Would you like to present? We have one spot available. There is still time, submit your expression of interest today.

Pricing:

• Members: FREE
• Non-members: $75.74 (AUD$65 + GST + booking fee)

THIS IS A LIVE WEBINAAIR. A RECORDING WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE.

Explorance APAC Virtual Summit 2026

9 September 2026 (1–4 pm AEST / 3–6pm NZST)

Online

Join the next edition of the Explorance APAC Virtual Summit and discover how institutions across the Asia-Pacific region are harnessing student insights and intelligent data to drive real, lasting institutional change. Hear directly from institutional researchers, leaders, and practitioners at the University of Newcastle, Monash University Malaysia, NUS Medicine and more, as they share real-world strategies, proven approaches, and fresh perspectives on how listening more deeply to student feedback and acting on it with purpose can reshape the way your institution learns, adapts, and grows.

In these sessions, you’ll discover how to:

• Examine whether your feedback loop is driving real improvement – or just ticking boxes
• Go beyond scores to surface the signals that matter within your feedback
• Build smarter engagement strategies that drive higher response rates
• Make informed, evidence-based decisions that place students at the heart of positive change

About Explorance

Founded in 2003, Explorance empowers higher education institutions with next-generation feedback analytics. Committed to amplifying the voices of students, staff, and faculty, Explorance tailors its solutions for institutions to advance vital initiatives through student and employee feedback: Teaching Effectiveness, Learning Excellence, Student Experience, Staff Engagement, and Wellbeing. Headquartered in Montreal, Explorance has business units in Melbourne, Ho Chi Minh City, Chicago, Chennai, Amman, and London. Explorance works with 35% of the QS Top 100 Universities, including 7 of Australia’s Group of Eight.

Pricing: FREE

Institutional Reporting SIG Discussion

10 September 2026 (12–1 pm AEST / 2–3pm NZST)

Online

LIVE WEBINAAIR

Institutional Reporting SIG

SIG Chair: David Cawthorne (Manager, Government Reporting Transformation, Charles Darwin University)

Join the Institutional Reporting Special Interest Group (SIG) for an interactive discussion on the current state of compliance and external reporting across the higher education sector.

This session provides an opportunity for members to connect, share experiences, and discuss the challenges and changes shaping institutional reporting in their organisations. From regulatory reporting requirements to evolving data standards and compliance expectations, institutional reporting continues to play a critical role in supporting quality, accountability and decision making.

Topics may include reporting frameworks such as TCSI, AVETMISS, HERDC, SDR, PBRF, EPI and other key compliance and external reporting requirements across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

This is an informal, peer-led session designed to encourage open conversation and practical knowledge sharing. Members are encouraged to bring examples, questions and current challenges from their own institutions to help shape the discussion.

Together, we will explore what is changing, what is working well, and where additional collaboration and support may be needed across the sector.

This is a valuable opportunity to strengthen professional connections, stay informed on sector developments, and learn from colleagues working in similar roles across Australasia.

What to expect

• discussion of current compliance and reporting challenges
• sector updates and shared experiences
• practical insights from peers across institutions
• opportunities to ask questions and exchange ideas
• stronger connections within the Institutional Reporting SIG

Pricing:

• Members: FREE
• Non-members: $75.74 (AUD$65 + GST + booking fee)

THIS IS A LIVE WEBINAAIR. A RECORDING WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE.

Data Governance – Continuing the Conversation

14 September 2026 (12–1pm AEST / 2–3pm NZST)

Online

LIVE WEBINAAIR

Data Governance SIG

Facilitators:

• Louise Branch-Smith, Senior Analyst, Murdoch University,
• Tanya Parker, Senior Lead, Data Governance, University of the Sunshine Coast

Drawing on the experiences of both Murdoch University and UniSC, this session will explore the practical challenges of data governance in the higher education environment.

We will focus on data governance structures, data dictionaries and definitions, data quality and validation, and the importance of clearly understanding the purpose and context of data before reports and dashboards are developed.

The discussion will be grounded in real-world case studies, including the development of an in-house analysis tool that exposed gaps between the initial idea for a report and its final delivery. These experiences highlight how seemingly simple reporting questions can become complex when definitions, data ownership, validation rules and reference points have not been clearly established.

Participants will be invited to share their own experiences, approaches and lessons learned, with a particular focus on practical strategies for strengthening data governance and making governance principles work in day-to-day operations.

Pricing:

• Members: FREE
• Non-members: $75.74 (AUD$65 + GST + booking fee)

THIS IS A LIVE WEBINAAIR. A RECORDING WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE.

From Metrics to Meaning: Using Sustainability Rankings to Support Institutional Learning and Action

24 September 2026 (12–1 pm AEST / 2–3pm NZST)

Online

LIVE WEBINAAIR

Global University Rankings SIG

Facilitators:

• Elvira Fonacier, Head of Performance Evaluation at University of Technology Sydney
• Lin Jiang, Rankings Specialist at University of Technology Sydney

Sustainability rankings such as the QS Sustainability Rankings and THE Impact Ratings are becoming increasingly important in higher education. This interactive SIG session will explore how institutions can use sustainability rankings to support strategic reflection, organisational learning, and continuous improvement. Drawing on sector experiences, participants will discuss what sustainability rankings can reveal about institutional strengths, evidence maturity, and areas for development, as well as their limitations. Through facilitated discussion and peer exchange, attendees will have the opportunity to share challenges, insights, and practical approaches in a collegial and confidential environment.

Why this works

• Keeps the focus on sector-wide interpretation, not UTS submission mechanics.
• Allows to discuss how sustainability rankings (QS Susty & THE Impact Ratings) can inform planning, evidence maturity, collaboration and institutional improvement.
• Creates space for participants to share challenges without anyone to disclose confidential data, evidence, internal workflows or submission strategies.

Pricing:

• Members: FREE
• Non-members: $75.74 (AUD$65 + GST + booking fee)

THIS IS A LIVE WEBINAAIR. A RECORDING WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE.

Presenting at the 2026 AAIR Forum

21 October 2026 (12–1 pm AEDT / 2–3pm NZDT)

Online

LIVE WEBINAAIR

Facilitators:

• Don Johnston, Manager, Reporting and Analysis at Southern Cross University, AAIR Vice President, and AAIR Institutional Reporting SIG Chair
• Cassandra Saunders, Research Analyst at the University of Tasmania, AAIR Executive Committee member, and AAIR Surveys and Evaluations SIG Chair

🌟 You’re Invited! Join Us for this Special Information Session 🌟

Are you excited about our upcoming Forum but not quite sure where to start? Or perhaps you’re presenting but have a few questions? We’ve got you covered!

We warmly invite you to our online information session, taking place via Zoom, one month before our Forum opens. This is a fantastic opportunity to get a comprehensive overview of the event, learn how to craft and deliver a compelling presentation, and ask any questions you might have about attending our Forum.

During this session, you’ll get insights into the Forum format, tips for successful presentations, and the chance to connect with our Executive Committee members and fellow attendees. Whether you’re a first-time attendee or a seasoned participant, this session is designed to ensure you have all the information you need to make the most of your Forum experience.

Why Attend?

• Gain valuable tips on presenting effectively
• Get answers to any Forum-related questions
• Meet and network with other attendees
• Not presenting but curious to learn more about the forum

Feel free to reach out if you have any questions before this session. We’re here to help and look forward to seeing you there!

Pricing:

• Members: FREE
• Non-members: Also FREE

THIS IS A LIVE WEBINAAIR. A RECORDING WILL NOT BE AVAILABLE.

Expression of Interest: Facilitate an AAIR Virtual Networking Event

Date in October TBC

Online

Are you an AAIR member who enjoys bringing people together and facilitating meaningful professional conversations?

AAIR is seeking expressions of interest from a member to facilitate an upcoming virtual networking event for AAIR members across Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand.

The event will follow the successful Coffee, Conversation and Collaboration format: an informal, friendly and interactive session designed to give members an opportunity to connect with colleagues, share experiences, discuss current challenges and exchange ideas.

This is not a formal presentation or webinar. Instead, the facilitator will help create a welcoming environment where members can talk openly about the issues that matter to them in their professional roles.

What might the session involve?

The facilitator could help guide a conversation around topics such as:

• What are you currently working on?
• What challenges are you facing in your role?
• What’s working well at your institution?
• What would you like to learn from colleagues?
• What emerging issues are you thinking about?
• What tools, approaches or ideas have been useful to you?
• What would you like to see more of from the AAIR community?

The format can be flexible and shaped by the facilitator, with the emphasis on connection, conversation and knowledge sharing.

Who are we looking for?

We are looking for an AAIR member who is:

• comfortable facilitating an informal online discussion
• interested in connecting people across the AAIR community
• willing to encourage participation and keep the conversation flowing
• passionate about sharing knowledge and experiences across the institutional research community.

You do not need to be an expert on a particular topic. The most important thing is an interest in creating a positive and engaging experience for fellow AAIR members.

What is involved?

The event will be held online via Zoom and is expected to run for approximately one hour.

AAIR will work with the facilitator to confirm the date, format and any discussion prompts or questions ahead of the event. We will support you along the whole journey. You will not be expected to prepare a formal presentation.

This is a great opportunity to contribute to the AAIR community, connect with colleagues from across Australasia and help create a space for members to learn from one another.

Interested?

If you would like to facilitate this session, please send an expression of interest to info@aair.org.au with a brief introduction about yourself and why you would be interested in facilitating an AAIR virtual networking event.

We’d love to hear from you!

Expressions of interest are welcome from any current AAIR member.