Pierpaolo Limone is Rector of Pegaso University in Rome. He leads a privately-owned 100,000+ student online university. He is former Rector of the University of Foggia a traditional research university. He shows how a leader schooled in traditional academic environments facilitates disruption as a new entrant in a highly regulated system. He views research as a key differentiator for any university seeking to be competitive in a new disrupted higher education economy. He sees disrupting tech companies as likely dominant players in future higher education. Listen to Pierpaolo ahead of his speaking at the next HEDx conference on June 16th/17th

This second short and snappy podbite describes changes in the program of HEDx activities made in response to feedback. New new member of the HEDx team, engagement strategist Annabel Murphy joins the podbite. She brings experience of industry university engagement and content strategy from Europe and Australia. She using AI to align HEDx activities and content to members and partners needs. She discusses the recent survey completed of 20 members and partners. This led to a tweaking of podcasts, events and new projects being developed with members of the eco-system. These will give impact, continuity and reach for us in a mission to facilitate disruption to change higher education for good.

Josh Nester MD of SEEK investments is joined by a group of the world's most innovative EdTech companies. Nicola Cresp of OES, Joel di Trapani of Vygo, Sabih bin Wasi of Stellic and Trevor Fairweather of ReadyTech dissect issues of scaling student impact with AI. They explore the need all students have for human connection and how tech solutions need to add, not detract from it, in personalised ways at times and places where it can make a difference. And they identify the need for humans in the loop to include leaders who need to be bold and push beyond tentative pilots to really see technology make a difference to the student experience.

This is the first in a series of snappy short podcasts called podbites. They are updates on a key topic and question with inputs from various members of the HEDx ecosystem at the time. This one follows a visit to Canberra and Sydney during the UA conference of 2026 and argues that we need more inputs from external sources including students, out-of-sector innovators, and international sources to avoid being stuck in an echo chamber or loop of conservative thinking. That is commonly called hallucinating and we need to avoid it. Thats what HEDx is doing as it facilitates sector disruption.

The first Student Experience episode features a lively panel of students and sector leaders from the launch event, exploring the exciting future of the podcast and the role of student voice in shaping higher education.

Hosted by Kelly Matthews, with contributions from Martin Betts, the episode also features insights from David Turvey PSM (Australian Tertiary Education Commission) and Jonathan Davey (CEO, Online Education Services).

The panel brings together diverse perspectives from across the sector all united by a shared belief in the power of asking better questions and truly listening to students. Together, they explore why student voice matters and how meaningful dialogue can shape the future of higher education.

Featuring panelists:
Sarah Bendall (National Student Ombudsman)
Richard Lee (Council of Australian Postgraduate Associations)
Sam Jacob (CEO, Collarts)
Jasmine Johnston (Deakin University; University Chancellors Council)
Professor Kerri-Lee Krause (TEQSA)
Weihong Liang (Council of International Students Australia)
Jennifer Lowe (University of Newcastle)
Professor George Williams (Western Sydney University).

Noah Pickus, Director of Global Strategy from Duke University joins the podcast to launch this alliance to Australian and NZ. With a closing date for EOIs of March 6, time is tight to join a global alliance of diverse institutions seeking to learn from each other in their innovation. HEDx is delighted to be working with Noah and bringing him to Sydney in June. We are also connecting his venture with HEDx collaborations in the UK with Rose Luckin and the EDUCATE Ventures Research Shaping Future Leaders Coalition. Listen to them both describe the backgrounds to their innovation sharing activity and connections with HEDx as it goes global.

Timothy Burt from the Future Skills Organisation, Gail Bray from Victoria University, Colin Gniel from LinkedIn and Dr. Kathryn Blyth from The University of Queensland explore:  why AI evolves faster than curriculum, systems and our ability to keep up, why coordination across sectors is fragmented, and why human skills in communication, judgement and creativity are rising in value. One line stayed with me:“AI is evolving faster than our people can build their skills…”The future isn’t AI vs humans. It’s AI-fluent, human-centred higher education professionals and institutions.What are you seeing in your institution and with your colleagues?

Professor Deborah Terry AC leads The University of Queensland and the Group of 8 universities. She outlines declining trust as the key issue facing the sector. She explains why and how it has happened and that doing something about primarily calls for a return to purpose. She illustrates how that is being done at UQ through The Queensland Commitment. And she explains how that applies to the challenges with the emergence of AI in particular. This seminal episode is the start of a tipping point with the HEDx podcast as we move beyond what has got us here, and explore more fully what will get us where we need to be, including listening more to students and focussing on the student experience.

Charlsey Pearce as CEO of Mortar Caps Data Standard is a long term HEDx partner leading an innovation project around data standards for human capability records that support lifelong learning and tertiary harmonisation. In this episode she introduces, leads and comments on a HEDx webinar that led to the development of a White Paper recently submitted to ATEC, JSA and the Productivity Commission. This is a chance for Australia to jump from last to first in a global race for technology to support tertiary harmonisation and lifelong learners having records that set them up for life. Numerous HEDx partners join a conversation ending with views of a student of why this is so important.

Kivanch Oner is CIO of University of Nevada Las Vegas. He joins me and co-host Matt Cavallaro of Salesforce to discuss how change to serve changing student needs is achieved in a leading R1 US university. Our discussion traverses changes facing students and how they impact providers seeking to serve them. The place of technology as an enabler is analysed through the UNLV experience. The importance of partnerships and culture arising from trust is key to accelerating transformation and represents social capital for change. Insights from two technological pioneers of the cultural and human side of change that shines a light on transformation that is possible and needed by global providers in the sector.