D2L Connection: Melbourne

Speaker:

• Tony Maguire, Regional Director, ANZ, D2L

Artificial intelligence can now generate outputs that meet the requirements of high-stakes assessments across many disciplines. This has sparked concerns about students using AI inappropriately to complete tasks, misrepresenting their abilities. It also raises deeper questions about the sustainability and authenticity of current assessment practices.

This presentation examines how assessment must evolve in response to AI. It draws on the presenter’s work as one of the leaders of Assessment Reform for a Time of Artificial Intelligence, a major Australian project funded by the national higher education regulator. As AI becomes an ever-present part of professional and academic life, how do we design assessments that both uphold integrity and prepare students for this new reality?

Speaker: 

• Phillip Dawson, Co-Director of the Centre for Research in Assessment and Digital Learning (CRADLE), Deakin University

Learners today expect more than content delivery — they want experiences that are flexible, personalised, and meaningful to their future. In this panel, higher education leaders from across Australia will share how they’re reimagining learning with AI, blended and HyFlex models, and competency-based pathways like micro-credentials. Together, we’ll explore how data-driven personalisation, inclusive design, and thoughtful change management can spark learner motivation, improve satisfaction, and better connect course content to career readiness. With practical examples from Brightspace, panellists will highlight how institutions and organisations are creating dynamic, accessible, and joyful learning environments that foster growth.

Facilitator:

• Aaron Burrell, Director, Customer Success ANZ, D2L

Panellists:

• Jasmine Johnston, Masters Student, Officer Governance and Government, Liaison for the Universities Chancellor’s Council, Deakin University
• Simon Hann, Group Executive, Education & Marketing, Chartered Accountants Australia New Zealand
• Professor Sharna Spittle, Senior PVC, Teaching and Learning, Deakin University

Discover how D2L Brightspace is accelerating innovation in higher education through AI-powered workflows, consistent evaluation tools, and engaging in flexible learning experiences while helping institutions save time, drive retention, and support lifelong learning at scale.

Speakers:

• Christian Pantel, Chief Product Officer, D2L
• Glen Luttrell, Lead Solutions Engineer, D2L

Designing learning for capability requires more than good pedagogy—it depends on how content is developed and built. In this session, we share how we evolved both learning design and content development while rebuilding learning in a new platform.

We’ll reflect on how we preserved a familiar experience for learners while changing how content was produced—leveraging D2L functionality, integrations, and external services to enable a fast, repeatable build approach without compromising quality. Decisions around content structure, templates, interaction components, and build standards became as critical as learning flow and assessment design.

Working in close partnership with D2L Services, learning design and content build evolved together. This session offers a practical look at what it takes to design and build learning that supports real capability, not just course completion.

Speakers:

• Renee Mihulka, Learning Design Manager, CPA Australia
• Diem La, Learning Content Manager, CPA Australia

Inconsistent subject design and student experience is one of the most common barriers to student confidence in online learning, which becomes increasingly difficult to address at scale. At Charles Sturt University (CSU), we have taken a design-led approach to this challenge using Creator+ within Brightspace, focusing on consistency, clarity, and guided student experiences across subjects and courses.

This session will demonstrate CSU’s standard online offerings, showing how Creator+ is used to embed rich media and structured content within consistent templates. By standardising how content is presented and navigated, we reduce unnecessary cognitive load for students, enabling academic staff to create high-quality learning materials and allowing students to focus on learning.

Speaker:

• Ryun Fell, Manager, Educational Technologies, Charles Sturt University

Professional associations are under increasing pressure to demonstrate clear, ongoing value to their members. In response, the Australian Dental Association NSW is rethinking how learning contributes to overall member value.

This session explores how ADA NSW rapidly implemented a connected learning ecosystem, integrating its LMS with core systems to create a more seamless, data-driven experience. Moving beyond traditional CPD delivery, the organisation is adopting a hybrid model that combines on-demand, in-person, and post-course engagement, supported by digital credentials and personalised pathways.

Attendees will gain practical insights into accelerating implementation, connecting systems to unlock value, and designing learning experiences that drive ongoing engagement. This is a real-world look at how connected learning can strengthen member relationships and support long-term growth.

Speaker:

• Jae Redden, Chief Executive Officer, Australian Dental Association NSW Branch

When Victoria University set out to redesign VU Collaborate (D2L Brightspace), the brief wasn’t to improve a faculty or run a pilot. It was to overhaul the entire learner experience, across 1,245+ units, for 50,000+ students, without breaking what learning designers had already built.

This session unpacks how VU took a design-led approach to transformation at institutional scale: co-developing a template system with D2L Learning Services, building AI-assisted tooling to manage rollout at pace, and keeping every decision grounded in the student experience. Chris Roberts, Manager of Digital Learning Solutions will share what that process actually looked like, what changed for students and staff, and the practical lessons for any team thinking about transformation beyond the pilot.

Speaker:

• Chris Roberts, Manager, Digital Learning Solutions, Victoria University

Discover how D2L Brightspace is helping associations accelerate innovation through AI-powered workflows, streamlined content delivery, and engaging, flexible learning experiences. Learn how associations are saving time, increasing member engagement, and delivering scalable, high-impact professional development that supports lifelong learning.

Speakers:

• Christian Pantel, Chief Product Officer, D2L
• Glen Luttrell, Lead Solutions Engineer, D2L

Te Kura’s nationwide Ākonga and Whānau Welcome Module—alongside our refreshed website—marks a significant shift toward a personalised, future‑focused onboarding experience. Co‑designed in close partnership with the D2L design team, this initiative replaced varied regional approaches with a unified, accessible system centred on the needs of ākonga and their whānau.

Throughout this collaboration we explored new design ideas, stretched the capabilities of D2L tools, and trialled innovative approaches to create an induction experience that adapts to learners, honours identity, and sets ākonga up for success from the outset. The result is a dynamic, human‑centred onboarding pathway that reflects both partnership and innovation.

We would also like to share that Te Kura is now preparing to embark on Stage 2 of this collaborative project, again with D2L support. This next phase will focus on redesigning Personalised Learning Plans continuing our journey toward a more coherent, connected, and personalised digital learning ecosystem.

Our session will explore how co‑innovation, personalisation, and thoughtful design can shape the next generation of digital learning experiences and strengthen learner engagement across a national context.

Speaker:

• Rebecca Early, Kaiārahi-a-motu National Leader of Learning, Te Aho o Te Kura Pounamu

For many associations, education is positioned as a member service or program offer rather than a strategic lever. In a competitive and fast-changing environment, education and learning can do much more than support professional development. They can strengthen relevance, deepen member value, diversify income and reduce reliance on a narrow set of revenue streams.

In this session, Deanna Varga will draw on insights from her recently released Mission and Margin white paper series, including 15 case studies, to explore how associations and NFPs can reposition education and learning as part of a stronger and more sustainable business model. With practical takeaways for association leaders, she will explore how education can move from being seen as a service or “nice to have” to becoming a more deliberate driver of relevance, revenue and resilience. Delegates will be encouraged to reflect on where education sits in their own value proposition, revenue mix and future strategy.

Speaker:

• Deanna Varga (MBA, GAICD, CICE), CEO, Founder & Adjunct Associate Professor, Mayvin Global

With close to 60 interactive content types, H5P gives educators, instructional designers and content creators multiple learning design options. And with the support of AI generated content, any design can be completed quickly and with high quality.

In this session you’ll learn how H5P can help instructors creating adaptive interactive content and give students a voice and choice on how they want to learn. You’ll see how H5P supports peer learning design, and how H5P activities can take student engagement to the next level

Speaker:

• Trond Skeie, Manager Customer Success, H5P

Join D2L’s Director of Product for Artificial Intelligence, Jonathan Holtby, while he explores how we can begin to view learning through a new lens—one defined not just by new tools, but by shifting paradigms and far-reaching societal impact. From the evolution of education across pre-industrial, industrial, and digital eras to the emergence of AI-driven, personalised and adaptive learning, this session will challenge how we define quality, assessment, and the role of educators.

Moving beyond theory, Jonathan will explore how AI is set to redefine what learners are capable of—and what institutions should expect in return. Attendees will gain a clear, forward-looking perspective on how AI can elevate outcomes, reshape assessment, and unlock new levels of productivity across the learning ecosystem, alongside practical insights on how to take action today.

Speaker:

• Jonathan Holtby, Director, Product for Artificial Intelligence, D2L

In this informal, forward-looking conversation, panellists will reflect on the key themes and insights that emerged throughout the day—from the impact of AI-enabled learning and personalisation at scale to the growing importance of accessibility and lifelong learning pathways. Together, they’ll explore what these trends mean for organisations, institutions and learners across the region. Expect candid perspectives, thoughtful reflections and a look ahead at the opportunities shaping the future of learning.

Speakers:

• Stewart Watts, Senior Vice President, APAC & EMEA, D2L
• John Baker, CEO, D2L

Speaker:

• Tony Maguire, Regional Director, ANZ, D2L