KEYNOTE SPEAKERS

The Right Reverend Dr Vicentia Refiloe Kgabe is a native of Soweto, South Africa, and currently serves as the Diocesan Bishop of Lesotho. She was ordained as a Priest in the Diocese of Johannesburg in June 2002. Prior to becoming a Bishop, she worked as Rector and Principal of the College of Transfiguration Theological College for seven years. The College is in Grahamstown, the only residential seminary and training centre in the Anglican Church of Southern Africa. As part of her duties, she taught courses in Pastoral Care and Counselling and Youth Ministry and facilitated the College of Transfiguration Leadership Development Programme.

She has served as a parish priest in eight parishes in the Johannesburg Diocese. In addition to her role as a parish priest, she has served as an Archdeacon and Director of the Ordination Process within the same diocese.

Vicentia has held the following positions: The Chairperson of the Board for HOPE Africa, the Social Development Programme for the Anglican Church of Southern Africa (2014 – 2015);  The Co-Chair of Makhanda/Grahamstown Circle of Unity (2019 – 2021); Member of the Rhodes University Council (2018 – 2021); and The Deputy Chairperson of the Rhodes University Council (2020 – 2021). She is currently serving/appointed as a Research Fellow at the Desmond Tutu Centre for Religion and Social Justice.

Find out more by visiting the Conference Program.

Sophie Renton is a social researcher and generational expert who is passionate about using evidence-based insights to inform strategy and help organisations to thrive amidst complexity. As the Managing Director at the internationally recognised McCrindle, she leads the McCrindle team in search of insights that lead to better outcomes for organisations, communities, and individuals.

As the author of numerous research publications, she keeps her finger on the pulse of the trends shaping our lives. From the factors disrupting the future of education, leading thriving intergenerational teams and developing leaders, Sophie believes having a clear understanding of the context in which leaders are operating today is essential for mapping the path forward. After almost a decade in the education sector and her experience as a non-executive director, Sophie understands the need to equip directors with insights to govern well. As a sought after consultant, media commentator, and facilitator, Sophie's passion for leadership, building healthy intergenerational teams and the next generation enables her to bring robust, research-based content to her engaging presentations.

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Paul Jarman is a highly accomplished composer, lyricist, and performer with over two hundred commissions globally. His choral works, considered modern standards, are published worldwide. As a cultural ambassador, he has represented Australia in over forty countries, collaborating in festivals and events across various art forms. Paul is a member of the pioneering 'world music' ensemble Sirocco, and his musical contributions extend to Australian movies and television series. Notably, he composed music for Mike Dillon’s award-winning adventure documentaries, including 'Ocean to Sky.'

Paul has composed for international choirs like Rafiki Youth Choir Canada, Dulwich College International China, and the Boston City Singers USA, performing at the White House for President Barack Obama. His repertoire includes music for historical events, commemorations, and special occasions, showcasing his versatility. Paul has contributed to Australia’s significant events, including the Centenary of Federations and the Olympic Arts Festival. He is an advocate for music education, having composed over one hundred school anthems and served as an artist in residence at various schools. Paul Jarman remains a prominent figure in the global choral and musical landscape.

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Kim Brennan (nee Crow) AM is the epitome of the modern leader. An Olympic gold, silver and bronze medallist in rowing, Kim transferred her sporting skills to become an emerging leader in technology implementation for Management Consultancy EY.  A qualified lawyer, Kim brings an entertaining and intellectual bent to storytelling the journey from sport to business and beyond. Born in Melbourne and the daughter of a VFL Footballer, Kim was raised into a very sporty Family. She commenced her elite sporting career as a track and field athlete. She finished second at the World Youth Championships in the 400m hurdles before injury forced her to give up on Olympic Athletics aspirations. Not to be thwarted, Kim took up rowing in 2005 and hasn’t looked back.

Kim has Chaired the Australian Olympic Committee Athletes’ Commission, and been a director on the Australian Olympic Committee Executive Board, AIS Ethics Committee, the Australian Olympic Committee High Performance Committee and the Rowing Australia Athletes’ Commission. She is currently a director on the Australian Sports Foundation, with previous charitable endeavours as an ambassador for the Worldwide Fund for Nature Clean Water Project in Kafue, Zambia; the Reach for Nepal Foundation and the Australian Drug Foundation Good Sports Program. While at EY she founded a pilot program for employing current competing athletes on flexible work arrangements, and was named one of Australia’s top 100 influential women by the Australian Financial Review in 2018. She was awarded the Thomas Keller Medal, awarded to one person globally per year, for outstanding lifetime contribution to the sport of rowing.

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CONFERENCE REFLECTOR

A speaker, workshop leader, author and thought-leader on Anglican Identity.

At the ASA Conference in 2019, Dr Heischman delivered a keynote address focusing on the unique characteristics of Anglican schools. Drawing from his leadership role in a 2018 forum hosted by the ASA, he shared insights gained from engaging Principals, Chaplains, and other stakeholders from Anglican schools across Australia in discussions about the identity and mission of Anglican education. These insights were captured in 'Enhancing our Anglican Identity', a paper authored by Dr Heischman, intended to encourage ongoing conversations about Anglican ethos within educational institutions and the broader community. 

For a decade and half, Dr Heischman was the Executive Director of the National Association of Episcopal Schools (NAES) from 2007 to 2022. 

In 2023, he returned to Yale Divinity School as Associate Director, a homecoming to the institution where he earned his Master of Sacred Theology Degree. His academic journey includes a Doctor of Ministry from Princeton Theological Seminary and he has been conferred honorary doctoral degrees in divinity from Berkeley Divinity School at Yale, Virginia Theological Seminary, and the University of the South, recognising his significant contributions to Episcopal education. 

He held the roles of Chaplain and then Assistant Headmaster of Trinity School, New York, and later Executive Director of the Council for Religion in Independent Schools. 

At the 2024 ASA Conference, Dr Heischman will reflect on how each keynote session aligns to the conference theme, and consider its implications for future discussions or action.

Find out more by visiting the Conference Program.

CONFERENCE DINNER ENTERTAINMENT

Australia’s Best Impersonator, comedian Ben Price has his audiences rolling in the aisles with his spot on impersonations of personalities such as Arnold Schwarzenegger, Donald Trump, Owen Wilson, Homer Simpson or Dr Phil.

A national talent at an international level, Ben has performed all over the world bringing his 200+ voices. He was a Grand Finalist on Australia’s Got Talent in 2011 and he’s been on The Today Show several times, Good Morning Washington, Good Morning Texas, Huckabee, Kid’s WB and CT Style and many more. 

Ben has featured in 4 movies. Audacity (2015), At Least Once (2017), Christmas Gone Viral (2017) and provided 3 character voices for the upcoming 3D animated feature, The Pilgrims Progress (2019). Discovering his talent for impersonating voices at the age of 10, Ben used his amazing talent to entertain classmates and pull pranks. Since starting out he has developed an impressive repertoire of over 200 character voices, including Dr Phil, Donald Trump, Liam Neeson, Robert DeNiro, Morgan Freeman, Sean Connery, John Cleese, Tom Cruise, Donkey, Shrek, Homer Simpson and many more. 

Ben has performed several times in the Melbourne International Comedy Festival, with sellout shows in 2000 with Melbourne the Musical, 2001 with Who Am I? and 2003 with The Best Show Ever. In 2006 he performed the hugely successful Hollywood Live & Uncut at The Palms at Crown and in 2007 he had sellout shows performing as Dr. Phil in What were you thinking?  This was followed by a successful regional tour all over Victoria.

CONFERENCE PRESENTERS