3 minute read
2022 APSAA Conference Wrap Up
Simone Gallo National Manager, Student Accommodation, Australian Catholic University
Did we Reconnect, Refocus, and Renew? You bet your last dollar we did.
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Feedback is overwhelmingly positive that you thought the conference really hit the mark this year, especially after the drought of face-to-face events over the past two years. It was wonderful to bring focus to the world of student accommodation and hear from such wonderful guest speakers through the three-day jam-packed program in Sydney.
After a warm opening from our regular MC-extraordinaire, Tim Cox, and a Welcome from the local Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people, we were treated to a keynote address by 2019 Australian of the Year, Dr Richard Harris, who shared insights and lessons from the Thai cave dive rescue of 2018. Needless to say, Dr Harris had us thinking about the importance of resilience, thinking ‘outside the box’, and never giving up.
On day two, our second keynote Nadine Champion gave everyone a sense that all barriers could be broken like the wooden board that one of our delegates was able to put her bare hand through.
Nadine Champion
Dr Jana Pittman
Our host Tim Cox with Isabel Fox
Dr Jessa Rogers & panel
The emotion in the room was evident as people shed a tear or two, she really pulled at the heart strings with her account of where you can get if you can muster up “10 seconds of courage”.
What a treat to end the program with our final keynote speaker, Dr Jana Pittman, who spoke about her life and what it has taken for her to achieve her goals on the world’s sporting stage. What a pivotal role adversity has played in her development and the journey it has taken her on through summer and winter Olympics and onto becoming a mother of six and a medical doctor, specialising in women’s health.
We hope those who made it enjoyed Sydney and the conference program and thank you to Jacob and his team for organising it so well. Reconnect, Refocus, and Renew. Tick, tick and tick.
Simone Gallo
Pete Galloway
Torie Brown
Pre Awards dinner drinks
Sonya Karras
Holly Giulieri & Caty Li
APSAA Awards dinner
